Search and look up UK commodity codes by keyword or code using the gov.uk Trade Tariff API
domain: api.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk · 5 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
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Steps
Query the public commodities search endpoint (trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/api/v2/search?q={keyword}) with a product description or partial code to get candidate commodity codes.
For a known code, call the commodity detail endpoint (.../api/v2/commodities/{commodity_code}) to retrieve the full JSON:API record including description, chapter/heading hierarchy, and units of measure.
Walk the returned JSON:API 'included' section to resolve related headings/sections/chapters referenced by relationship IDs rather than assuming a flat response.
Confirm which of the multiple similarly-worded commodity codes returned by a keyword search is the correct 10-digit UK Global Tariff code for your product before using it downstream.
For production-scale or higher-volume use, register on the Trade Tariff developer hub (hub.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk) and confirm current API key/authentication requirements, which have changed as the API has been enhanced.
Known gotchas
The response format follows the JSON:API spec (data/included/relationships), not a simple flat JSON object — naive parsing that ignores 'included' will miss measure and hierarchy detail.
Commodity codes and their applicable measures change with UK tariff policy updates (new FTAs, safeguard measures); don't cache lookups indefinitely.
Keyword search can return multiple plausible matches at different levels of the HS hierarchy (heading vs. full commodity code) — verify you're using the correct 10-digit level before declaring duty.
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