4408.31.01.00 - Dark Red Meranti, Light Red Meranti and Meranti Bakau

This HTS category, 4408.31.01.00, specifically covers sheets for veneering, plywood, or similar laminated wood, as well as other wood sawn lengthwise, sliced, or peeled, with a thickness not exceeding 6 mm. The defining characteristic for this classification is that the wood originates from specific tropical species: Dark Red Meranti, Light Red Meranti, and Meranti Bakau. These woods are often utilized for their aesthetic qualities and structural properties in the production of furniture, cabinetry, and decorative paneling. The wood may be further processed by planing, sanding, splicing, or end-jointing.

This category is distinguished from its sibling, 4408.39.02, which encompasses "Other" tropical wood sheets for similar applications. The key differentiator lies in the precise identification of the wood species. While 4408.39.02 would include tropical woods not specifically enumerated within the Dark Red Meranti, Light Red Meranti, and Meranti Bakau groups, this category is dedicated exclusively to those particular species. This precise species designation is crucial for accurate tariff application.

As this is a leaf node, there are no further subcategories within 4408.31.01.00. Therefore, the classification is finalized at this level, contingent upon the wood being identified as Dark Red Meranti, Light Red Meranti, or Meranti Bakau and meeting the other criteria of Chapter 44, specifically within the context of sheets for veneering or similar wood products not exceeding 6 mm in thickness.