7013.99.20.00 - Pressed and toughened (specially tempered)

This HTS classification, 7013.99.20.00, specifically covers pressed and toughened (specially tempered) glassware intended for table, kitchen, toilet, office, indoor decoration, or similar purposes, excluding items covered under headings 7010 and 7018. The key defining characteristics are the manufacturing process – specifically pressing to form the shape and then toughening through a tempering process to enhance durability and resistance to thermal and mechanical shock. This category encompasses a wide array of utilitarian and decorative glass items that benefit from these specific treatments.

The distinction between this category and its sibling, 7013.99.10.00, lies primarily in the decorative elements and inherent glass characteristics. While 7013.99.10.00 focuses on glassware with specific embedded decorative effects like metal flecking, pictorial scenes, millefiori, or characteristic bubble/seed distribution, 7013.99.20.00 is reserved for glassware whose primary distinguishing feature is its pressed and tempered nature, regardless of whether it possesses these elaborate decorative inclusions. Therefore, simple pressed and tempered glassware, even if it has a basic color, would fall here, whereas glassware with the described embedded or inherent decorative features would be classified under the sibling category.

As this is a leaf node in the HTS, there are no further subcategories to introduce. Classification decisions within this HTS code will therefore hinge on a precise determination of whether the glassware has undergone both pressing and toughening (tempering) processes and its intended use aligns with the broader scope of heading 7013. Examples of items that would likely fall under this classification include tempered pressed glass tumblers, bowls, plates, and decorative items where the durability imparted by tempering is a significant characteristic.