U.S. imports of Leather & Composition Leather Articles (Other) (HS 420500) totaled $11.6M in August 2026, imported from 102 countries.
Importers of Leather & Composition Leather Articles (Other) paid $1.3M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.14% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataIndustrial and functional leather articles that do not fit the apparel or accessory provisions of heading 4203 are classified here, spanning a wide range from belting leather cut to shape for machinery (4205000500) to leather shoelaces (4205002000) and straps and strops (4205004000). Reptile leather articles not elsewhere classified are separated into 4205006000. The heading is a true catch-all for leather goods used in mechanical applications, and importers should confirm that an article is not more specifically provided for elsewhere in Chapter 42 or in another chapter before defaulting to this heading.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
5.4K import shipments a month
Heading 4205 is a residual provision — it applies only when the leather article is not more specifically classified elsewhere. Apparel and accessories go to heading 4203; saddlery and harness to 4201; travel goods and handbags to 4202. Only after ruling out those specific headings should an importer classify a leather article under 4205.
Belting leather (4205000500) is leather that has been cut or shaped specifically for use as mechanical drive belting — it is a semi-finished input. Finished leather articles used in machinery or mechanical appliances that are not belting fall under 4205001000 or 4205001500. The distinction turns on whether the leather is a shaped blank destined to become belting or a completed functional component.
Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 4205
Subheading 420500 · $11.6M of $11.6M
Trade Directory
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4205008000 | Articles of Leather, NESOI | $10.3M | 11.51% | 83.33% | $1.2M |
| 4205004000 | Leather Straps & Strops | $774K | 8.57% | 68.42% | $66K |
| 4205001000 | Articles of Leather, For Machinery, NESOI | $510K | 10.08% | 83.99% | $51K |
| 4205002000 | Leather Shoelaces | $121K | 2.93% | 14.65% | $4K |
| 4205000500 | Belting Leather, In Shapes Suitable to Make Belting | $89K | 9.91% | 73.19% | $9K |
| 4205006000 | Articles of Reptile Leather, NESOI | $61K | 8.98% | 82.92% | $5K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 4205005000 | Articles of Leather, NESOI | $3.3M |
| 4205001500 | Articles of Leather Used in Machinery/Mech Applian | $191K |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Imports · August 2026
origin
China pays 37.1% duty; Mexico 0.3%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
12.5% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 11.14% of imports for consumption.
ImportsExports
Imports
$11.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$3.5MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $137.8M of Leather & Composition Leather Articles (Other) and exported $33.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.