4403.21.01.15 - Fence posts

This HTS category encompasses coniferous wood in its rough form, specifically poles, piles, and posts that meet certain dimensional criteria. The wood must be of pine species (Pinus spp.) and exhibit a smallest cross-sectional dimension of 15 centimeters or more. This excludes any further processing beyond rough squaring or the removal of bark and sapwood.

Distinguishing this classification from its sibling category, 4403.21.01.12, is crucial. While both fall under the broader heading for poles, piles, and posts of pine, the immediate sibling is specifically designated for telephone, telegraph, and electrical power poles. This classification, conversely, covers general-purpose fence posts, meaning they are primarily intended for the construction of fencing structures, as opposed to supporting utility lines. The "Other" sibling category (4403.21.01.16) serves as a residual for any remaining poles, piles, or posts of pine that do not fit the specific definitions of electrical poles or fence posts.

As this is a leaf node in the HTS classification system, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, the classification of a specific item as a fence post under this heading relies solely on its material (pine), its form (pole, pile, or post), its smallest cross-sectional dimension (15 cm or more), and its intended use for fencing structures. Items that meet these criteria but are further processed, such as those treated for preservation or shaped into more refined components, would be classified elsewhere.