7224.10.00 - Ingots and other primary forms

This HTS classification, 7224.10.00, specifically covers ingots and other primary forms of "other alloy steel." This designation excludes stainless steel and high-speed alloy steel, which are classified elsewhere. The forms included are typically the initial cast shapes produced from the melting and alloying process, such as large blocks or rough castings, ready for further processing like rolling or forging. The key characteristic is that these are unfinished, primary forms of alloy steel that do not yet possess the characteristics of semi-finished or finished products.

It is crucial to distinguish this category from its sibling, 7224.90.00, which covers "Other" forms of other alloy steel. While 7224.10.00 is limited to the initial ingot and primary stages, 7224.90.00 would encompass semi-finished products like blooms, billets, or slabs, as well as other forms not meeting the definition of primary ingots. Therefore, the distinction lies in the stage of manufacture and the degree of further processing the steel has undergone.

Within the subcategories of 7224.10.00, we find a division based on the specific alloying elements. Specifically, 7224.10.00.05 segregates ingots and primary forms of "high-nickel alloy steel." The subsequent "Other" subcategory, which is implied by the structure and often represented by a blank entry that would be further specified by the importing country, captures all other types of "other alloy steel" in their primary forms that are not specifically high-nickel alloys. This allows for more granular tracking and tariff application based on the dominant alloying composition.