4016.99.03.00 - Containers, with or without their closures, of a kind used for the packing, transporting or marketing of merchandise

This HTS category, 4016.99.03.00, encompasses a broad range of containers manufactured from vulcanized rubber, excluding hard rubber. The defining characteristic is their intended use for the packing, transporting, or marketing of merchandise. This can include a variety of flexible or semi-rigid rubber receptacles, such as bags, pouches, sleeves, and linings, designed to hold and protect goods during their journey through the supply chain, from manufacturer to end consumer.

It is crucial to distinguish this category from its siblings. While 4016.99.05.00 covers general household articles of rubber, this category is specifically limited to containers used for merchandise. Similarly, 4016.99.10.00 pertains to handles and knobs, and 4016.99.15.00 specifically classifies caps, lids, seals, stoppers, and other closures. Therefore, items must primarily function as a container for goods to fall under 4016.99.03.00.

As a leaf node, this classification does not have further subdivisions. Consequently, classification within this category hinges on the explicit intended use of the rubber article as a container for packing, transporting, or marketing merchandise. If the article, while made of vulcanized rubber, serves a different primary purpose, such as being a household item or a component like a handle, it would be classified elsewhere within the 4016.99 subheading.