Auto-Categorization of HS Code Using Background Net Approach

Abstract The Harmonized System of tariff nomenclature created by the Brussels-based World Customs Organization is widely applied to standardize traded products with Code, Description, Unit of Quantity, and Duty for Classification, to cope with the rapidly increasing international merchandise trade. As part of the function desired by trading system for Singapore Customs, an auto-categorization system is expected to accurately classify products into HS codes based on the text description of the goods declaration so to increase the overall usability of the trading system. Background Nets approach has been adopted as the key technique for the development of classification engine in the system. Experimental results indicate the potential of this approach in text categorization with ill-defined vocabularies and complex semantics.