Analysis
HTS 2852.90.05 covers albuminates, tannates and phosphides of mercury under heading 2852 (inorganic or organic compounds of mercury, whether or not chemically defined, excluding…).
Rates on the nearby lines range from duty-free to 3%. The costliest confusion would be with 2852.90.90 (other: other) at 3%, a difference of 3 points on the customs value.
There is no general-rate duty on this line, which puts it with roughly 29% of the 274 tariff lines in chapter 28 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.
Goods from countries without normal trade relations pay the column 2 rate of 25% instead of nothing, so origin decides between free entry and a 25% duty.
The other lines in the same group are 2852.10.10 (mercuric oxide, mercuric cyanide, mercuric oxycyanide and…, duty-free), 2852.10.90 (chemically defined: other, 3%) and 2852.90.90 (other: other, 3%).
Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 325180 (Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing), an industry of 705 US establishments employing 41,447 people, the industry a domestic producer of these goods reports under.
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2852.10.10 | Mercuric oxide, mercuric cyanide, mercuric oxycyanide and mercuric potassium cyanide | Free |
| 2852.10.90 | Chemically defined: other | 3% |
| 2852.90.90 | Other: other | 3% |