WCO Explanatory Notes reproduced for reference. © World Customs Organization. Verify against official WCO publication.
74.08 - Copper wire. - Of refined copper : 7408.1 1 - - Of which the maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeds 6 mm 7408.19 - - Other - Of copper alloys : 7408.21 - - Of copper-zinc base alloys (brass) 7408.22 - - Of 7408.29 - - Other co per-nickel base alloys (cupro-nickel) or copper-nickel-zinc base alloys fnickel silver) Note 1 (f) defines wire. Wire is obtained by rolling, extrusion or drawing, and is presented in coils. The second paragraph of the Explanatory Note to heading 74.07 applies, mutatis rnutandis. This heading does not include : (a) Very fine sterile bronze wire used for surgical sutures (heading 30.06). (b) Metallised yarn of heading 56.05. (c) Twine or cord reinforced with wire (heading 56.07). (d) Stranded wire, cables and other goods of heading 74.13. (e) Coated welding electrodes, etc. (heading 83.11). ( Insulated electric wire and cable (including enamelled wire) (heading 85.44). (g) Musical instrument strings (heading 92.09).
Note. 1.- In this Chapter the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them : (a) Refined copper Metal containing at least 99.85 % by weight of copper; or Metal containing at least 97.5 % by weight of copper, provided that the content by weight of any other element does not exceed the limit specified in the following table : TABLE - Other elements Element Limiting content % by weight Ag Silver 0.25 As Arsenic 0.5 Cd Cadmium 1.3 Cr Chromium 1.4 Mg Magnesium 0.8 Pb Lead 1.5 S Sulphur 0.7 Sn Tin 0.8 Te Tellurium 0.8 Zn Zinc 1 Zr Zirconium 0.3 Other elements*, each 0.3 * Other elements are, for example, Al, Be, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Si. (b) Copper alloys Metallic substances other than unrefined copper in which copper predominates by weight over each of the other elements, provided that : (i) the content by weight of at least one of the other elements is greater than the limit specified in the foregoing table; or (ii) the total content by weight of such other elements exceeds 2.5 %. (c) Master alloys Alloys containing with other elements more than 10 % by weight of copper, not usefully malleable and commonly used as an additive in the manufacture of other alloys or as de-oxidants, de- sulphurising agents or for similar uses in the metallurgy of non-ferrous metals. However, copper phosphide (phosphor copper) containing more than 15 % by weight of phosphorus falls in heading 28.53. Subheading Note. 1.- In this Chapter the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them : (a) Copper-zinc base alloys (brasses) Alloys of copper and zinc, with or without other elements. When other elements are present : - zinc predominates by weight over each of such other elements; - any nickel content by weight is less than 5 % (see copper-nickel-zinc alloys (nickel silvers)); and - any tin content by weight is less than 3 % (see copper-tin alloys (bronzes)). (b) Copper-tin base alloys (bronzes) Alloys of copper and tin, with or without other elements. When other elements are present, tin predominates by weight over each of such other elements, except that when the tin content is 3 % or more the zinc content by weight may exceed that of tin but must be less than 10 %. (c) Copper-nickel-zinc base alloys (nickel silvers) Alloys of copper, nickel and zinc, with or without other elements. The nickel content is 5 % or more by weight (see copper-zinc alloys (brasses)). (d) Copper-nickel base alloys Alloys of copper and nickel, with or without other elements but in any case containing by weight not more than 1 % of zinc. When other elements are present, nickel predominates by weight over each of such other elements.