9617.00 - Vacuum flasks and other vacuum vessels, complete; parts thereof other than glass inners:

This HTS category, 9617.00, encompasses vacuum flasks and other vacuum vessels designed for maintaining temperature. This includes a wide array of insulated containers intended for both hot and cold beverages and food. The scope is broad, covering items such as thermoses, insulated food jars, and portable coolers, provided they are complete units. Crucially, this classification specifically excludes glass inners, which are treated separately.

While other categories within the broader HTS system might cover containers or specific types of vessels, 9617.00 is distinguished by its focus on vacuum insulation technology. Its sibling categories, spanning diverse product types from live animals to complex machinery, do not share this specific functional characteristic of thermal insulation through vacuum. The defining feature here is the construction method and purpose of retaining temperature.

Within 9617.00, two primary subdivisions exist to refine classification. The first, often represented by an empty designation or a specific subheading if explicitly defined, covers the complete vacuum vessels themselves. The second, 9617.00.60.00, specifically addresses "Parts" of these vacuum vessels. This distinction is important for importers and exporters as it allows for separate accounting and potential duty rate application for individual components versus finished goods.