9205.10.00 - Brass-wind instruments

This HTS category, 9205.10.00, specifically encompasses brass-wind musical instruments. These instruments produce sound through the vibration of the player's lips against a mouthpiece, causing a column of air within the instrument to resonate. Common examples include trumpets, trombones, tubas, French horns, and euphoniums, typically constructed from brass or other metal alloys. The defining characteristic is the method of sound production, relying on the player's embouchure.

This classification is distinct from its sibling category, 9205.90, which covers "Other" wind instruments not specifically classified elsewhere within heading 9205. For instance, 9205.90 would include woodwind instruments like clarinets or flutes, which produce sound by the player blowing across an edge or through a reed, and other less common wind instruments. Therefore, the key differentiator is the material and the specific mechanism of sound generation.

Within the 9205.10.00 classification for brass-wind instruments, further subdivisions exist based on value. The subcategories 9205.10.00.40 and 9205.10.00.80 distinguish between brass-wind instruments valued at $10 or less each and those valued at over $10 each, respectively. This valuation-based distinction is often used for statistical purposes or to apply specific duty rates or import regulations based on the economic value of the instruments.