The Timeline of Our Adoption of HS

By Dept. of Tariff and Legal Affairs, CA

1. In August 1971, we had implemented a tariff system basing on Brussels Tariff Nomenclature (BTN), which was changed to CCCN in 1976, as a result of the BTN having been renamed to Customs Cooperation Council (CCC). 
2. Taking into consideration that the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) was going to become the main stream of commodity classification around the world, and to implement the policies on economy globalization and trade liberalization, a HS Project Working Group was set up in August 1983 by government authorities including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy and the Department of Accounting and Statistics, responsible for and dealing with matters related to the adoption of the new system in the Republic of China. HS then entered into force on Jan. 1 1988.
3. Since Jan. 1 1989, the Customs Import Tariff Schedule which was compiled basing on HS was implemented officially.
4. On Jun. 1 1997, HS1996 was adopted, and the amended Customs Import Tariff Schedule took effect.
5. On Dec. 19 2003, HS2002 was adopted, and the amended Customs Import Tariff Schedule took effect.
6. On Jun. 1 2009, HS2007 was adopted, and the amended Customs Import Tariff Schedule took effect, containing 1,221 4-digit Tariff Headings (incl. Chp.1-Chp.97), 5,052 6-digit Subheadings, 8,726 8-digit Divisions and 32 8-digit Divisions under Chp.98 (tariff quota products) in addition.
7. On Nov. 29 2013, HS2012 was adopted, and the amended Customs Import Tariff Schedule took effect, containing 1,224 4-digit Tariff Headings (incl. Chp.1-Chp.97), 5,205 6-digit Subheadings, 8,928 8-digit Divisions and 32 8-digit Divisions under Chp.98 (tariff quota products) in addition.
8. With the adoption of HS2017, the amended Customs Import Tariff Schedule has been effective since Jan.1 2017, containing 1,222 4-digit Tariff Headings (incl. Chp.1-Chp.97), 5,387 6-digit Subheadings, 9,128 8-digit Divisions and 32 8-digit Divisions under Chp.98 (tariff quota products) in addition.