9903.01.49 - Except for goods loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading and in transit on the final mode of transit before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 9, 2025, except for products described in headings 9903.01.28-9903.01.33, and except as provided for in heading 9903.01.34, articles the product of Nicaragua or Zimbabwe, as provided for in subdivision (v) of U.S. note 2 to this subchapter [Compiler's note: provision terminated. See 90 Fed. Reg. 37963.]

This HTS category, 9903.01.49, pertains to specific temporary import restrictions placed on articles originating from Nicaragua or Zimbabwe. These restrictions are a component of Section XXII, which addresses Special Classification Provisions and Temporary Legislation. The primary function of this heading is to implement specific trade policies or agreements that may alter the standard duty or import eligibility for goods from these designated countries.

Unlike the vast majority of HTS categories which classify goods by their inherent physical characteristics (e.g., live animals, machinery, textiles), Chapter 99 headings are reserved for temporary legislation and modifications. Therefore, 9903.01.49 does not classify goods based on their nature but rather on their country of origin and specific temporal or conditional exemptions. While sibling categories at the broadest level (e.g., Chapter 01 for live animals) define goods by product type, this heading defines goods by their restrictive status under temporary U.S. trade legislation.

As a leaf node, HTS 9903.01.49 does not have further subcategories. Its classification is determined by the precise criteria outlined in its description: the product must be from Nicaragua or Zimbabwe, and not fall under the specified exceptions, which include goods already in transit before a certain date and products covered by other specific temporary provisions. The "Compiler's note" indicates the termination of a prior provision, highlighting the dynamic nature of these temporary legislative classifications.