7616 - Other articles of aluminum:

Heading 7616 encompasses a broad range of articles manufactured from aluminum, which are not specifically covered by more precise headings within Chapter 76 or other chapters of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. This residual category is for miscellaneous aluminum items that do not fit into specialized groupings for aluminum wires, cables, plates, sheets, foil, tubes, pipes, or specific manufactured articles like kitchenware or structural components. The key criterion for classification under 7616 is that the article is predominantly made of aluminum and lacks a more specific tariff classification.

When considering classification within Section XV, which deals with base metals and articles thereof, 7616 functions as a catch-all for aluminum goods. It is crucial to differentiate 7616 from other headings within Chapter 76, such as those for aluminum foil (7607), aluminum tubes and pipes (7608, 7609), or specific manufactured articles like aluminum cookware (7615). Furthermore, it must be distinguished from similar articles made of other base metals that would be classified under corresponding headings in chapters for iron and steel (73), copper (74), nickel (75), lead (78), zinc (79), tin (80), or other base metals (81). The primary differentiator remains the material composition – exclusively or predominantly aluminum – and the absence of a more specific tariff line.

The subcategories under 7616 provide a means to further refine the classification of these diverse aluminum articles. For instance, subheading 7616.10 specifically addresses a common group of metal fasteners, including nails, tacks, staples, screws, bolts, nuts, washers, and similar articles made of aluminum. The residual "Other" category within 7616 is for all other aluminum articles not falling under 7616.10, requiring careful examination of the article's form, function, and material to determine the correct classification within this broad residual heading.