Question: How often is the DataWeb updated?

Answer: The DataWeb is updated approximately two weeks after the end of each month, although the schedule is not guaranteed. A schedule of planned updates is available at http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/data_updates.htm

Question: When is the DataWeb available?

Answer: The DataWeb is available to the public virtually 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world.

Question: How much does it cost to register to use the DataWeb?

Answer: Public access to the DataWeb is provided as a public service at no charge.

Question:  When I try to register as a new DataWeb user, I get an error message and the registration fails. What is wrong?

Answer:  You may not use spaces or special characters, such as ', %, #, $, &, etc. in your username or password.  Alphanumeric characters and underscores are acceptable.

Question:  Where can I get help with HTS classifications?

Answer:  The Customs and Border Protection Bureau offers the following assistance:
Ports directory at http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/ This link provides a list of Customs offices at ports of entry by state with phone numbers, addresses, and hours of operation.
Customs Rulings Online Search System at http://rulings.cbp.gov/ CROSS is a searchable database of rulings which may include your commodity.

Question:  How can I create a dataweb user account?

Answer:  Log into this URL: http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/user_set.asp

Question:  How do I find tariff information for a commodity?

Answer:  Tariff information is available from the DataWeb. On the right, click on “Tariff Data”. This will take you to the "Tariff Information Center" page. At the top, click on USITC Tariff Database—Interactive This will take you to a page where you can enter the United States Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) number for the product of interest, or to find the number by entering the name of the product. After entering the number or the name of the product, a page with a detail button will appear. Click on the button to display the tariff information.

The full legal text of the United States Harmonized Tariff Schedules Annotated by chapter may be found at http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm  

Historic tariff information can be accessed by clicking on the "Tariff DataBase Tables for Browsing and Downloading" link near the bottom of the "Tariff Information Center" page or by going directly to this url: (http://reportweb.usitc.gov/tariff/tariff_form_.jsp)

You can request help with HTS numbers by clicking the "HTS Help!" link (http://www.usitc.gov/tata/contact/index.asp) on the "Tariff Information Center" page.

If you need additional help in classifying a product and finding the HTS number, please contact the Customs and Border Protection Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security office nearest you for help. A list of office locations is available at this URL:  http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/

Answer:  A search engine for export classifcation numbers (also known as Schedule B numbers) is maintained by the Census Bureau at this url: http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/index.html#search. Please note that import HTS numbers can be used, with certain exceptions, for export shipments. Exceptions are noted in the import schedules at http://usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htmunder "Notice to Exporters".

Question:  How can I translate HTS codes into those for SIC, SITC and NAICS classifications?

Answer:  You can use the translation wizard at this URL:  http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/commod_select.asp to translate individual numbers. To compare whole tables of numbers, please go to this URL: http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html. Trade by SIC codes is only available through the year 2001. SICs have been replaced by NAICS codes which are available from 1997 to the present. HTS-NAICS concordance files can be ordered from the Census Bureau. The concordance is provided on the monthly trade CDs which are available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/orders/1210.html.

Question:  How do I find the duty for a commodity?  

Answer:  For assistance with duties and proper classification of a product, please contact the Customs and Border Protection Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security office nearest you for help. A list of office locations is available at this URL:  http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/

Question:  Where can I find ad valorum equivalent (AVE) duties for U.S. imports?

Answer:  The value of U.S. imports for consumption, duties collected, and the ratio of duties to values for the years 1891 - 2005 are available at this URL: http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/AVE.PDF

Question:  Where can I find definitions for trade terms like domestic imports, total imports, domestic exports, etc.?

Answer:  Definitions for the data fields are available from the Dataweb. Please log into the site, select either quick query or advanced search on the main menu page, and proceed to the query design page. In the upper left corner of the query design page is a box for data selection. There is a button labeled "View Data Field Descriptions". Click on this button to display field names and their definitions.

Question:  What does NESOI mean?

Answer:  The abbreviation "NESOI" means not elsewhere specified or included.

Question:  What is the difference between first and second units of quantity?

Answer:  Units of quantity shown are published in terms of the units specified in the HTSUSA for each HTS classification. Typically, if there are two units of quantity, the first is used for tariff purposes (for example, $0.36 per dozen). The second unit of quantity might be used for quota or other purposes.

Question:  How do I find the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) number for a commodity?

Answer:  Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers for the United States are available from the DataWeb. Click on the Tariff Data link. This will take you to the "Tariff Information Center" page. At the top, click on USITC Tariff Database—Interactive . This will take you to a page where you can enter the United States Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) number for the product of interest, or to find the number by entering the name of the product. In addition, you can request help with HTS numbers by clicking the "HTS Help!" link on the "Tariff Information Center" page.

CDs of the HTS are available for purchase from Government Printing Office at http://bookstore.gpo.gov/

If you need additional help finding an HTS number and proper classification of a product, please contact the Customs and Border Protection Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security Office nearest you for help. A list of office locations is available at this URL:  http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/

Question:  How do I download information from the DataWeb into a spreadsheet?

Answer:  After you successfully complete a query, a report page will be displayed on your screen.  Instructions for downloading the report into a spreadsheet are shown at the bottom of the screen. Please scroll down to see the instructions. You can also “highlight” your table, then copy and paste it into a spreadsheet program.

 Question:  Is it possible to obtain  import and export quantities as well as values from the DataWeb? 

Answer:  Yes.  On the main menu page of the DataWeb, under “quick Query” or under “advanced search”. Proceed to the query design page. Under data selection, you can select a variety of options, some of which are quantities.

 Question:  Is it possible to obtain  Customs, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) values from the DataWeb? 

Answer:  Yes.  On the main menu page of the DataWeb, under quick query or advanced search, click on "HTS Items." Proceed to the query design page. Under data selection, you can select a variety of options, one of which is CIF value. To calculate the charges for insurance and freight, subtract the Customs value (the top selection) from the CIF value.

Question:  Where can I obtain trade data on CDs or DVDs?

Answer:  Trade data from 1998 to the present may be ordered on-line from the Census Bureau at this URL: http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/reference/products/catalog/orderform.html Older data may be requested using this url: http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/adverts/tradedata/request.html

Question:  How can I find importers for a commodity?

Answer:  Information about individual importers is not available from the DataWeb. Some information is available from the American Association of Exporters and Importers in New York (http://www.aaei.org/index.asp).

Question:  Where can I find information about U.S. Trade with Puerto Rico and U.S. Possessions?

Answer:  Total quantity and value of commodities shipped between the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. possessions is available at http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/ftdpr895.html Data on shipments are shown by all methods of transportation combined, with separate data showing the amount of trade transported by vessel and by air.

Question:  My query times out.  How can I solve this problem?

Answer: There are several reasons why a query may time out.  Potential problems and solutions are listed below:

1.  The amount of information you are trying to retrieve is very large.  If this is the problem, it may be necessary to purchase a CD of trade data from the Census Bureau.  You can order online from:   http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/reference/products/catalog/orderform.html.  Alternatively, try breaking the query into smaller pieces that retrieves smaller amounts of data.  For example, query one SITC number at a time, or specify  fewer countries in your query.

2.  Although the amount of information you are trying to retrieve is small, a large amount of data has to be searched to find the answer.  If this is the problem, try breaking the query into smaller pieces so less data are searched.  If you need help optimizing a query, please request assistance at this url: http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/dataweb_help/dw_help.asp.

3.  Peak public traffic on the DataWeb occurs between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. Eastern U.S. time and computer resources are most stressed during that period.  Try running the query after 7:00 pm Eastern U.S. time, or before 9:00 a.m. Eastern U.S. time.

 Question:  In using the DataWeb, is there a way to have the imports reported on a district of entry basis? 

Answer:  On the Main Menu of the Dataweb near the upper right corner as you face the screen is an option for Advanced Search, HTS numbers. Select this option. On the Query Design Page that will appear when you hit the proceed button, there is a district search option in the lower left corner of the screen.  The Customs Districts are described in Statistical Annex C of the HTS.

Question:  Are you aware of any other country that has a web site for trade data?

Answer:  A variety of data are available at these locations:
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) http://202.154.12.33/trade/publicview.asp
Canadian Data http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrkti/tdst/engdoc/tr_homep.html
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) http://www.caricomstats.org/
EU Europa Trade http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade
Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA)
http://alca-ftaa.iadb.org/eng/NGMADB_E.HTM

  Question:  When trying to use the trade balance option, none of my commodity lists are available on the drop down menu. In fact the only list available to me is "all commodities." On the other hand, all of my country lists are shown and are selectable and will run with the "all commodities" selection. What is wrong?

Answer: The DataWeb only calculates trade balances at the 6-digit level and higher because United States HTS import and HTS export numbers differ at the 8 and 10-digit level.  For this reason, HTS  8 or 10 digit lists do not show up on the trade balances portion of the DataWeb.

Question:  How do I create a commodity list?

Answer:

1. On the Query Design Page, click on "Create New List".

2. On the page that appears, click on "List Type" (e.g.HTS 10)

3. Enter a list name, e.g. my_list, in the empty text box

4. Click on "Make New List"

5. Highlight the Chapter of interest

6. Click on "Show Items"

7. Highlight your HTS numbers (see note about control/shift on the web page)

8. Click on "Copy Number"

9. click on "Query Design Page"

Question:  How can I find which countries have normal trade relations with the United States?

Answer: NTR (Normal Trade Relations) was formerly known as MFN (Most-favored Nation) treatment. In the DataWeb the list of countries NOT eligible for MFN (NTR) are in a country list called "Non-NTR (Non-MFN)". To find this list, log into the DataWeb, and proceed to the Query Design Page. About halfway down the page is an option titled "Select all countries or a pre-defined list". Go to this option and select "USITC CTRY GRP: Non-NTR (Non-MFN)", then click on the button at the bottom of the option box labeled "View a USITC Country Grp List". This will display the list of countries NOT eligible for MFN. All other countries are eligible for NTR.

  Question:  Where can I get statistical info about tonnage of  freight for a district of entry?

Answer: Commodity flows by mode of transportation are available from the Dept. of Transportation at http://www.transtats.bts.gov/.

  Question:  Where can I find what anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders are in place?

Answer: This information is available on the ITC website at http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/index.htm

  Question:  Where can I find antidumping and countervailing duty deposit rates?

Answer: The Customs and Border Protection Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security posts information about deposit rate at http://addcvd.cbp.gov/index.asp/. Alternatively, deposit rates are available from the Import Administration at the International Trade Administration (202-482-1780). Please request the assistance of the analyst who handles the commodity of interest.