7502 - Unwrought nickel:

This HTS category, 7502, encompasses unwrought nickel, meaning nickel that has not been further worked beyond its initial smelting and casting processes. This includes nickel in its primary forms, such as ingots, pigs, cakes, and powders, prior to being manufactured into more refined products or alloys. The classification is focused on the raw material state of nickel itself.

To distinguish this category from its siblings within the HTS, it's important to note that Chapter 75 specifically deals with nickel and articles thereof. Categories at the same high level (e.g., 0101 for live horses) pertain to entirely different product groups, such as live animals. Category 7502 is therefore unique in its focus on the unprocessed form of the base metal nickel.

Within unwrought nickel, HTS category 7502 is further divided into two subcategories: 7502.10 for nickel not alloyed, and 7502.20 for nickel alloys. This distinction is critical for tariff purposes, as the presence or absence of alloying elements significantly impacts the material's properties and subsequent use, thereby necessitating different tariff treatments upon import or export.