Product data: HS codes, country of origin, weights, dimensions
In short
Every product (and variant) needs an accurate description, price and currency, country of origin, weight, and a universal (6-digit) HS code. Adding destination-specific codes on top (US HTS10, EU CN8) makes sure you don't overpay duties. Missing origin or universal HS code = no rate, no label.
Why it matters: the HS code sets the duty rate; the country of origin decides which tariff layers apply (US Section 301, for example); the weight and package dimensions set the shipping price; the description and value are what customs see. Errors compound: a wrong HS code changes the duty, and VAT is calculated on top of duty.
What to set, and where
| Field | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Shopify product/variant | Product only, without box. Never 0. |
| Country of origin | Shopify → product → Customs information, or Teleship app → Products (single or bulk edit) | Where the item was made, not where you bought it. Required per item. |
| Universal HS code (6-digit) | Shopify → product → Customs information, or Teleship app → Products (single or bulk edit) | Required. See HS codes: why they are destination-specific and how to classify |
| Import HS codes (destination-specific, 8/10-digit) | Teleship app → Products → Import HS Codes & Compliance | Optional but recommended: the precise code per destination sets the exact duty rate and flags documentation needs (e.g. CPSC for the US) |
| Package | Teleship app → Products → assign a package | Overrides the default package (Packaging configuration and how billable weight works) |
| Description | Shopify title, or a customs-specific description in the Teleship app → Products → ⋮ (three dots) → Set a customs description | Plain English, what the item is ("women's cotton t-shirt"), not the brand name only. Use the customs description when your product title is a brand or marketing name. |
Classifying in the app
- Teleship app → Products. The filters at the top show what's missing: Missing Universal HS code, Missing Country of Origin, Missing Default Package, CPSC documentation required. Search by title or SKU; tick several products to edit them in bulk. The ⋮ menu on a product lets you Copy product data to similar products and Set a customs description.
- Click Classify — the AI suggests destination-specific codes (US HTS10, EU CN8/TARIC, GB) from your title, description and images. Always review the suggestion; you are responsible for the declaration.
- To do it in bulk: Shopify → Settings → Taxes and duties → Products → Export CSV, fill HS codes and origins, re-import. The app picks them up on the next sync.
US HTS10 error at label purchase: the product has no valid 10-digit US code, so the US duty stack (US import duties: how they stack, what changed on 24 July 2026, HTS10 errors) can't be computed. Classify the product for the US in Products, then retry the label. Since 24 July 2026 the US applies the full duty stack to postal parcels too, so a US-specific code is required for every US order.
Don't: raise a declared value to pass a carrier limit, lower one to qualify for a route, mark items as gifts, or swap an HS code just to obtain a rate. Customs compares the declaration to the invoice and the goods; inaccurate declarations are what create surcharges, holds and seizures.
Still stuck? Contact our support team.