Merchandise imports and exports data classified according to the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System - generally referred to as "Harmonized System" or simply "HS" – are the building blocks for statistics on trade in ICT goods.

Each HS product code must be considered against the definition of ICT goods to identify those included when compiling ICT goods trade. The HS nomenclature is updated periodically to reflect changes in the nature of products – including rapid advances in products incorporating digital technologies.

The 2022 edition (HS22) introduced various changes to the HS structure, including additional product breakdowns within ICT goods product codes, deletion of codes that had formerly been recorded as ICT goods, and the addition of substantive new classes of product codes which need to be assessed against the definition. This technical note sets out the relevant changes and identifies their implications for measuring ICT goods trade.

Report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development