4820.30.00.20 - Looseleaf binders

This category encompasses looseleaf binders specifically designed to hold paper sheets in an organized manner, typically through mechanical or ring-binding mechanisms. These binders are distinguished from other stationery items by their primary function of filing and organizing loose-leaf documents rather than serving as pre-printed forms or simple covers. The materials used are predominantly paper or paperboard, as stipulated by Chapter 48.

Distinguishing this category from its sibling, 4820.30.00.40 ("Other"), is key. While "Other" would capture any binders not specifically categorized elsewhere within the 4820.30.00 heading, this specific code is reserved for the distinct type of looseleaf binder. The essential differentiating factor is the inherent design and purpose of a looseleaf binder, which is to facilitate the insertion and removal of individual pages, unlike more general folder or file cover types.

As a leaf node within the HTS, there are no further subdivisions under 4820.30.00.20. Therefore, classification under this code is definitive for any item fitting the description of a looseleaf binder, provided it meets the material requirements of the chapter. Examples include standard three-ring binders, lever arch binders, and any similar mechanism that allows for the secure but removable attachment of loose paper sheets.