The Product
- Five handled drinking vessels of ceramic stoneware, used to hold hot and cold liquids.
- Haven mug: about 1.95 inches tall and 2.25 inches across at both top and base, holding 3 ounces.
- Curve, Emerson, Sunrise and Sculpted Handle cups: about 3.48 to 4.44 inches tall, with different top and base diameters, holding 13 or 15 ounces.
- Cup values run from $10.93 to $16.56 per dozen.
CBP's Ruling
| Item | HTS code | CBP's description of the line |
|---|---|---|
| Haven mug | HTS 6912.00.4400 | Ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles, other than of porcelain or china: Tableware and kitchenware: Other: Other: Other: Mugs and other steins |
| Four handled cups: Curve, Emerson, Sunrise, Sculpted Handle | HTS 6912.00.4500 | Ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles, other than of porcelain or china: Tableware and kitchenware: Other: Other: Other: Cups valued over $5.25 per dozen |
Explanation
CBP placed all five pieces in heading 6912, which covers ceramic tableware and kitchenware other than porcelain or china. The requester called every piece a mug, but CBP found only the Haven is one.
CBP's definition of a mug comes from a court decision, Ross Products v. United States. Along with the straight-sided or barrel shape, it says a mug is usually heavier than a cup, with a heavier handle and a flat bottom, and isn't used with a saucer. The Haven went on the line for mugs and other steins.
Based on their dimensions, CBP found the other four don't meet that definition. They went on the line for cups valued over $5.25 per dozen.
Does this apply to your product?
It likely does if you can answer yes to each of these:
- Is it a handled drinking vessel for hot or cold liquids?
- Is it ceramic stoneware rather than porcelain or china?
- Is it about as wide at the top as at the bottom (mug, 6912.00.4400), or not (cup, 6912.00.4500)?
- If it's a cup, is it valued over $5.25 per dozen?
A no to any of them can mean a different code. A licensed broker can classify your product.
The codes today
| HTS code | In today's schedule | Where it sits | Today's duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6912.00.4400 | ✓ Still in the schedule | Heading 6912 › Mugs and other steins | Today's duty from China |
| 6912.00.4500 | ✓ Still in the schedule | Heading 6912 › Cups valued over $5.25 per dozen; ... | Today's duty from China |
Checked against today's tariff schedule. The duty calculator opens with the code and country filled in.
Related rulings
N295888 and N257123 also placed a ceramic mug under 6912.00.4400. N324393, N309138, N308672, N304189, N360981 and N353512 placed ceramic cups under 6912.00.4500.
- N324393February 23, 2022Handled ceramic cups from China6912.00.4500
- N309138February 14, 2020Handled ceramic cups from China6912.00.4500
- N295888April 26, 2018Ceramic mug from China6912.00.4400
- N304189May 14, 2019Handled cups from China6912.00.4500
- N360981May 19, 2026Two ceramic cups from China6912.00.4500
- N353512September 26, 2025Ceramic cups and a ceramic coaster set from China6912.00.4500, 6912.00.4810, 9817.95.05
- N257123October 7, 2014Ceramic mug from China6912.00.4400
- N308672January 7, 2020Handled ceramic cup from China6912.00.4500
Borderless, a licensed U.S. customs brokerage, summarized CBP ruling N357549 in plain English and checked its codes against the letter and today's tariff schedule. A ruling applies only to goods that match its facts; our terms explain the rest. Terms