HS Code 490900
6-digit classification for Printed or Illustrated Postcards, with duty lookup and 1688 checks before payment
Official description: Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings
Also searched as: postcards, greeting cards, birthday cards, holiday cards, note cards
Classification
How 490900 breaks down
Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other printed products
Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings
Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings
Short answer
What HS code 490900 means before paying a 1688 supplier
HS code 490900 is the 6-digit HS 2022 starting point for printed or illustrated postcards; often searched as postcards, greeting cards, birthday cards. Before using it in a landed-cost estimate, confirm the product material, function, destination market, and the official tariff source. Treat any 1688 supplier code as a clue, not the final import classification.
Use
Start with this 6-digit HS code and compare the product's material, function, and use.
Verify
Check the destination market's official HTS, TARIC, commodity-code, duty, VAT, or GST source.
Decide
If classification, documents, or restricted-product risk is unclear, submit the product for a written check.
Covered products
What products fall under HS code 490900?
Buyers sourcing printed or illustrated postcards from 1688 commonly describe it in these ways. If your product matches, 490900 is likely the right 6-digit starting point — confirm material and intended use against the official tariff.
US import duty · China origin
US import duty for HS 490900
Published USITC HTS rates for printed or illustrated postcards (490900), aggregated at the 6-digit level. A research estimate — the final rate depends on your full 8-10 digit HTS line.
Base MFN rate
0%
Average across 2 US national tariff lines under 490900.
Section 301 (China)
+7.5%
Covered lines under this code carry a Section 301 China surcharge.
Effective China-origin
≈3.8%
Base rate with applicable 301 surcharges — before MPF/HMF and any trade-action changes.
Source: USITC HTS (base MFN) + Section 301 overlay · data as of 2026-07-05 · rates change with trade actions — always confirm your full 10-digit line on hts.usitc.gov before pricing a product. Other markets (EU/UK/CA/AU/SG) below.
Import duty by market
Where to check the import duty for HS 490900
The 6-digit code is universal, but duty, VAT and GST are set by the destination country and depend on the full national tariff line with China as the country of origin. Start from the official source for your market.
United States
USITC / CBP · Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)
European Union
TARIC · Access2Markets
United Kingdom
HMRC · UK Integrated Online Tariff
Canada
CBSA · Canadian Customs Tariff
Australia
ABF · Australian customs tariff
Singapore
Singapore Customs · Singapore Trade Classification (HS)
Compare China-origin duty evidence across supported markets
Use the HS & import duty checker to estimate duty + VAT/GST for 490900 by destination before you pay a 1688 supplier.
Questions
HS code 490900: common questions
What is the US import duty for HS code 490900 from China?
As published in the USITC HTS (data as of 2026-07-05), the base MFN rate for 490900 averages about 0%, and Section 301 China surcharges apply on covered lines (up to +7.5%), bringing the effective China-origin rate to roughly 3.8% (averaged across 2 national tariff lines). This is a research estimate — the final rate depends on your full 8-10 digit HTS line; verify on hts.usitc.gov.
What is HS code 490900?
HS code 490900 is the World Customs Organization 6-digit HS 2022 subheading for "Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings". The first two digits (49) are the chapter — Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other printed products — and digits 3-4 (4909) are the heading. Countries add further digits (8-10) for their national tariff line.
What products fall under HS 490900?
Common products classified under 490900 include postcards, greeting cards, birthday cards, holiday cards, note cards and similar items matching printed or illustrated postcards. The correct code still depends on the product's material, function and intended use.
How do I find the import duty for HS code 490900?
Duty is set by the destination country, not by the 6-digit HS code alone. Start from the official tariff of your market — USITC HTS (US), TARIC / Access2Markets (EU), GOV.UK Trade Tariff (UK), CBSA (Canada), ABF (Australia) or Singapore Customs — and look up the full national code with China as the country of origin.
Is HS code 490900 the same in every country?
The first 6 digits (490900) are the same worldwide under the WCO Harmonized System. Beyond that, each country extends the code (HTS in the US, TARIC in the EU, etc.) and sets its own duty and tax rates.
Can I trust the HS code a 1688 supplier gives me?
Treat a supplier-provided code as a clue, not a final classification. It can be incomplete, China-export-specific, or mismatched to your destination's rules. Verify against the official tariff and your product's actual material and use.
Is HSN code 490900 the same as HS code 490900?
Yes at the 6-digit level. India's HSN (Harmonized System of Nomenclature) uses the same WCO base, so HSN 490900 covers the same "printed or illustrated postcards" scope; India then extends it to 8 digits for GST and customs. Check the Indian Customs tariff (CBIC) for the full national line.
Chapter 49
Explore Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other printed products
Sourcing printed or illustrated postcards from 1688?
Get a written pre-payment check — classification clues, China-origin landed cost, and supplier risk — before you commit. 5,754 HS codes covered.