Schedule B
/ˈskɛdʒuːl ˈbiː/
If you're trying to look up a Schedule B number, you're looking for the U.S. Census Bureau's export classification code — not an HTS import code. The two share the same 6-digit Harmonized System foundation, but digits 7–10 are built independently for each system and frequently diverge beyond that point.
In Detail
Schedule B is administered by the U.S. Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division, not by CBP. When a U.S. exporter files Electronic Export Information (EEI) in the Automated Export System (AES), they report the Schedule B code for the exported commodity. This data compiles U.S. trade statistics and supports export control enforcement under EAR, ITAR, and other regimes.
Because the first six digits of Schedule B and the HTSUS are identical—both derived from the international HS—they are frequently confused. In many cases a Schedule B code and an HTS code will match at the 6-digit level. But the 7–10 digit subdivisions are independently constructed for each system, and they frequently diverge. Using an HTSUS import code in an EEI filing, or a Schedule B code on a customs entry, produces incorrect data and can trigger regulatory scrutiny from the respective agency.
For most goods, importers and exporters can find the Schedule B equivalent of an HTS code using the Census Bureau's Schedule B search tool, which provides a concordance. The Census Bureau's Foreign Trade office offers guidance on Schedule B classification, and CBP handles HTSUS import classification questions separately.
Classification Significance
The import/export distinction is fundamental. An HTS code determines duties owed to CBP on entry; a Schedule B code determines export statistics reported to Census. Conflating the two is a common compliance error, particularly for companies that both import and export the same products. Import classification under the HTSUS is the domain of CBP and the GRI; export classification under Schedule B is Census Bureau territory with different rules and enforcement bodies.
How Kanon Handles This
Kanon classifies HTS import codes today — Schedule B export classification isn't built yet. The two systems share the same GRI-rooted structure through the first 6 digits, so it's a natural extension of the corpus we've already built; we're gauging real demand before committing engineering time to it. If a Schedule B lookup built on the same deterministic, audit-defensible engine would be useful to you, join the waitlist below and we'll notify you the moment it ships.