Analysis
HTS 0904.12.00 covers pepper of the genus Piper: crushed or ground under heading 0904 (pepper of the genus Piper; dried or crushed or ground fruits of the genus Capsicum…).
Goods classified here enter the United States duty-free at the general (normal trade relations) rate, as do about 85% of the 48 tariff lines in chapter 09. Free here means free of the base duty only: origin-specific Chapter 99 duties such as Section 301 can still be owed.
Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 311942 (Spice and Extract Manufacturing), an industry of 473 US establishments employing 25,339 people. That is the industry code a US manufacturer of the same product would normally use.
All 10 neighbouring lines carry the same duty-free rate, so a borderline choice between them changes the statistics reported, not the duty paid.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0904.11.00 | Neither crushed nor ground | Free |
| 0904.21.20 | Of the genusCapsicum(including cayenne pepper, paprika and red pepper): paprika | 3¢/kg |
| 0904.21.40 | Anaheim and ancho pepper | 5¢/kg |
| 0904.21.60 | Of the genusCapsicum(including cayenne pepper, paprika and red pepper): other | 2.5¢/kg |
| 0904.21.80 | Of the genus Pimenta (including allspice) | Free |
| 0904.22.20 | Of the genus Capsicum (including cayenne Pepper, paprika and red pepper): paprika | 3¢/kg |
| 0904.22.40 | Anaheim and ancho pepper | 5¢/kg |
| 0904.22.73 | Mixtures of mashed or macerated hot red peppers and salt | Free |
| 0904.22.76 | Of the genus Capsicum (including cayenne Pepper, paprika and red pepper): other | 5¢/kg |
| 0904.22.80 | Of the genus Pimenta (including allspice) | Free |