7215.10.00 - Of free-cutting steel, not further worked than cold-formed or cold-finished

This HTS category, 7215.10.00, specifically classifies bars and rods made of iron or non-alloy steel that are designated as "free-cutting steel." The key characteristic here is that these products have undergone no further processing beyond cold-forming or cold-finishing. Free-cutting steels are a type of carbon steel that have been intentionally alloyed with elements like sulfur or lead to improve their machinability, allowing for faster and more efficient cutting operations.

This classification is distinct from its siblings within the 7215.10.00 group. While other categories under 7215 may also cover bars and rods not further worked than cold-formed or cold-finished, 7215.10.00 is exclusively for those made from free-cutting steel. For instance, 7215.50.00 would cover other types of non-alloy steel bars and rods that have undergone similar cold-working but do not possess the specific free-cutting properties.

The subcategories under 7215.10.00 further refine this classification based on composition. 7215.10.00.10 distinguishes those free-cutting steel bars and rods containing a significant amount of lead (0.1 percent or more by weight), which is a common additive to enhance free-cutting properties. The residual category, 7215.10.00.80, covers all other free-cutting steel bars and rods that do not meet the specific lead content criteria of the preceding subheading, encompassing those with other free-cutting alloying elements or lower lead content.