Commercial Phosphorus Trisulfide from China
Commercial phosphorus trisulfide (P4S3) is a yellow-gray crystalline powder used primarily in the manufacture of safety match heads and as a lubricant additive. It falls under HTS 2813.90.20.00 as a sulfide of phosphorus, specifically the 'other' category for commercial phosphorus trisulfide within the sulfides of nonmetals heading. This classification applies to chemically defined inorganic compounds of nonmetals per Chapter 28 notes.
Duty Rate — China → United States
35%
Rate breakdown
9903.03.0110%Except for products described in headings 9903.03.02–9903.03.11, articles the product of any country, as provided for in subdivision (aa) of U.S. note 2 to this subchapter
9903.88.0325%Except as provided in headings 9903.88.13, 9903.88.18, 9903.88.33, 9903.88.34, 9903.88.35, 9903.88.36, 9903.88.37, 9903.88.38, 9903.88.40, 9903.88.41, 9903.88.43, 9903.88.45, 9903.88.46, 9903.88.48, 9903.88.56, 9903.88.64, 9903.88.66, 9903.88.67, 9903.88.68, or 9903.88.69, articles the product of China, as provided for in U.S. note 20(e) to this subchapter and as provided for in the subheadings enumerated in U.S. note 20(f)
Import Tips
• Obtain safety data sheets (SDS) and ensure packaging meets UN hazardous materials standards for phosphorus compounds; verify purity to confirm 'chemically defined' status per Chapter 28 Note 1
• Common pitfall: misclassifying as organic due to sulfur content—it's inorganic