7002 - Glass in balls (other than microspheres of heading 7018), rods or tubes, unworked:

Heading 7002 encompasses unworked glass in specific basic forms: balls, rods, and tubes. This category is reserved for glass that has not undergone significant shaping, processing, or finishing, such as blowing, molding into articles, or polishing. The emphasis is on the raw material state of the glass, intended for further manufacturing or specialized applications.

Distinguishing this heading from its siblings within the HTS system is crucial. Unlike other headings in Chapter 70 that might cover finished glassware (like bottles, tableware, or optical instruments), or even different forms of glass like plate or sheet glass (7003-7006), 7002 focuses strictly on these three rudimentary glass shapes. Furthermore, it explicitly excludes microspheres of heading 7018, which are distinct in their size and typical applications.

Within heading 7002, the classification further refines based on the specific form of the unworked glass. The subcategories are designed to differentiate between glass in the form of solid spheres (balls), cylindrical extrusions (rods), and hollow cylinders (tubes). This division allows for more precise tariff application based on the physical geometry of the glass material, which often dictates its subsequent use in manufacturing processes or end products.