7604 - Aluminum bars, rods and profiles:

This HTS category, 7604, encompasses a wide range of aluminum forms that are generally characterized by their cross-sectional shape and length. It specifically includes bars, rods, and profiles made from aluminum, or aluminum alloys. Bars and rods are typically solid and have a uniform cross-section, while profiles are extruded or shaped aluminum products with more complex and often non-uniform cross-sections, designed for specific applications like window frames or structural components. The key defining characteristic is the shape and the fact that these are not wire, plate, sheet, or foil.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings at the database root is crucial for accurate classification. Section 01, for instance, deals exclusively with live animals. Other sections and chapters cover vastly different commodities such as agricultural products, textiles, machinery, and vehicles. Within Section XV, which covers base metals and articles thereof, this category stands apart from other aluminum articles like ingots (7601), wire (7605), or foil (7607) by focusing on extruded or formed shapes of a certain length and cross-sectional complexity.

The subcategories within 7604 serve to further refine the classification based on the composition of the aluminum. The primary distinction is between bars, rods, and profiles that are made of unalloyed aluminum (7604.10) and those that are made of aluminum alloys. This differentiation is important for customs purposes as the properties and potential uses, and therefore the tariff treatment, can vary significantly between pure aluminum and its alloys.