1302.39.00

Analysis

HTS 1302.39.00 covers mucilages and thickeners, whether or not modified, derived from vegetable products: other under heading 1302 (vegetable saps and extracts; pectic substances, pectinates and pectates; agar-agar and…). US Customs collects import statistics for it under 2 ten-digit suffixes, reported in kilograms.

The general duty rate is 3.2% of the customs value, which is above most the rates in chapter 13 (89th percentile of 13 lines with an ad valorem rate). On a shipment valued at $10,000 that is $320 in duty before any Chapter 99 additions or preference claims.

Within this group the rate runs from duty-free to 3.8%. Compared with 1302.32.00 (mucilages and thickeners, whether or not modified, derived from…), which pays duty-free, a misclassification either way moves the duty by 3.2 percentage points.

For statistics it divides in two: 1302.39.00.10 for carrageenan and 1302.39.00.90 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 3.2%. 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.