4707.30.00 - Paper or paperboard made mainly of mechanical pulp (for example, newspapers, journals and similar printed matter)

This HTS category, 4707.30.00, encompasses waste and scrap paper and paperboard that is primarily manufactured from mechanical pulp. This includes materials destined for or originating from printed matter such as newspapers, journals, and similar publications, where the pulp processing emphasizes retaining lignin, resulting in a less refined, often yellowish, paper. The key characteristic is the dominance of mechanical pulp over chemical pulp, impacting the paper's strength and longevity.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings, 4707.10.00.00 covers unbleached kraft paper or paperboard and corrugated paper or paperboard, which are distinct in their pulp type and structural properties. Furthermore, 4707.20.00 pertains to other paper or paperboard made mainly of bleached chemical pulp that is not colored in the mass, highlighting a difference in both pulp processing (bleached chemical vs. mechanical) and intended appearance. Finally, 4707.90.00.00 serves as a residual category for all other types of waste and scrap paper and paperboard not elsewhere specified, including unsorted materials.

Within the 4707.30.00 classification, further subcategories exist to refine the classification based on specific product types. These include 4707.30.00.20 for newsprint, which is a prime example of paper made from mechanical pulp, and 4707.30.00.40 for "other" materials within this group, allowing for a more granular breakdown of mechanically pulped waste paper and paperboard that may not strictly fit the definition of newsprint but still aligns with the primary criteria of this heading.