7221.00.00 - Bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, of stainless steel

This HTS category, 7221.00.00, specifically covers hot-rolled bars and rods made from stainless steel, which are then wound into irregular coils. The key defining characteristics are the material (stainless steel), the manufacturing process (hot-rolled), and the form of presentation (irregularly wound coils). This ensures that only products meeting all these criteria are classified under this heading, distinguishing them from other steel products.

Within Section XV, Chapter 72, this heading focuses on a particular subset of stainless steel long products. Unlike other categories in Chapter 72 which might cover different forms of steel such as plates, sheets, wire, or structural shapes, or steel produced through different methods like cold-rolling, 7221.00.00 is precise about its scope. It also differentiates itself from categories that might cover non-stainless steel bars and rods, or stainless steel in other forms of coil winding.

The subcategories under 7221.00.00 provide further refinement based on material composition. "Of high-nickel alloy steel" designates those bars and rods that meet specific compositional requirements for high-nickel content. The "Other" category serves as a residual classification for all stainless steel bars and rods, hot-rolled in irregularly wound coils, that do not qualify for the more specific high-nickel alloy steel subdivision. This hierarchical structure allows for precise tariff application.