8207.70 - Tools for milling, and parts thereof:

This HTS category, 8207.70, specifically covers tools designed for milling operations, along with their associated parts. Milling tools are characterized by their ability to remove material by rotating a cutting tool that has multiple cutting edges. This broad classification encompasses a wide array of milling cutters, such as end mills, face mills, shell mills, and hobbing cutters, used in various machining processes to shape metal and other materials.

It is crucial to distinguish 8207.70 from its sibling categories. For instance, while 8207.20 pertains to dies for drawing or extruding metal, and 8207.40 covers tools for tapping or threading, 8207.70 is solely dedicated to the cutting actions specific to milling. Similarly, it is distinct from rock drilling or earth boring tools (which fall under a different subheading), and general drilling tools (8207.50). The defining characteristic for this category is the milling function performed by the tool.

The subcategories within 8207.70 further refine classification based on the composition of the cutting edge. 8207.70.30 applies to milling tools where the cutting part contains specific alloying elements at defined weight percentages, namely over 0.2 percent of chromium, molybdenum, or tungsten, or over 0.1 percent of vanadium. This distinction is important for determining import duties, as these more specialized alloys often indicate higher performance characteristics. The residual category, 8207.70.60, covers all other milling tools and parts thereof not meeting the criteria for the preceding subheading.