7318.23.00.00 - Rivets

This HTS category, 7318.23.00.00, specifically covers **rivets** manufactured from iron or steel. Rivets are mechanical fasteners with a smooth cylindrical shaft and a head on one end. They are typically used to join two or more materials together by passing the shaft through pre-drilled holes and then deforming the free end to form a second head, thereby securing the materials. This classification applies to all types of iron and steel rivets, regardless of their specific design or application, as long as they are non-threaded.

It is crucial to distinguish rivets from their sibling categories within the broader heading 7318. Unlike spring washers and other lock washers (7318.21.00) or other types of washers (7318.22.00.00), rivets do not function as bearing surfaces or to distribute load. They also differ from cotters and cotter pins (7318.24.00.00) and other miscellaneous non-threaded articles (7318.29.00.00), as their primary purpose is permanent mechanical joining through deformation.

As a leaf node, HTS category 7318.23.00.00 does not have further subdivisions. Therefore, classification within this code hinges on correctly identifying the article as a rivet made of iron or steel and ensuring it is non-threaded. The distinction from threaded fasteners (which fall under other main headings within 7318) is also a key differentiator. Examples include solid rivets, hollow rivets, and blind rivets, all made from iron or steel.