7403.29.01.10 - Copper-nickel base alloys (cupro-nickel) or copper-nickel-zinc base alloys (nickel silver)

This category specifically covers unwrought copper alloys where copper is the principal base metal, and the alloy is neither a master alloy nor a pre-defined alloy like brass, bronze, or aluminum bronze. It encompasses those alloys whose primary alloying elements, apart from copper, are nickel, or a combination of nickel and zinc. Examples include cupro-nickel alloys (often used for coinage, marine applications, and heat exchangers due to their corrosion resistance) and nickel-silver alloys (also known as German silver, utilized in cutlery, musical instruments, and decorative items for their silvery appearance and durability).

Distinguishing this category from its sibling, 7403.29.01.80 "Other," is crucial. While both fall under "Other copper alloys," this specific subheading is reserved for the enumerated copper-nickel and copper-nickel-zinc base alloys. The "Other" subheading would capture any unwrought copper alloys that do not fit the precise definition of brasses, bronzes, aluminum bronzes, copper-silicon alloys, copper-nickel alloys, or copper-nickel-zinc alloys already detailed in preceding subheadings.

As this is a leaf node, there are no further subcategories. Classification within this HTS code relies on identifying the presence and principal role of nickel, and potentially zinc, as alloying elements in unwrought copper-based metals that do not qualify for more specific classifications. The percentage composition of the alloying elements is key in determining whether an alloy falls under cupro-nickel or nickel-silver classifications within this broader group.