3402.49.10.00 - Aromatic or modified aromatic

This HTS classification, 3402.49.10.00, specifically covers aromatic or modified aromatic organic surface-active agents. These are chemical compounds that reduce the surface tension between liquids or between a liquid and a solid, and possess an aromatic structure or have been chemically modified to incorporate aromatic properties. This heading encompasses a wide range of such agents that are not soap and are not specifically covered by other categories within heading 3402. Their application is broad, including use in detergents, emulsifiers, wetting agents, and dispersants across various industrial and consumer products.

The distinction of this category from its sibling, 3402.49.90.00 "Other," lies in the specific chemical nature of the surface-active agent. While 3402.49.90.00 serves as a residual category for any other organic surface-active agents not elsewhere specified within the "Other" sub-grouping, 3402.49.10.00 is dedicated to those with a defined aromatic or modified aromatic character. Therefore, classification into 3402.49.10.00 hinges on the identification of the aromatic nucleus or the presence of aromatic functional groups within the molecule of the surface-active agent.

As this classification represents a leaf node, there are no further subcategories to introduce. Classification at this level is definitive based on the criteria of being an organic surface-active agent, not soap, and possessing an aromatic or modified aromatic chemical structure. When classifying goods under this heading, one should confirm that the product functions as a surface-active agent and that its molecular composition includes aromatic rings or derivatives thereof, differentiating it from aliphatic or other non-aromatic organic surface-active agents that might fall under different HTS provisions.