8310.00.00.00 - Sign plates, name plates, address plates and similar plates, numbers, letters and other symbols, and parts thereof, of base metal, excluding those of heading 9405

This HTS category, 8310.00.00.00, encompasses various types of plates and symbols manufactured from base metals, intended for identification, signage, or decorative purposes. Examples include house numbers, street signs, business nameplates, locker tags, and decorative metal letters or numbers. The key defining characteristic is their manufacture from base metal (such as iron, steel, aluminum, copper, or nickel) and their function as distinct markers or identifiers, excluding items primarily considered lighting fixtures or decorative art as per heading 9405.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings requires careful consideration of material and function. While other sections of the HTS cover a vast array of goods, 8310.00.00.00 is specifically for base metal articles used as plates, symbols, and similar items. For instance, goods in Section VII (Plastics and Articles Thereof) or Section IX (Wood and Articles of Wood) with similar functions would be classified elsewhere based on their primary material. Furthermore, the exclusion of heading 9405 ensures that items primarily serving as lighting components, even if they bear numbers or symbols, are not misclassified here.

As this HTS code represents a leaf node, there are no further subdivisions under 8310.00.00.00. Classification within this category relies on the confirmation that the article is made of base metal and serves the described purpose of a sign plate, name plate, address plate, or similar identifying symbol, including numbers, letters, and other distinct symbols of base metal. The presence of parts thereof also means that components specifically designed for these plates and symbols are included under this heading.