7222.11.00.01 - Electroslag or vacuum arc remelted

This HTS category, 7222.11.00.01, specifically covers bars and rods of stainless steel with a circular cross-section. These products have undergone either hot-rolling, hot-drawing, or extrusion processes, meaning they are not further worked beyond these initial shaping stages. The distinguishing feature of this subcategory is its inclusion of products that have been refined through electroslag remelting (ESR) or vacuum arc remelting (VAR) processes. These advanced metallurgical techniques are employed to achieve a higher degree of purity, reduce segregation, and improve the overall structural integrity of the stainless steel.

This classification distinguishes itself from its sibling category, 7222.11.00.06, by focusing on the remelting process rather than the alloy composition. While 7222.11.00.06 addresses high-nickel alloy steels, this category, 7222.11.00.01, applies to *any* stainless steel bar or rod of circular cross-section that has undergone ESR or VAR treatment, regardless of its specific nickel content, provided it is not a high-nickel alloy steel. The "Other:" sibling category, often used for residual classifications, would encompass stainless steel bars and rods of circular cross-section that are hot-rolled, hot-drawn, or extruded, but do not meet the specific criteria of being electroslag or vacuum arc remelted.

As this node represents a leaf node in the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, classification under 7222.11.00.01 is definitive for circular stainless steel bars and rods, not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn, or extruded, that have been refined using electroslag or vacuum arc remelting. Practical classification hinges on verifying the manufacturing process employed to produce the material.