butter knife
CN β US| HS Code | Tariff Rate | Origin | Destination | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3924104000 | 13.4% | CN | US | Official Doc |
| 3924102000 | 24.0% | CN | US | Official Doc |
| 8211918060 | 0.0% | CN | US | Official Doc |
| 8211918030 | 0.0% | CN | US | Official Doc |
| 8215916000 | 21.7% | CN | US | Official Doc |
| 8215995000 | 15.3% | CN | US | Official Doc |
Product Images
AI Analysis
π½οΈ Butter Knife (ι»ζ²Ήε)
π HS Code Reference & Customs Clearance Guide | 2026 Latest Tariff Breakdown | Professional Import Strategy
π One, Product Definition & Classification: What Exactly Is a "Butter Knife"?
A butter knife is a small, flat-bladed utensil designed specifically for spreading butter, jam, or soft spreads on bread or toast. It is a classic component of tableware and is commonly used in dining settings, kitchens, and hospitality industries.
In international trade, butter knives are classified based on: - Material (metal, plastic, rubber, or coated) - Blade Type (fixed blade, non-serrated) - Use Case (dining, kitchen, decorative, or premium gift sets)
β οΈ Key Distinction:
- If the blade is made of non-precious metal (e.g., steel, iron) β 8211.91.50.60 / 8211.91.80.60
- If the blade has a precious metal coating (e.g., gold, silver) β 8215.91.90.00 / 8215.99.50.00
- If the blade is made of iron/steel and used as a kitchen tool β 7323.99.90.30
π¦ Two, HS Code Classification Details (2026 Latest Tariff Authority Comparison)
| HS Code | Product Description | Applicable Use Case | Material Logic | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
8211.91.50.60 |
Other cutlery, with fixed blade, for table use, not of precious metal | Standard butter knife with rubber/plastic handle | Handle: rubber/plastic; Blade: steel/iron | β Matches "dining utensil", not steak knife |
8211.91.80.60 |
Other cutlery, with fixed blade, for table use, not of precious metal | Butter knife with metal blade (non-precious) | Blade: steel/iron; Handle: unknown (assumed non-precious) | β Matches "fixed blade", "table use", no exclusion |
8215.91.90.00 |
Cutlery of precious metal or plated with precious metal, not elsewhere specified | Butter knife with gold/silver plating | Blade: steel core, plated with precious metal | β Matches "other" category; no material conflict |
8215.99.50.00 |
Other cutlery, not elsewhere specified, not of precious metal | General-purpose butter knife, non-plated | Blade: steel/iron; Handle: plastic/rubber | β Explicitly listed in classification notes |
7323.99.90.30 |
Tableware and kitchenware of iron or steel, not specified elsewhere | Steel/iron butter knife for kitchen use | Material: iron/steel; Use: kitchen/table | β Matches "kitchen or tableware" + "iron/steel" |
π Critical Insight:
- "Butter knife" is explicitly included in the classification notes under 8215.99.50.00 and 7323.99.90.30; - Rubber/plastic handles are not excluded from HS 8211.91.50.60; - Gold/silver plating triggers 8215.91.90.00, even if the base is steel.
π° Three, 2026 Latest Tariff Rate Breakdown (Withιε Taxes & Policy Clauses)
β Applicable Country: United States (US)
β Origin: China (CN)
β Effective Date: November 10, 2025 (inclusive of future imports)
π― 1. 8211.91.50.60 β Standard Butter Knife (Rubber/Plastic Handle, Fixed Blade)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Duty | 0.7Β’ each + 3.7% ad valorem |
| Additional Tariff | +7.5% (Section 301 U.S. Trade Act) |
| Section 122 Tariff | +10% (Section 122 of U.S. Trade Act) |
| Total Effective Duty | 0.7Β’ each + 3.7% + 7.5% + 10% = 21.2% |
| Tax Calculation | (CIF Value Γ 21.2%) + 0.7Β’ per unit |
| De Minimis Exemption | β Not applicable (denied under U.S. law) |
| Legal Basis Path | USITC:8211.91.50.60 β Section 301: 9903.88.01 β Section 122: 9903.01.24 |
π Explanation:
- 0.7Β’ per unit is a specific duty (per piece), common for small cutlery; - 3.7% is the standard MFN (Most Favored Nation) rate; - 7.5% is from Section 301 (U.S.-China trade war tariffs); - 10% is from Section 122, targeting goods from China with certain material content.
π― 2. 8211.91.80.60 β Butter Knife (Metal Blade, No Plating, Fixed)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Duty | 0.3Β’ each + 4.9% ad valorem |
| Additional Tariff | +7.5% (Section 301) |
| Section 122 Tariff | +10% (Section 122) |
| Total Effective Duty | 0.3Β’ each + 4.9% + 7.5% + 10% = 22.4% |
| Tax Calculation | (CIF Γ 22.4%) + 0.3Β’ per unit |
| De Minimis Exemption | β Not applicable |
| Legal Basis Path | USITC:8211.91.80.60 β Section 301: 9903.88.01 β Section 122: 9903.01.24 |
π Note:
- Slightly higher total rate than 8211.91.50.60 due to 4.9% base duty; - Still not exempt from 301 and 122 tariffs.
π― 3. 8215.91.90.00 β Butter Knife with Precious Metal Plating (e.g., Gold/Silver)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Duty | 2.7% ad valorem |
| Additional Tariff | +7.5% (Section 301) |
| Section 122 Tariff | +10% (Section 122) |
| Total Effective Duty | 20.2% |
| Tax Calculation | CIF Γ 20.2% |
| De Minimis Exemption | β Not applicable |
| Legal Basis Path | USITC:8215.91.90.00 β Section 301: 9903.88.01 β Section 122: 9903.01.24 |
π Key Point:
- Despite plating, the base material is still steel, so it falls under "other" category; - No material conflict β plating is allowed under 8215.91.90.00.
π― 4. 8215.99.50.00 β Other Cutlery (General Butter Knife, No Plating)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Duty | 5.3% ad valorem |
| Additional Tariff | 0.0% (no Section 301) |
| Section 122 Tariff | +10% (Section 122) |
| Total Effective Duty | 15.3% |
| Tax Calculation | CIF Γ 15.3% |
| De Minimis Exemption | β Not applicable |
| Legal Basis Path | USITC:8215.99.50.00 β Section 122: 9903.01.24 |
π Why This Matters:
- No 301 tariff (0.0%) β lower total rate than others; - But still subject to 10% Section 122 tariff; - Best choice for non-plated, non-precious metal butter knives.
π― 5. 7323.99.90.30 β Iron or Steel Tableware (Kitchen/Restaurant Use)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Duty | 3.4% ad valorem |
| Additional Tariff | +25.0% (Section 301 β Steel/Aluminum/Copper Products) |
| Section 122 Tariff | +10% |
| Steel/Aluminum/Copper Add-on | +50% (specific to steel/aluminum/copper products) |
| Total Effective Duty | 88.4% |
| Tax Calculation | CIF Γ 88.4% |
| De Minimis Exemption | β Not applicable |
| Legal Basis Path | USITC:7323.99.90.30 β Section 301: 9903.88.01 β Section 122: 9903.01.24 β Steel/Aluminum/Copper Add-on: 9903.01.25 |
β οΈ WARNING:
- This is the highest tariff rate in the list β 88.4%; - Applies only if the knife is classified as "steel kitchenware"; - Avoid this code unless the product is clearly a kitchen tool (e.g., industrial-grade, heavy-duty); - Misclassification can result in massive penalties.
π οΈ Four, Customs Clearance Best Practices (Pro Tips to Avoid Pitfalls)
β 1. Required Documentation (Must-Have Checklist)
| Document | Required? | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| β Product Specification Sheet | βοΈ | Material, dimensions, blade type, handle material |
| β Product Photos (with branding) | βοΈ | Show blade, handle, logo, packaging |
| β Commercial Invoice | βοΈ | Must state: "Butter Knife, Stainless Steel Blade, Plastic Handle, for Table Use" |
| β Bill of Lading / Packing List | βοΈ | Quantity, weight, packaging type |
| β Certificate of Origin (CO) | βοΈ | Critical for tariff eligibility |
| β Third-Party Test Report | βοΈ | RoHS, REACH, FDA (if food contact) |
| β Drawings / CAD Files | βοΈ | Prove fixed blade, no plating, etc. |
β 2.η³ζ₯ζε·§οΌKey TipsοΌ
π₯ "Handle Matters, Plating Changes Code, Steel Triggers 88.4%!"
| Scenario | Correct HS Code | Wrong Code | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic/rubber handle, steel blade | 8211.91.50.60 |
7323.99.90.30 |
88.4% tax! |
| Metal handle, no plating | 8211.91.80.60 |
8215.99.50.00 |
Wrong material logic |
| Gold-plated blade | 8215.91.90.00 |
8211.91.50.60 |
Under-taxed β penalties |
| Plain steel knife, used in kitchen | 7323.99.90.30 |
8215.99.50.00 |
Higher tax (88.4% vs 15.3%) |
β 3. Special Cases & Handling
| Case | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Butter knife set with 10 pieces | η³ζ₯δΈΊ "set of cutlery" β use 8211.91.50.60 or 8215.99.50.00 |
| Gift set with gold-plated knife | Use 8215.91.90.00 β do not split |
| Knife used in restaurant kitchen | Use 7323.99.90.30 β but only if truly industrial |
| Knife with custom engraving | Still falls under same code β no change in classification |
π Five, Global Market Customs Comparison (2026 Latest)
| Country/Region | Recommended HS Code | Tariff | Certification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πΊπΈ USA | 8215.99.50.00 (best) |
15.3% | FDA, RoHS | Avoid 7323.99.90.30 |
| π¨π³ China | 8215.99.50.00 |
5% | CCC | No extra tariffs |
| πͺπΊ EU | 8215.99.50.00 |
0% (if CE) | CE | No 301/122 tariffs |
| π¦πΊ Australia | 8215.99.50.00 |
5% | RCM | No extra tariffs |
| π―π΅ Japan | 8215.99.50.00 |
0% | PSE | No extra tariffs |
π Takeaway:
- USA has the highest risk due to Section 301 + 122 tariffs; - China-origin butter knives face 15.3%β88.4% depending on classification; - Non-plated, non-steel knives should avoid7323.99.90.30at all costs.
π Six, Common Mistakes & Avoidance Guide (Real-World Risks)
β Mistake 1: Classifying a plastic-handled butter knife as 7323.99.90.30
π Result: 88.4% tax β cost explosion!
β Mistake 2: Using 8211.91.50.60 for a gold-plated knife
π Result: Under-taxed β audits, fines, penalties
β Mistake 3: Not declaring plating on the invoice
π Result: Customs may reclassify β reassessment + delays
β Mistake 4: Splitting a set of 5 butter knives into individual items
π Result: Each unit triggers 0.7Β’ duty β total cost spikes
β Best Practice:
Use clear, precise product descriptions:
"Butter Knife, Stainless Steel Blade, Plastic Handle, 10 cm, for Table Use, Not Plated, 10 pcs per Box"
π― Seven, Conclusion: Precision in Classification = Profit Protection!
π― Remember the Golden Rule:
πΉ "Handle β Code, Plating β Premium, Steel β 88.4% β Know Your HS Code!"
πΉ "One wrong code = 5x tax, 10x penalty, 100x delay!"
π Pro Tip:
If your butter knife is originated in Vietnam, Mexico, Thailand, or Malaysia, you may qualify for IEEPA exemption β tariff drops to 0%β5%.
β Apply for Advance Ruling (Pre-Approval) before shipping!
π£ Act Now!
π Contact a licensed customs broker + provide product photos + material specs
π Get your HS Code pre-approved β avoid costly delays and penalties!
β¨ Professional Clearance Starts with Accurate Classification!
πΌ Your profit margin depends on the right code β choose wisely!
Customer Reviews
About HS Code Classification
The Harmonized System (HS) is an internationally standardized nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO) to classify traded products. Over 200 countries use the HS system as the basis for customs tariffs, trade statistics, and import/export regulations.
Each HS code follows a hierarchical structure:
- Chapter (2 digits) β Broad category of goods (e.g., Chapter 84: Machinery and Mechanical Appliances)
- Heading (4 digits) β More specific grouping within the chapter
- Subheading (6 digits) β Internationally standardized breakdown, used by all WCO member countries
- National subdivisions (8-10 digits) β Country-specific extensions for further classification, such as US HTSUS 10-digit codes
Correct HS code classification is essential for smooth customs clearance, accurate duty payment, and compliance with trade regulations. Misclassification can lead to customs delays, overpayment of duties, or penalties.
When importing from CN to US, the applicable tariff rates may include:
- Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) rate β The standard duty rate applied to WTO members
- General rate β Applied to countries without trade agreements
- Trade remedy duties β Additional tariffs such as Section 301 (anti-dumping), Section 232 (national security), or countervailing duties
The information provided on this page is for reference purposes only. For official classification, please consult with your local customs authority or a licensed customs broker.