Analysis
HTS 1008.50.00 covers quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) under heading 1008 (buckwheat, millet and canary seeds; other cereals (including wild rice)). US Customs collects import statistics for it under 2 ten-digit suffixes, reported in kilograms.
Within this group the rate runs from duty-free to 1.1%. Compared with 1008.10.00 (buckwheat, millet and canary seeds; other cereals (including wild…), which pays duty-free, a misclassification either way moves the duty by 1.1 percentage points.
The general duty rate is 1.1% of the customs value, which is in the middle of the rates in chapter 10 (67th percentile of 12 lines with an ad valorem rate). On a shipment valued at $10,000 that is $110 in duty before any Chapter 99 additions or preference claims.
For statistics it divides in two: 1008.50.00.10 for certified organic and 1008.50.00.90 for other. Both pay the same duty; the suffix records which kind was imported.
Goods that qualify under GSP, the Australia FTA, the Bahrain FTA, the Chile FTA, the Colombia TPA, and 12 others can enter duty-free instead of paying 1.1%. It is also eligible under GSP, the developing-country programme, which Congress has to renew; check whether GSP is in force on the entry date.
Statistical suffixes
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1008.10.00 | Buckwheat, millet and canary seeds; other cereals (including wild rice): buckwheat | Free |
| 1008.21.00 | Millet: seed | 0.32¢/kg |
| 1008.29.00 | Millet: other | 0.32¢/kg |
| 1008.30.00 | Buckwheat, millet and canary seeds; other cereals (including wild rice): canary seeds | 0.12¢/kg |
| 1008.40.00 | Fonio (Digitaria spp.) | 1.1% |
| 1008.60.00 | Buckwheat, millet and canary seeds; other cereals (including wild rice): triticale | 1.1% |
| 1008.90.01 | Buckwheat, millet and canary seeds; other cereals (including wild rice): other cereals (including wild rice) | 1.1% |