9202.90 - Other:

This category, HTS 9202.90, encompasses string musical instruments that are not played with a bow. Unlike the sibling category 9202.10.00.00, which specifically covers bowed string instruments such as violins and cellos, this section is for instruments that produce sound through the vibration of strings by other means. This includes a wide array of instruments that rely on plucking, strumming, or striking to generate music.

The primary characteristic for classification under 9202.90 is the method of actuating the strings to produce sound. If the instrument's design and intended use involve plucking (like harps or lyres), strumming (like guitars or ukuleles), or striking (like pianos or dulcimers), it will fall within this broader "other" classification. This distinguishes it from instruments where a bow is the essential mechanism for string vibration.

Within this category, further subdivisions exist to provide more granular classification. The subcategory 9202.90.60.00, for instance, clarifies a specific type of instrument within this broader group, such as "Guitars," indicating that even within non-bowed string instruments, there are distinct types that warrant their own specific tariff lines for accurate customs processing. These subcategories aid in distinguishing between different types of plucked or strummed instruments, facilitating more precise import and export declarations.