Natural Stone Including Slate and Articles Thereof

🪨 Natural Stone (Including Slate) & Articles Thereof

🌐 HS Code Reference & Customs Clearance Guide | 2026 Latest Tariff Structure | Professional Clearance Strategy
📌 I. Product Definition & Classification: Do You Truly Understand "Natural Stone"?

Natural stone, including slate, is a broad category in international trade, covering raw materials and processed articles used in construction, decoration, monuments, and industrial applications. In customs classification, it is primarily divided into three categories based on processing level and material type:

1. Raw/Partially Processed Stone (Chapter 25):
Includes marble, travertine, and other calcareous stones in rough, roughly squared, or simply sawn/rectangular shapes, but not yet polished or carved into specific finished products.

2. Worked Stone & Stone Articles (Chapter 68):
Includes slate (both worked and unworked), stone blocks shaped for specific uses (e.g., building stones, paving, monuments), and other processed stone items that do not fall under Chapter 69 (ceramics).

⚠️ Key Distinction Point:
- If the stone is rough, roughly squared, or simply cut into slabs/blocks without further shaping →归类 to Chapter 25 (e.g., 2515, 2516);
- If the stone is cut into specific shapes, polished, carved, or processed into articles (e.g., tiles, statues, paving stones, slate roofs) →归类 to Chapter 68 (e.g., 6802, 6803).

📦 II. HS Code Classification Details (2026 Latest Tariff Authority Reference)

🔍 Key Reminder:
- All polished, carved, or specifically shaped stone articles must be classified under Chapter 68 (6802 or 6803), not Chapter 25;
- If the stone is rough-cut or merely sawn into slabs/blocks, it falls under Chapter 25 (2515 or 2516);
- Slate has a dedicated HS code (6803.00.10.00) regardless of whether it is worked or unworked.

💰 III. 2026 Latest Tariff Rate Breakdown (Including Additional Taxes, Policy Surcharges)

✅ Applicable Country: United States (US)
✅ Origin: China (CN)
✅ Effective Date: From November 10, 2025 (including subsequent imports)

🎯 1. 2515.11.00.00 —— Natural Stone (Marble, Travertine), Rough/Sawn

📌 Explanation:
- "Section 301 Surcharge 25%" comes from the "Additional Tariff" under US Trade Law Section 301;
- "Section 122 Tariff 10%" is a separate import surcharge on certain Chinese goods;
- Combined 35%, which is a high tariff, must be predicted in advance!

🎯 2. 6802.10.00.00 —— Natural Stone Articles, Worked

📌 Note:
- Base tariff is higher (4.8%) due to processed status;
- Even if the stone is "polished" or "carved," the total tariff remains 39.8%;
- This applies to all worked natural stone articles except slate.

🎯 3. 6803.00.10.00 —— Slate Articles

📌 Note:
- Slate has its own HS code, regardless of processing;
- Total tariff 38.3%, slightly lower than other worked stones due to lower base rate;
- Applies to roofing slate, paving slate, slate tiles, etc.

🎯 4. 2515.20.00.00 —— Natural Stone Articles, Calcareous

📌 Note:
- Applies to calcareous stones (marble, travertine) in article form (e.g., monuments, architectural stones);
- Total tariff 38.0%, lower than fully worked stones due to intermediate processing level.

🎯 5. 6802.99.00.90 —— Other Natural Stone Articles

📌 Note:
- This is a catch-all code for worked natural stone articles not specified elsewhere;
- Highest total tariff 41.5% due to higher base rate (6.5%);
- Applies to custom carvings, irregular shapes, specialty stone items.

🛠️ IV. Customs Clearance Practical Advice (Battle-Tested Pitfall Avoidance Guide)

✅ 1. Required Documentation Checklist (No Exceptions)

✅ 2. Declaration Tips (Key Mantra)

🔥 "Raw is Ch25, Worked is Ch68, Slate is 6803, Don't Mix Up!"

✅ 3. Special Case Handling

🌍 V. Global Market Clearance Comparison (2026 Latest)

📌 Conclusion:
- USA is the only major market imposing high additional surcharges (35%–41.5%) on Chinese natural stone;
- China, EU, UK, Japan, Australia, and other markets have no equivalent to US Section 301/122, resulting in significantly lower total tariffs;
- US-bound shipments face highest clearance costs, suggesting supply chain diversification or value-add processing outside China may be beneficial.

📌 VI. Common Mistakes & Pitfall Guide (Blood-Learning Lessons)

❌ Mistake 1: Declaring "Worked Stone" as "Raw Stone" to lower tariffs
👉 Consequence: Customs inspection reveals polishing/carving → Penalty + Back Taxes!

❌ Mistake 2: Mixing slate with other stones in one HS Code declaration
👉 Consequence: Misclassification → Delay, Inspection, or Rejection

❌ Mistake 3: Not specifying "Slate" in description, using generic "Natural Stone"
👉 Consequence: Customs may apply highest rate (41.5%) instead of slate rate (38.3%)

❌ Mistake 4: Using "Stone Slab" for polished tiles
👉 Consequence: If actually polished, should be 6802.10.00.00 (39.8%), not 2515.11.00.00 (35.0%) → Under-declaration penalty

✅ Correct Practice:

"Polished Marble Tiles, 60x60cm, Natural Calcareous Stone, Processed/Worked, for Flooring, Model XYZ, CIF Value $10,000"

🎯 VII. Conclusion: Precise Declaration Saves Time, Money, and Headaches!

🎯 Remember the Mantra:

🔹 "Raw is Ch25, Worked is Ch68, Slate is 6803, Don't Mix Up!"
🔹 "HS Code Determines Fate, Tariff Differs by 5–6%, One Mistake Costs Thousands!"

📌 Pro Tip:
- If your natural stone products are originating from Vietnam, India, Italy, Brazil, or other non-China countries, you may avoid US Section 301/122 surcharges, reducing tariffs to 0%–6.5%;
- Recommend applying for Advance Ruling (Pre-Classification) from US Customs (CBP) before shipment to avoid misclassification risks.

📣 Take Action Now:

📞 Contact a Professional Customs Broker + Provide Product Photos + Apply for HS Code Pre-Ruling
🚀 Let your natural stone products clear customs smoothly, export efficiently, and maximize profits!

✨ Professional Clearance Starts with Accurate Classification!
💼 Every Cent of Your Cost Deserves Precise Calculation!