4101.20 - Whole hides and skins, unsplit, of a weight per skin not exceeding 8 kg when simply dried, 10 kg when dry-salted, or 16 kg when fresh, wet-salted or otherwise preserved:

This HTS classification covers whole hides and skins of bovine (including buffalo) or equine animals that are unsplit and fall within specific weight limitations. These weight thresholds are critical for classification: not exceeding 8 kg when simply dried, 10 kg when dry-salted, or 16 kg when fresh, wet-salted, or otherwise preserved. The material at this stage is raw and has not undergone tanning or further preparation.

The key differentiator for this category, 4101.20, lies in the weight of the individual skins. It is distinct from sibling category 4101.50, which exclusively covers whole hides and skins exceeding 16 kg. Furthermore, it differs from 4101.90, which encompasses other parts of hides and skins, such as butts, bends, and bellies, rather than the whole unsplit article.

Within this category, further subdivisions exist based on the degree of pre-tanning. The subcategory 4101.20.10 specifically addresses hides and skins that have not been pretanned. The "Other" subcategories cater to those that have undergone some form of pre-tanning treatment, indicating variations in the preservation or initial preparation methods applied before they reach the tanning stage.