## Common ground
All options refer to bed or mattress bases/foundations categorized by their primary material.
## Options at a glance
**9403.20 – Base metal**
- **Defining trait:** Constructed primarily from steel, iron, or other base metals.
- **Typical examples:** Metal slat frames, adjustable metal bed frames.
- **Best fit when:** The frame is rigid, durable, and made of non-wood, non-plastic materials like steel.
**9403.50 – Wood**
- **Defining trait:** Made entirely or mainly from solid wood or wood-based panels.
- **Typical examples:** Solid pine bed frames, wooden slat bases.
- **Best fit when:** The product uses natural or engineered wood as the main structural material.
**9403.70 – Plastic material**
- **Defining trait:** Primarily made from synthetic plastic (e.g., polypropylene, PVC).
- **Typical examples:** Lightweight plastic slats, foldable plastic bed bases.
- **Best fit when:** The frame is molded or extruded from plastic, not wood or metal.
**9403.82 – Bamboo**
- **Defining trait:** Made from bamboo, a fast-growing grass used as a structural material.
- **Typical examples:** Bamboo slat frames, eco-friendly bed bases.
- **Best fit when:** The product uses bamboo in its primary construction (not just decorative).
**9403.83 – Rattan**
- **Defining trait:** Constructed from rattan, a tropical vine used for weaving or framing.
- **Typical examples:** Woven rattan bed frames, traditional-style bases.
- **Best fit when:** The frame is woven or shaped from rattan fibers.
**9403.89 – Other materials (cane, osier, etc.)**
- **Defining trait:** Made from natural flexible materials like cane, osier, or similar plant fibers.
- **Typical examples:** Woven cane bed frames, wicker-style foundations.
- **Best fit when:** The material is not wood, plastic, metal, bamboo, or rattan, but a similar natural fiber.
## Key differences
| Option | Material Type | Structural Use | Natural vs. Synthetic |
|--------------|----------------------|--------------------|------------------------|
| 9403.20 | Base metal | Rigid frame | Synthetic |
| 9403.50 | Wood | Solid frame | Natural |
| 9403.70 | Plastic | Molded or extruded | Synthetic |
| 9403.82 | Bamboo | Structural slats | Natural (grass) |
| 9403.83 | Rattan | Woven frame | Natural |
| 9403.89 | Cane/osier/fibers | Woven or flexible | Natural |
## How to choose
- Is the base made of steel, iron, or other metal? → 9403.20
- Is it primarily wood (solid or panel)? → 9403.50
- Is it molded from plastic (e.g., polypropylene)? → 9403.70
- Is it made from bamboo? → 9403.82
- Is it woven from rattan? → 9403.83
- Is it made from cane, osier, or similar flexible natural fibers? → 9403.89
## Overlaps & pitfalls
- Bamboo and rattan are both natural materials but differ in structure (bamboo is rigid; rattan is flexible).
- Cane and osier fall under “other materials” (9403.89), so avoid confusion with rattan or bamboo.
- If a product uses multiple materials (e.g., wood frame with plastic slats), the **main structural material** determines the code.
- No priority rule is specified—use the **primary material** as the deciding factor