7404.00.30.20 - Of refined copper

This HTS category, 7404.00.30.20, specifically covers waste and scrap materials that are derived from refined copper. Refined copper, by definition, has undergone a purification process to achieve a high degree of purity, typically exceeding 99% copper by weight. Therefore, the goods classified here are not just any copper-containing refuse, but those with a significant concentration of purified copper. Examples include clippings from pure copper sheets, discarded pure copper wire that has lost its utility, and other manufacturing byproducts composed primarily of refined copper.

It is crucial to distinguish this category from its sibling, "Of copper alloys." While both concern copper waste and scrap, this classification is exclusively for materials where the base metal is refined copper, not a mixture of copper with other metals like zinc (brass) or tin (bronze). The classification hinges on the absence of significant alloying elements and the purity of the copper content.

As this is a leaf node, there are no further subdivisions under this specific HTS code. Classification at this level is definitive, focusing solely on whether the waste or scrap material consists of refined copper as the primary and overwhelming component, as opposed to copper alloys. The key determinant is the metallurgical composition, specifically the high percentage of refined copper by weight, distinguishing it from other forms of copper waste and scrap.