Analysis
HTS 0406.90.56 covers in original loaves and suitable for grating under heading 0406 (cheese and curd).
Rates on the nearby lines range from duty-free to 25%. The costliest confusion would be with 0406.90.31 (described in additional U.S. note 21 to this chapter and entered…) at 25%, a difference of 25 points on the customs value.
Goods from countries without normal trade relations pay the column 2 rate of 35% instead of nothing, so origin decides between free entry and a 35% duty.
There is no general-rate duty on this line, which puts it with roughly 2% of the 126 tariff lines in chapter 04 that are also free. Duty-free at the general rate does not rule out additional duties under Chapter 99, such as Section 301 or Section 232 measures, which depend on the country of origin.
Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 311513 (Cheese Manufacturing), an industry of 568 US establishments employing 60,731 people, the industry a domestic producer of these goods reports under.
Every edition we compared, from Jan 2023 to Oct 2026 (Rev. 22), shows the same general rate of Free.
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0406.90.05 | Other cheese: bryndza cheese | 7.2% |
| 0406.90.06 | Described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions | 12% |
| 0406.90.08 | Described in additional U.S. note 18 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions | 12% |
| 0406.90.12 | Cheddar cheese: other | $1.227/kg |
| 0406.90.14 | Described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions | 15% |
| 0406.90.16 | Described in additional U.S. note 20 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions | 15% |
| 0406.90.18 | Edam and Gouda cheeses: other | $1.803/kg |
| 0406.90.20 | Made from goat's milk whey or from whey obtained from a mixture of goat's milk and not more than 20 percent by weight of cow's milk | 4.2% |
| 0406.90.25 | Gjetost cheeses: other | 8.5% |
| 0406.90.28 | Described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions | 25% |
| 0406.90.31 | Described in additional U.S. note 21 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions | 25% |
| 0406.90.32 | Made from cow's milk and not in original loaves: other | $2.146/kg |
| 0406.90.33 | Other: other | 21.3% |
| 0406.90.34 | Described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions | 19% |
| 0406.90.36 | Described in additional U.S. note 21 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions | 19% |
| 0406.90.37 | Made from cow's milk: other | $2.146/kg |
| 0406.90.38 | Other: other | 12.2% |
| 0406.90.39 | Described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions | 15% |
| 0406.90.41 | Described in additional U.S. note 21 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions | 15% |
| 0406.90.42 | Made from cow's milk: other | $2.146/kg |
| 0406.90.43 | Other: other | 9.6% |
| 0406.90.44 | Described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions | 6.4% |
| 0406.90.46 | Described in additional U.S. note 25 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions | 6.4% |
| 0406.90.48 | Swiss or Emmentaler cheese with eye formation: other | $1.877/kg |
| 0406.90.49 | Gammelost and Nokkelost cheeses | 5.4% |
| 0406.90.51 | Described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions | 20% |
| 0406.90.52 | Described in additional U.S. note 19 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions | 20% |
| 0406.90.54 | Colby cheese: other | $1.055/kg |
| 0406.90.57 | Pecorino, in original loaves, not suitable for grating | Free |
| 0406.90.59 | Cheeses made from sheep's milk: other | 9.6% |
| 0406.90.61 | Containing Romano, Reggiano, Parmesan, Provolone, Provoletti, Sbrinz or Goya, all the foregoing made from cow's milk | 7.5% |
| 0406.90.63 | Other, described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions (including mixtures): other | 10% |
| 0406.90.66 | Described in additional U.S. note 21 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions | 7.5% |
| 0406.90.68 | Containing Romano, Reggiano, Parmesan, Provolone, Provoletti, Sbrinz or Goya, all the foregoing made from cow's milk: other | $2.146/kg |
| 0406.90.72 | Described in additional U.S. note 17 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions | 10% |
| 0406.90.74 | Containing, or processed from, blue-veined cheese: other | $2.269/kg |
| 0406.90.76 | Described in additional U.S. note 18 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions | 10% |
| 0406.90.78 | Containing, or processed from, Cheddar cheese: other | $1.227/kg |
| 0406.90.82 | Described in additional U.S. note 19 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions | 10% |
| 0406.90.84 | Containing, or processed from, American- type cheese (including Colby, washed curd and granular cheese, but not including Cheddar): other | $1.055/kg |