Analysis
HTS 1209.91.60 covers vegetable seeds: pepper under heading 1209 (seeds, fruits and spores of a kind used for sowing). US Customs collects import statistics for it under 2 ten-digit suffixes, reported in kilograms.
For statistics it divides in two: 1209.91.60.10 for sweet pepper and 1209.91.60.90 for other. Both pay the same duty; the suffix records which kind was imported.
There is no general-rate duty on this line, which puts it with roughly 77% of the 44 tariff lines in chapter 12 that are also free. Chapter 99 measures such as Section 301 or 232 can still apply on top, depending on where the goods come from.
Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 111219 (Other Vegetable (except Potato) and Melon Farming), the industry a domestic producer of these goods reports under.
All 5 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.
Statistical suffixes
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1209.91.10 | Vegetable seeds: cauliflower | 5.9¢/kg |
| 1209.91.20 | Vegetable seeds: celery | Free |
| 1209.91.40 | Vegetable seeds: onion | Free |
| 1209.91.50 | Vegetable seeds: parsley | 0.68¢/kg |
| 1209.91.80 | Vegetable seeds: other | 1.5¢/kg |