7228.50.10.10 - Of ball-bearing steel

This HTS classification applies to bars and rods made from alloy steel, specifically those that have undergone cold forming or cold finishing. The defining characteristic of this category is the material composition: the steel is not of the basic alloy types covered in earlier headings but rather falls into the broader "other alloy steel" classification. This means it contains alloying elements beyond iron and carbon in proportions that impart specific properties, but does not fit into specialized alloy steel categories like tool steel or high-speed steel.

Within the broader category of "Other bars and rods, not further worked than cold-formed or cold-finished," this specific heading distinguishes itself from its sibling categories by its material. While siblings might cover bars and rods of other alloy steels, this particular code is dedicated to those classified as "tool steel (other than high-speed steel)." This distinction is critical, as tool steel possesses specific properties like hardness, wear resistance, and toughness, making it suitable for manufacturing tools for metalworking, woodworking, and other industrial applications. It is important to note that high-speed steel, a subset of tool steel with superior heat resistance, is excluded from this category.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, the classification rests solely on meeting the criteria of being an alloy steel bar or rod, not further worked than cold-formed or cold-finished, and specifically being of a type of tool steel that is not high-speed steel. Practical classification would involve examining the material composition according to established standards for alloy and tool steels, as well as verifying the cold-forming or cold-finishing processes applied to the bars or rods.