HTS code lookup API: US duty rates and Section 301 in one call
Look up a US HTS code and get its duty rate, search the Harmonized Tariff Schedule by product words, and check the Section 301 China lists with their rates and dates. REST API and MCP server; 50 calls a day are free.
How do I look up an HTS code and its tariff rate by API?
Send the 8- or 10-digit HTS code to Dutyfinch and it returns the general, special and column 2 rates from the current USITC schedule, the Section 301 China list with its extra duty, and any exclusion with its end date. If you only have a product description, search by words first. 50 calls a day are free with no key.
- Search by product words if you do not know the code: GET /api/search?q=coffee maker.
- Look up the code: GET /api/hts?code=8516.71.00.
- Read rates, section301 and exclusions from the JSON; add your key for more than 50 calls a day.
Real screenshots
How to find the right HTS code
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule groups goods into chapters (2 digits), headings (4), subheadings (6) and US rate lines (8, with 10-digit statistical suffixes). Duty rates are set at the 8-digit line.
Start from the product words, read the heading text above the line (Dutyfinch returns it as fullDescription), and confirm with the chapter notes. For a binding answer, ask CBP for a ruling or use a licensed customs broker.
What the rate in the response means
general is the normal (MFN) rate; special lists free-trade programme rates; column 2 applies to a few countries. For goods from China, section301 adds the list (1, 2, 3, 4A) and its extra duty, and exclusions lists any product exclusion with its end date.
Several Section 301 exclusions end on 9 Nov 2026; our article on them is linked below.
Dutyfinch vs the alternatives
Published prices, each checked on the date shown; prices change, so confirm on each site.
| Product | Price | Free | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dutyfinch API | $5 once for 500 calls; Importer $19/month for 2,500; Broker $49/month for 7,500 | 50 calls every day, no key | live |
| US Tariff Rates | Pro $49/month (5,000 credits); Team $199/month (50,000 credits) | 25 credits a month, 10 lookups a day | 2026-10-15 |
| Tariffs API | Starter $99/month ($74 billed yearly) for 1,000 API calls; Developer $199/month ($149 yearly) for 10,000 | 14-day trial | 2026-10-15 |
| Dutify | Basic $15/month (no API, 0 tariff lookups); Plus $75/month with API and 500 tariff lookups; Pro $149/month | 3 calculations + 3 HS lookups a month | 2026-10-15 |
| SimplyDuty | GBP 9.99/month for 100 API calls; GBP 49.99 for 500; GBP 0.10 per call | 5 free calculations a day | 2026-10-15 |
Why teams pick Dutyfinch
- 50 free calls every day; US Tariff Rates lists 10 lookups a day free (15 Oct 2026).
- Importer $19/month for 2,500 calls; Tariffs API Starter is $99/month for 1,000.
- HTS lookup, product-word search, Section 301 lists and exclusions with end dates in one API.
- Works as an MCP tool for AI agents with the same key.
Try it in one call
curl 'https://dutyfinch.cybermaxtools.com/api/hts?code=8516.60.40'FAQ
Is there a free HTS code lookup API?
Yes: Dutyfinch gives 50 calls a day free with no key, including search by product words.
Does it include Section 301 China tariffs and exclusions?
Yes: each code returns its Section 301 list, the extra duty and any exclusion with its end date; GET /api/section301 returns the lists.
How current is the data?
It is rebuilt from the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule; a daily check watches for new revisions and Federal Register notices.
Why not US Tariff Rates?
It is a strong lookup and audit tool; its Pro plan is $49/month for 5,000 credits and the free tier is 10 lookups a day (15 Oct 2026). Dutyfinch is API-first with 50 free calls a day and $19/month for 2,500.
Is this customs or legal advice?
No. It is public tariff schedule data for information; confirm a classification with CBP or a licensed customs broker.
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Free: the Free API Starter Kit
Copy-paste calls for 4 APIs with free daily tiers (CVE priority, VIN recalls, US duty rates, email checks), then 5 short emails on KEV/EPSS, MCP and free data.