7018.10 - Glass beads, imitation pearls, imitation precious or semiprecious stones and similar glass smallwares:

HTS Code 7018.10 encompasses a range of small glass articles, primarily focusing on decorative and imitation items. This category includes glass beads, which are small, typically drilled pieces of glass used in jewelry making, crafts, and other decorative applications. It also covers imitation pearls, which are designed to resemble natural pearls but are made of glass. The scope extends to imitation precious or semiprecious stones, manufactured from glass to mimic the appearance of valuable gemstones. Finally, "similar glass smallwares" are included, referring to other small glass items that share the characteristics of beads, imitation pearls, or imitation stones in terms of their material and general use as decorative components or small ornamental objects.

This classification is distinct from its sibling category, 7018.20.00.00, which specifically pertains to glass microspheres not exceeding 1 mm in diameter. While both involve small glass items, 7018.10 focuses on shaped and often polished articles with a decorative or imitative purpose, whereas 7018.20.00.00 is exclusively for microscopic, spherical glass particles.

Within HTS 7018.10, further distinctions are made through its subcategories. 7018.10.10.00 precisely defines imitation pearls and imitation pearl beads, regardless of their shape, color, or whether they are drilled, as long as they are not temporarily strung or set. 7018.10.20.00 then addresses imitation precious or semiprecious stones, with the explicit exclusion of imitation beads thereof, indicating a focus on larger or more distinctly shaped imitation gemstone pieces. The residual subcategory, 7018.10.50.00, captures any other small glass wares that fall under the general description of 7018.10 but do not fit the more specific criteria of the preceding subcategories.