U.S. imports of Metal Cutting Shears and Similar Tools, and Parts, of Base Metal (HS 820330) totaled $3.4M in August 2026, imported from 25 countries.
Importers of Metal Cutting Shears and Similar Tools, and Parts, of Base Metal paid $451K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 13.72% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Metal Cutting Shears and Similar Tools, and Parts, of Base Metal imports of $3.4M in August 2026 ran 11% below the year-to-date monthly average of $3.8M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataHand-operated metal cutting shears — including aviation snips, tin snips, and compound-action sheet-metal shears — along with their parts, are classified here under a single 10-digit line (8203300000). Vietnam leads US imports under this heading, followed by Taiwan and China, reflecting a regional manufacturing base that serves both professional sheet-metal trades and general construction supply channels. Importers should distinguish these tools from bench or machine shears, which classify elsewhere, and from scissors or garden shears, which fall under different headings entirely.
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326 import shipments a month
Metal cutting shears under 8203.30 are specifically designed to cut sheet metal, wire, or similar metallic materials, typically featuring hardened blades and compound-leverage mechanisms. Scissors for general use classify under 8213, and garden shears or pruning shears fall under 8201. The intended material being cut and the blade construction are the primary classification criteria.
Yes — both compound-action aviation snips and standard tin snips fall under 8203300000, the single 10-digit line for metal cutting shears and similar tools. There is no further US schedule subdivision by mechanism type within this heading, so both products share the same duty rate and statistical reporting line.
Subheading 3 of 4 in heading 8203
Subheading 820330 · $3.4M of $39.5M
ImportsExports
Imports
$3.4MYoY · free account
Exports
$1.3MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $42.8M of Metal Cutting Shears and Similar Tools, and Parts, of Base Metal and exported $18.2M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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List your company under HS 820330 — Metal Cutting Shears and Similar Tools, and Parts, of Base Metal, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8203300000 | Metal Cutting Shears and Similar Tools, and Parts | $3.3M | 13.72% | 88.93% | $451K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8203300000 | Metal Cutting Shears and Similar Tools, and Parts | $1.3M |
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
Vietnam and Taiwan together supply 56% of it. China pays 36.9% duty; Taiwan 7.9%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
10.3% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 13.72% of imports for consumption.