Dissolving pulp is a high-alpha-cellulose chemical pulp used to produce viscose rayon, lyocell, and cellulose acetate fibers rather than paper. It is classified under a different HTS heading than paper-grade pulp and has been subject to its own antidumping investigations separate from paper-grade pulp orders. Importers should confirm the correct heading based on the pulp's alpha-cellulose content and intended end use.

The HTS distinguishes paper from paperboard primarily by basis weight—generally, sheets weighing more than 150 g/m² are classified as paperboard, while lighter sheets are paper. However, the boundary is not absolute and can interact with fiber composition and surface treatment rules. When a product falls near the threshold, laboratory grammage testing and a CBP binding ruling are advisable to lock in the correct classification before large-volume importation.