Analysis
HTS 2915.21.00 covers acetic acid and its salts; acetic anhydride: acetic acid under heading 2915 (saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids and their anhydrides, halides, peroxides and…).
Within this group the rate runs from duty-free to 5.5%. Compared with 2915.90.20 (other: aromatic), which pays 5.5%, a misclassification either way moves the duty by 3.7 percentage points.
The general duty rate is 1.8% of the customs value, which is at the low end of the rates in chapter 29 (27th percentile of 1050 lines with an ad valorem rate). On a shipment valued at $10,000 that is $180 in duty before any Chapter 99 additions or preference claims.
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 1.8%. 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.
Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 325199 (All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing), an industry of 894 US establishments employing 77,304 people. That concordance is how imports of this line are compared with US output.
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2915.11.00 | Formic acid, its salts and esters: formic acid | 5.5% |
| 2915.12.00 | Salts of formic acid | 5.5% |
| 2915.13.10 | Esters of formic acid: aromatic | 5.5% |
| 2915.13.50 | Esters of formic acid: other | 3.7% |
| 2915.24.00 | Acetic acid and its salts; acetic anhydride: acetic anhydride | 3.5% |
| 2915.29.10 | Cupric acetate monohydrate | Free |
| 2915.29.20 | Other: sodium acetate | 3.7% |
| 2915.29.30 | Other: cobalt acetates | 4.2% |
| 2915.29.50 | Other: other | 2.8% |
| 2915.31.00 | Esters of acetic acid: ethyl acetate | 3.7% |
| 2915.32.00 | Esters of acetic acid: vinyl acetate | 3.8% |
| 2915.33.00 | Esters of acetic acid: n-Butyl acetate | 5.5% |
| 2915.36.00 | Dinoseb (ISO) acetate | 5.5% |
| 2915.39.10 | Odoriferous or flavoring compounds: benzyl acetate | 5.5% |
| 2915.39.20 | Odoriferous or flavoring compounds: other | 5.5% |
| 2915.39.31 | Products described in additional U.S. note 3 to section VI | 5.5% |
| 2915.39.35 | Other: other | 5.5% |
| 2915.39.40 | Odoriferous or flavoring compounds: linalyl acetate | 5.5% |
| 2915.39.45 | Odoriferous or flavoring compounds: other | 4.8% |
| 2915.39.47 | Acetates of polyhydric alcohols or of polyhydric alcohol ethers | 5.5% |
| 2915.39.60 | Bis(bromoacetoxy)butene | Free |
| 2915.39.70 | Other: isobutyl acetate | 5.5% |
| 2915.39.80 | 2-Ethoxyethyl acetate (Ethylene glycol, monoethyl ether acetate) | 5.5% |
| 2915.39.90 | Other: other | 3.7% |
| 2915.40.10 | Chloroacetic acids | 1.8% |
| 2915.40.20 | Products described in additional U.S. note 3 to section VI | 5.5% |
| 2915.40.30 | Aromatic: other | 5.5% |
| 2915.40.50 | Other: other | 3.7% |
| 2915.50.10 | Propionic acid, its salts and esters: propionic acid | 4.2% |
| 2915.50.20 | Other: aromatic | 5.5% |
| 2915.50.50 | Other: other | 3.7% |
| 2915.60.10 | Butanoic acids, pentanoic acids, their salts and esters: aromatic | 5.5% |
| 2915.60.50 | Butanoic acids, pentanoic acids, their salts and esters: other | 2.1% |
| 2915.70.01 | Palmitic acid, stearic acid, their salts and esters | 5% |
| 2915.90.10 | Fatty acids of animal or vegetable origin | 5% |
| 2915.90.14 | Other: valproic acid | 4.2% |
| 2915.90.18 | Other: other | 4.2% |
| 2915.90.20 | Other: aromatic | 5.5% |
| 2915.90.50 | Other: other | 3.8% |