3401.20.00.00 - Soap in other forms

This HTS category, 3401.20.00.00, encompasses soap presented in forms other than bars, cakes, molded pieces, or shapes. This specifically includes soap that is not manufactured into solid, discrete units for retail sale in that form. Examples might include soap in powder, flake, or granule form, as well as soap that is primarily an ingredient in a larger product but not yet in its final retail presentation as a bar or cake. The key distinguishing factor is its physical form, moving beyond the typical solidified presentations.

This category is distinct from its sibling, 3401.10, which covers soap in solid forms like bars, cakes, and molded pieces, as well as soap-impregnated paper, wadding, felt, and nonwovens. It also differs from 3401.30, which is reserved for liquid or cream organic surface-active washing preparations for skin that are packaged for retail sale. Therefore, 3401.20.00.00 serves as a catch-all for soap products that do not fit into these more defined solid or retail liquid/cream formats.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories. Classification under 3401.20.00.00 hinges on the soap being in a form that is neither a solid bar/cake/molded piece nor a retail-ready liquid/cream washing preparation. Careful consideration of the product's physical state and intended use at the point of import is crucial for accurate classification.