If you import or export sheet metal parts, you have probably asked yourself this exact question: "What HS code should I ｄｅｃｌａｒｅ, and can a free trade agreement save me money?" The answer matters far more than most buyers realize. The HS code you put on the commercial invoice determines the duty rate your shipment is charged, and the free trade agreement (FTA) you claim — or fail to claim — can be the difference between paying full import duty and paying nothing at all.

HS Codes for Sheet Metal Parts: A Quick Refresher

Before we talk about free trade agreements, it helps to know where sheet metal parts sit in the Harmonized System. There is no single hs code for sheet metal parts. Customs classifies each part by two things: what it is made of, and what it is used for. The first six digits of the code are recognized worldwide; countries then add more digits for their own tariff schedules. Getting those first six digits right is the foundation of everything else — including FTA claims, because rules of origin are written around HS classification.

What a Free Trade Agreement Actually Does

A free trade agreement is a treaty between two or more countries that reduces or eliminates tariffs on goods traded between them. When your sheet metal parts qualify under an FTA, you pay the preferential duty rate instead of the standard most-favored-nation (MFN) rate. For many metal products this can mean savings of roughly 5–15% of the goods' value, and for some automotive parts the duty can ｄｒｏｐ to zero.

Here is the catch: goods do not qualify automatically just because they ship from an FTA partner country. They must meet the agreement's rules of origin, which prove that the parts were substantially produced or transformed inside the member countries. This is where most of the complexity — and most of the missed savings — lives.

Rules of Origin: The Key to Claiming the Benefit

This is the section where importers get stuck, and where the real savings are won or lost. The main rules you will meet when importing sheet metal parts are:

• Wholly obtained or produced. Goods made entirely in the FTA country from materials of that country. Common for raw materials, rare for manufactured metal parts.
• Tariff shift. Non-originating material must change HS classification during manufacturing. For example, steel coil (Chapter 72) stamped into a bracket (7326) inside the FTA country may satisfy the rule.
• Regional value content (RVC). A minimum percentage of the goods' value must originate in FTA member countries — typically 35–60% depending on the agreement. Automotive parts under USMCA face stricter RVC requirements.
• De minimis. Small amounts of non-originating material (typically 7–10% of value) can be ignored, so a minor imported component does not disqualify an otherwise qualifying part.
• Cumulation. Materials from one FTA partner count as originating when used in another partner country, so supply chains can span several member countries.

For a sheet metal parts buyer, the practical takeaway is simple: keep clean records of where your material comes from and what processing happens where. That documentation is what proves origin when customs asks.

FTAs That Matter for Sheet Metal Parts

Which agreement is most relevant depends on your trade route. The ones you will encounter most often when trading metal parts include:

• USMCA (US–Mexico–Canada). Replaced NAFTA in 2020. Qualifying goods move duty-free within North America, with stricter rules of origin for automotive parts.
• RCEP. The world's largest FTA by GDP, covering China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the ASEAN members. In force since 2022, with cumulation across all members — highly relevant for parts manufactured in China.
• EU–South Korea FTA. Zero or reduced duties on qualifying goods traded between the EU and South Korea.
• CPTPP. Eleven Pacific Rim nations including Japan, Canada, Australia and Vietnam.
• China's bilateral FTAs. China maintains agreements with ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Chile, Peru, Pakistan and others — directly relevant when sourcing from a China-based manufacturer.

If you are sourcing sheet metal parts from China, RCEP and China's bilateral FTAs are often the agreements that unlock the biggest duty savings.

Certificates of Origin and Documentation

To claim preferential duty, you need proof of origin. Depending on the agreement, this can take two forms:

• Government-issued certificate. A document issued or stamped by a customs authority or chamber of commerce, such as a Form A or an EUR.1 movement certificate.
• Self-certification. The exporter, producer or importer declares origin on the commercial invoice or a separate statement. USMCA and RCEP both allow this, which makes claiming the benefit much simpler.

Whichever format applies, the certificate should include the exporter and producer identity, a description of the goods, the HS code, the origin criterion met, the FTA reference and a signature. Keep origin records — certificates, production records, material sourcing records and cost calculations — for at least five years, because customs can audit origin claims retroactively.

Practical Steps for Importers of Sheet Metal Parts

1. Confirm the correct HS code before you quote. The code drives both the MFN duty and the FTA rule of origin.
2. Ask your supplier whether the parts qualify under an FTA between the country of origin and your country.
3. Request the right certificate of origin and check it against the invoice and the HS code.
4. Keep the material traceability documents — mill test certificates, alloy composition, heat numbers — that support the origin claim.
5. Recheck the classification whenever the part design, material or supplier changes.

Why the Right Manufacturing Partner Makes This Easier

This is where experience shows. DA Stamping has been manufacturing and exporting automotive stamping dies, sheet metal parts, checking fixtures and welding jigs for more than 20 years, serving OEM customers including KIA, BYD, Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and Geely, and exporting to more than 10 countries. Because everything is handled in-house — tooling design, stamping, welding, assembly and inspection — the company can provide the documentation that keeps customs clearance smooth: correct HS classification, material certificates and origin paperwork.

Working with a sheet metal parts manufacturer that is a factory rather than a trading company also means you get straight answers about what is actually produced where — exactly what rules of origin demand. And when you need custom sheet metal parts, the same one-stop team handles prototyping, tooling and volume production, so the paperwork stays consistent from the first sample to the millionth part.

Conclusion

The HS code for sheet metal parts depends on material and end use, and the free trade agreement you claim can cut or eliminate the duty you pay. Get the classification right, understand the rules of origin, keep the paperwork in order — and customs stops being a cost center and becomes a competitive advantage. If you are sourcing sheet metal parts and want a partner who handles these details for you, contact DA Stamping for a quote.