7108 - Gold (including gold plated with platinum) unwrought or in semimanufactured forms, or in powder form:

This HTS category, 7108, encompasses gold in its unworked or semi-finished states, as well as in powder form. This includes gold that has been plated with platinum. The scope is broad, covering raw gold for industrial use, investment purposes, or further manufacturing into jewelry and other precious items.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings at the root level, such as live animals (Chapters 01), is straightforward due to the fundamental difference in product type and material. Chapter 71 as a whole is dedicated to precious and semi-precious materials, and 7108 specifically targets gold in its primary forms, differentiating it from finished articles of precious metal or gemstones found in later headings within the same chapter.

Within HTS 7108, a key distinction is made between gold intended for monetary purposes and that which is not. The subcategory ".10" generally covers non-monetary gold, which is gold used for industrial, commercial, or artistic applications. The subcategory ".20" is reserved for monetary gold, referring to gold held by central banks or international financial institutions in forms that are legal tender or intended for monetary reserves. This division reflects the distinct economic and regulatory treatments applied to gold based on its intended use.