Every January and July, the Schedule B is updated with new, 10-digit commodity classification codes approved by the 484(f) Committee.  Last month, the Schedule B implemented updates from the 484(f) breakouts as well as changes from the World Customs Organization and the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. 

The January 2022 Schedule B should be used when classifying any shipment submitted in the Automated Export System (AES). Exporters had a 30-day grace period during which obsolete Schedule B codes could still be reported.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) updates the Harmonized System (HS) every five years so the system can account for more detail at the 4- and 6-digit HS headings and subheadings.  The WCO released its approved changes in the 2022 edition of the Harmonized System Nomenclature, and these changes have been incorporated into the 2022 January Schedule B.  

The 2022 January Schedule B also aligns with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and changes drafted in Appendices C and D of the U.S. International Trade Commission Publication No. 1205-13 Recommended Modifications in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. These changes were codified by Presidential Proclamation 10326.

There are different resources and tips related to the changes made to the Schedule B from 484(f) breakouts.

The Global Reach blog New Schedule B Numbers Have Arrived covers different ways you can view Schedule B numbers and the Download section on the U.S. Census Bureau's Schedule B website. The download option allows you to access the new concordance files for AES Users and save them to your hard drive. Check out our  Concordance Files: Data Users vs. Automated Export System (AES) Filers blog for more information about data user concordance files and AES concordance files.

The latest Schedule B numbers like all previous ones have their own parameters. Have you noticed that your shipments frequently generate a Census Bureau warning in the AES? Whether you are using an existing or new Schedule B number, you can submit a parameter change request to the Economic Indicators Division (EID), at <eid.scheduleb@census.gov>.

EID.parameterchange@census.gov.  Be sure to use the Parameter Change Request Form and include five Internal Transaction Numbers (ITNs) for shipments that were filed within the same month, generated the same verify message, and included the same Schedule B/HTS numbers.

Learn more about the relationship between the Schedule B and HTS numbers in our Exporting with Import Classification Numbers blog.

For more information about the new Schedule B changes, visit the U.S. Census Bureau’s Schedule B website or email EID at , at eid.scheduleb@census.gov. 

Have questions about these updates or need export classification assistance? Email the Micro Analysis Branch at eid.scheduleb@census.gov or call 1-800- 549-0595, Option 2.