Refractory ceramics are specifically engineered to withstand temperatures above 1,500°C and are used in furnace linings, kilns, and industrial reactors. Standard ceramic bricks and tiles for building construction (6904, 6907) are not designed for such extreme thermal conditions. Technical specifications — particularly the silica, alumina, or magnesia content and the rated service temperature — are the primary classification criteria for refractory goods.

Antidumping and countervailing duty orders have been applied to certain ceramic tile products from China. Importers should check the current scope of any active orders with the Department of Commerce and CBP before importing, as the scope can be product-specific and scope rulings may be needed for novel tile formats or compositions.

A ceramic bowl used for serving food classifies as tableware under 6911 (porcelain) or 6912 (other ceramics) based on its material. A purely ornamental ceramic article not intended for functional use classifies under 6913. When an article is genuinely dual-purpose, CBP applies the essential character test; articles marketed and sold primarily as tableware generally remain in 6911 or 6912 even if they have decorative value.