| HS Code | Official Doc | Tariff Rate | Origin | Destination | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8201100000 | Doc | 55.0% | CN | US | 2025-05-12 |
| 8201100000 | Doc | 55.0% | CN | US | 2025-05-12 |
| 1104120000 | Doc | 1.2¢/kg+55.0% | CN | US | 2025-05-12 |
| 1104220000 | Doc | 55.5% | CN | US | 2025-05-12 |
Sickle
A sickle is a single-edged hand-held agricultural tool designed for reaping (cutting) cereal crops or for cutting grass and other small plants. It has been used since the Neolithic period.
Material:
Traditionally, sickles are made with a curved blade of steel or iron, attached to a wooden or metal handle. Modern sickles may feature blades made of high-carbon steel for increased durability and sharpness. Handles can be wood, plastic, or lightweight metal alloys.
Purpose:
The primary purpose of a sickle is to harvest grains like wheat, barley, rye, and oats. It is also used for cutting hay, brush, and weeds. Historically, it was the dominant tool for grain harvesting before the invention of more mechanized options.
Function:
The curved blade allows for a sweeping, rhythmic cutting motion. The user grasps the crop in one hand and uses the sickle in a sweeping arc to cut the stems close to the ground. The curve facilitates a continuous cutting action, increasing efficiency. The shape also allows for gathering the cut material as it is being cut.
Usage Scenarios:
- Small-scale farming: Sickles are ideal for harvesting crops on smaller plots of land where machinery is impractical or uneconomical.
- Areas with difficult terrain: The tool’s manual operation makes it suitable for uneven ground or fields with obstacles.
- Harvesting in remote locations: Its portability and lack of reliance on power sources make it useful in areas without electricity or fuel access.
- Weed control: Used for cutting weeds and grasses in gardens, orchards, and fields.
- Rice harvesting: In many parts of Asia, sickles are still widely used for harvesting rice.
Common Types:
- Traditional Sickles: These have a simple curved blade and wooden handle. Variations exist based on regional blade shape and handle design.
- Rice Sickles: Often have a shorter, more angled blade designed for cutting rice stalks.
- Brush Sickles: Feature a heavier blade and stronger handle for cutting thicker brush and vegetation.
- Grass Sickles: Typically have a lighter blade and a more ergonomic handle for extended use in grass cutting.
- Snath Sickles: These feature a long, curved handle (the snath) with adjustable grips, allowing the user to maintain a more comfortable and efficient posture. This type is less common today.
- Electric/Powered Sickles: Modern versions exist with electric motors or small engines to automate the cutting process, but these are less common than manual versions.
Sickles fall under the category of hand tools used in agriculture, horticulture, or forestry.
Here are the relevant HS codes based on the provided information:
- 8201100000: This HS code covers handtools of the following kinds and base metal parts thereof: spades, shovels, mattocks, picks, hoes, forks and rakes; axes, bill hooks and similar hewing tools; secateurs and pruners of any kind; scythes, sickles, hay knives, hedge shears, timber wedges and other tools of a kind used in agriculture, horticulture or forestry: Spades and shovels, and parts thereof.
- 82: Chapter 82 refers to tools, implements, cutlery, hand tools, and articles of cutlery.
- 01: Heading 01 specifically covers handtools.
- 100000: This subheading further specifies spades and shovels, and parts thereof, but includes scythes and sickles within the broader category of agricultural handtools.
Regarding HS code 8201100000, the applicable tax rate is a base tariff of 0.0%, a surcharge of 25.0%, and a surcharge of 30.0% after April 2, 2025, resulting in a total tariff of 55.0%.