7215 - Other bars and rods of iron or nonalloy steel:

HTS code 7215 encompasses bars and rods made from iron or nonalloy steel that do not fit into more specific categories within Chapter 72. This classification is intended for items that have undergone shaping processes beyond initial hot-rolling, such as cold-forming or cold-finishing, but have not been subjected to further significant working like threading, twisting, or coiling. The key defining characteristic is the material composition – iron or nonalloy steel – and the absence of more specialized treatments or forms that would lead them to a different HTS heading.

Distinguishing 7215 from its sibling categories requires a focus on the material and the extent of processing. While other headings within Chapter 72 might cover specialized alloy steels, stainless steels, or forms like wire rod or structural shapes, 7215 specifically addresses the more general "other" bars and rods of iron or nonalloy steel. It serves as a catch-all for these common semi-finished metal products once they have moved beyond basic hot-rolled forms and are not further modified into finished goods like fasteners or springs.

Within HTS code 7215, further subdivisions exist to refine classification based on the specific method of cold-finishing and the type of steel. Subheadings such as 7215.10.00 and 7215.50.00 differentiate between bars and rods made from free-cutting steel versus other types of nonalloy steel, respectively, provided they are not further worked than cold-formed or cold-finished. The broader category 7215.90.00 captures any "other" bars and rods of iron or nonalloy steel that do not meet the criteria for the more specific subheadings, indicating further processing or unique characteristics not covered elsewhere.