{
  "summary": "Suitcases imported into the European Union are usually classified under HS code 4202.12 when its outer surface is of plastics or of textile materials. It sits in heading 42.02, “Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition le…”. Suitcases can also fall under 4202.11 or 4202.19, depending on the material. The tariff of the European Union has 14 national lines under these codes. The general (MFN) duty in the European Union on the national lines under 4202.12 is 9.7%, 5.2% or 3.7%, depending on the line.",
  "updatedAt": "2026-10-11",
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Most likely code",
      "value": "4202.12",
      "source": null,
      "url": "https://border.bot/hs-codes/420212"
    },
    {
      "label": "Chapter",
      "value": "42: Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)",
      "source": null,
      "url": "https://border.bot/hs-codes/42"
    },
    {
      "label": "Candidate codes",
      "value": "3",
      "source": null
    },
    {
      "label": "HS edition",
      "value": "HS2022",
      "source": null
    },
    {
      "label": "National lines",
      "value": "14",
      "source": "https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/9e277705-ac42-441d-8580-90cd730d9bc6/Geographical%20areas%20composition.xlsx"
    },
    {
      "label": "General duty (MFN)",
      "value": "9.7%, 5.2%, 3.7%",
      "source": "https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/9e277705-ac42-441d-8580-90cd730d9bc6/Geographical%20areas%20composition.xlsx"
    }
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "question": "What is the HS code for suitcases?",
      "answer": "Suitcases imported into the European Union are usually classified under HS code 4202.12 when its outer surface is of plastics or of textile materials. It sits in heading 42.02, “Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition le…”."
    },
    {
      "question": "Does the material change the HS code for suitcases?",
      "answer": "Yes. Use 4202.12 when its outer surface is of plastics or of textile materials. Use 4202.11 when its outer surface is of leather or composition leather. Use 4202.19 when its outer surface is of another material, such as aluminium."
    },
    {
      "question": "What is the duty on suitcases imported into the European Union?",
      "answer": "The general (MFN) duty in the European Union on the national lines under 4202.12 is 9.7%, 5.2% or 3.7%, depending on the line. Import VAT or sales tax is charged on top, and de minimis rules can change what is due; the landed cost calculator works it out for a shipment."
    }
  ],
  "sections": [
    {
      "id": "choose",
      "title": "How to choose the right code",
      "text": [
        "What is the outer surface made of: plastics or textile, leather, or something else? Use 4202.12 when its outer surface is of plastics or of textile materials. Use 4202.11 when its outer surface is of leather or composition leather. Use 4202.19 when its outer surface is of another material, such as aluminium.",
        "Goods of mixed materials are generally classified by the material that gives them their essential character."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "codes",
      "title": "Codes for suitcases",
      "text": [
        "Each code is listed with its legal text from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, quoted as published, and the condition under which it applies to suitcases."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "lines",
      "title": "National lines in the European Union",
      "text": [
        "The tariff of the European Union splits these codes into 14 national lines, listed with their published text and general duty.",
        "The general (MFN) duty in the European Union on the national lines under 4202.12 is 9.7%, 5.2% or 3.7%, depending on the line. Import VAT or sales tax is charged on top, and de minimis rules can change what is due; the landed cost calculator works it out for a shipment."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "similar",
      "title": "Similar products",
      "text": [
        "Products in the same category as suitcases, or classified under the same headings."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "countries",
      "title": "Other countries",
      "text": [
        "National tariff lines for suitcases are live for the United States. Each page lists the lines under the codes above, with their duty rates where they are live."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "check",
      "title": "Check your exact product",
      "text": [
        "Describe your product, or paste its page, and the classifier suggests the code in the tariff of the European Union with its reasons."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "note",
      "title": "Classification depends on the exact product",
      "text": [
        "The right code depends on what the product is made of, how it is made and what it is for, so two products sold as suitcases can fall under different codes.",
        "Guidance from published tariff data, not a binding ruling. For a decision customs must follow, apply to the destination’s customs authority for a binding tariff ruling."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "sources",
      "title": "Sources and updates",
      "text": [
        "The legal texts are from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.",
        "The national lines are from the tariff release of EU (areas=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/9e277705-ac42-441d-8580-90cd730d9bc6/Geographical%20areas%20composition.xlsx#?; duties=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/bfb94607-8b4c-40c3-ad33-1efef11bb80a/Duties%20Import%2001-99.xlsx#?; exclusions=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/4b3c682c-947c-4f34-932d-0b8d192537bd/Measure%20exclusions.xlsx#?; nomenclature=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/13694f84-6980-4966-8c91-22459447b52b/Nomenclature%20EN.xlsx#?), live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.",
        "The duty rates are from the live rates release, live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.",
        "The conditions and questions on this page were written for suitcases by border.bot and checked against those legal texts; the page changes when a new release goes live or the topic is reviewed again."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "data": {
    "type": "country-product-topic",
    "topic": {
      "slug": "suitcases",
      "name": "Suitcases",
      "singular": "suitcase",
      "plural": "suitcases",
      "synonyms": [
        "luggage",
        "carry-on",
        "hard shell suitcase",
        "trolley case",
        "cabin bag"
      ],
      "category": {
        "id": "bags-accessories",
        "name": "Bags and accessories"
      }
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    "edition": "HS2022",
    "country": {
      "code": "EU",
      "name": "European Union",
      "slug": "european-union"
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    "ratesLive": true,
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      {
        "code": "420212",
        "role": "likely",
        "when": "its outer surface is of plastics or of textile materials",
        "legalText": "Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels and similar containers: With outer surface of plastics or of textile materials",
        "levels": [
          "Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels and similar containers",
          "With outer surface of plastics or of textile materials"
        ],
        "heading": {
          "code": "4202",
          "description": "Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition le…"
        },
        "chapter": {
          "code": "42",
          "description": "Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)"
        }
      },
      {
        "code": "420211",
        "role": "possible",
        "when": "its outer surface is of leather or composition leather",
        "legalText": "Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels and similar containers: With outer surface of leather or of composition leather",
        "levels": [
          "Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels and similar containers",
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        "heading": {
          "code": "4202",
          "description": "Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition le…"
        },
        "chapter": {
          "code": "42",
          "description": "Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)"
        }
      },
      {
        "code": "420219",
        "role": "possible",
        "when": "its outer surface is of another material, such as aluminium",
        "legalText": "Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels and similar containers: Other",
        "levels": [
          "Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels and similar containers",
          "Other"
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        },
        "chapter": {
          "code": "42",
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    "questions": [
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        "about": "material",
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          "420212",
          "420211",
          "420219"
        ],
        "question": "What is the outer surface made of: plastics or textile, leather, or something else?"
      }
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      {
        "code": "420212",
        "lines": [
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            "code": "4202121100",
            "description": "Executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels and similar containers",
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              "Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels and similar containers",
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              "Of sheeting of plastics",
              "Executive-cases, br…"
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            "general": {
              "code": "4202121100",
              "dutyText": "9.700 %",
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              "unit": null
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              "code": "4202129100",
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              "unit": null
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              "Of other materials, including vulcanised fibr…"
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