Wire — HTS 8311
Wire, rods, tubes, plates, electrodes and similar products of base metal or of metal carbides, coated or cored with flux material, of a kind used for soldering, brazing, welding or deposition of metal or of metal carbides; wire and rods, of agglomerated base metal powder, used for metal spraying; base metal parts thereof
Chapter 83 › Heading 8311
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 8311 groups certain metal products used to join, coat, or deposit metal. It covers items such as welding, brazing, and soldering wire, rods, tubes, plates, and electrodes when they are made of base metal or metal carbides and are coated or filled ("cored") with flux. It also includes similar products for depositing metal or metal carbides, wire and rods made from agglomerated base-metal powder for metal spraying, and specified base-metal parts of these products.
The heading is a broad four-digit category, not usually the final classification. To reach the correct eight-digit HTSUS code, first confirm that the product belongs in heading 8311, then follow the more detailed subheadings and statistical breakouts. These commonly distinguish the product's material, physical form, construction or coating, and intended process or use. Product specifications and the HTSUS wording must be matched carefully; a customs broker or classification specialist may be needed for unusual products or close alternatives.
What to check
- Confirm the product is a covered welding, brazing, soldering, metal-deposition, or metal-spraying product—not ordinary wire, rod, tube, or electrode used for another purpose.
- Identify the base metal or metal carbide, including the material of any core, coating, or powder, and compare it with the applicable HTSUS subheading language.
- Record the product form and construction: wire, rod, tube, plate, electrode, agglomerated powder product, or a qualifying part; note whether it is flux-coated or flux-cored.
- Use the manufacturer’s technical data sheet, catalog description, composition, dimensions, and stated application to verify the product against the full eight-digit code description.
- Check the current HTSUS and relevant classification guidance, and obtain broker or customs-specialist review when the material, coating, end use, or product form could fit more than one provision.
HTS heading 8311 summary
Wire is a 4-digit product category containing 3 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 8311.30 | Coated rods and cored wire, of base metal, for soldering, brazing or welding by flame |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8311.10.00.00 👉 | Coated electrodes of base metal, for electric arc-welding | Free | — | 35% |
| 8311.20.00.00 👉 | Cored wire of base metal, for electric arc-welding | Free | — | 35% |
| 8311.90.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | 35% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8311?
Wire, rods, tubes, plates, electrodes and similar products of base metal or of metal carbides, coated or cored with flux material, of a kind used for soldering, brazing, welding or deposition of metal or of metal carbides; wire and rods, of agglomerated base metal powder, used for metal spraying; base metal parts thereof. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.