Section VI: Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
Chapter 36: Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations
Chapter 36 of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule covers Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations and sits within Section VI: Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries.
About Chapter 36
Chapter 36 contains 19 10-digit statistical lines grouped under 3 4-digit headings. Brokers, importers, and customs counsel use these codes to declare explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations on entry summaries (CBP Form 7501) and to look up the applicable Column 1, Special, and Column 2 duty rates.
General (Column 1) duty rates for ad-valorem lines in Chapter 36 range from 0.2% to 6.5%, with a median of 3%. About 11% of the chapter's lines (2 of 19) enter duty-free under the general rate. Special-program rates (USMCA, KORUS, GSP, AGOA, and others) and Chapter 99 overlays modify these base rates for qualifying shipments.
Every code page links into the Tandom Tariff Calculator with the HTS code prefilled, so you can compute the full landed duty for a specific shipment by entering value, country of origin, and (where relevant) material content or date of entry. Tandom's data refreshes daily from USITC HTSUS, CBP CSMS, the Federal Register, and the Department of Commerce — the same authoritative sources the trade community files against.
3601Propellant powders
3601Propellant powders| Code | Description | General | Column 2 | Special | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3601.00.00.00 | Propellant powders | 3.25% | 60% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | kg |
3602
3602| Code | Description | General | Column 2 | Special | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3602.00.00 | Prepared explosives, other than propellant powders | Free | Free | — | — |
| 3602.00.00.30 | Dynamite and other high explosives, put up in cartridges, sticks or other forms, suitable for blasting | — | — | — | kg |
| 3602.00.00.60 | Other | — | — | — | kg |
3603Safety fuses; detonating cords; percussion or detonating caps; igniters; electric detonators:
3603Safety fuses; detonating cords; percussion or detonating caps; igniters; electric detonators:| Code | Description | General | Column 2 | Special | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3603.10.00.00 | Safety fuses | 3% | 8.3% | Free (A*,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | thousand m |
| 3603.20.00.00 | Detonating cords | 3% | 8.3% | Free (A*,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | thousand m |
| 3603.30.00.00 | Percussion caps | 4.2% | 30% | Free (A*,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | thousands |
| 3603.40.00.00 | Detonating caps | 0.2% | 0.3% | Free (A*,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | No. |
| 3603.50.00.00 | Igniters | 0.2% | 0.3% | Free (A*,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | No. |
| 3603.60.00.00 | Electric detonators | 0.2% | 0.3% | Free (A*,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | No. |
3604Fireworks, signaling flares, rain rockets, fog signals and other pyrotechnic articles:
3604Fireworks, signaling flares, rain rockets, fog signals and other pyrotechnic articles:| Code | Description | General | Column 2 | Special | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3604.10 | Fireworks: | — | — | — | — |
| 3604.10.10.00 | ·Display or special fireworks (Class 1.3G) | 2.4% | 12.5% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | kg |
| 3604.10.90 | ·Other (including Class 1.4G) | 5.3% | 12.5% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | — |
| 3604.10.90.10 | ··Class 1.4G (Class C) | — | — | — | kg |
| 3604.10.90.50 | ··Other | — | — | — | kg |
| 3604.90.00.00 | Other | 6.5% | 40% | Free (A*,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | kg |
3605
3605| Code | Description | General | Column 2 | Special | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3605.00.00 | Matches, other than pyrotechnic articles of heading 3604 | Free | 20¢/gross of immediate containers | — | — |
| 3605.00.00.30 | Matches with natural wood stems | — | — | — | kg |
| 3605.00.00.60 | Other | — | — | — | kg |
3606Ferrocerium and other pyrophoric alloys in all forms; articles of combustible materials as specified in note 2 to this chapter:
3606Ferrocerium and other pyrophoric alloys in all forms; articles of combustible materials as specified in note 2 to this chapter:| Code | Description | General | Column 2 | Special | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3606.10.00.00 | Liquid or liquefied-gas fuels in containers of a kind used for filling or refilling cigarette or similar lighters and of a capacity not exceeding 300 cm3 | Free | Free | — | No. |
| 3606.90 | Other: | — | — | — | — |
| 3606.90.30.00 | ·Ferrocerium and other pyrophoric alloys | 5.9% | 56.7% | Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA,OM,P, PA,PE,S,SG) | kg |
| 3606.90.40.00 | ·Metaldehyde | Free | 25% | — | kg |
| 3606.90.80.00 | ·Other | 5% | 25% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | kg |
Frequently asked questions
What does HTS Chapter 36 cover?
Chapter 36 of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) covers Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations. It sits within Section VI: Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries. Tandom's catalog lists all 19 10-digit statistical lines and 3 4-digit headings in this chapter.
What is the typical U.S. duty rate for Chapter 36 imports?
General (Column 1) duty rates for ad-valorem lines range from 0.2% to 6.5% (median 3%); roughly 15% of lines enter duty-free. Use the calculator linked from each code page to compute the full landed rate, including Section 301/232 overlays, IEEPA tariffs, and AD/CVD deposits where applicable.
Are Section 301 or Section 232 tariffs applied to Chapter 36 products?
Section 301 (China) and Section 232 (steel, aluminum, copper) tariffs are layered on top of the base HTSUS rate via Chapter 99 provisions. Whether they apply to a specific 10-digit line in Chapter 36 depends on the product's country of origin, material content, and the active proclamation. Open any code in this chapter to see the live overlay stack and effective rate.
Are there antidumping or countervailing duty (AD/CVD) orders covering Chapter 36 products?
AD/CVD orders are issued at the case level by the Department of Commerce against specific products from specific countries. Tandom's AD/CVD catalog cross-references every active order to the HTS codes it covers — open any code in Chapter 36 to see flagged orders, deposit rates, and the underlying scope determinations.