Analysis
HTS 2916.31.11 covers benzoic acid and its salts under heading 2916 (unsaturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids, cyclic monocarboxylic acids, their anhydrides…). US Customs collects import statistics for it under 3 ten-digit suffixes, reported in kilograms.
The general duty rate is 6.5% of the customs value, which is above most the rates in chapter 29 (83rd percentile of 1050 lines with an ad valorem rate). On a shipment valued at $10,000 that is $650 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 6.5%. 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.
The other lines in the same group are 2916.31.20 (odoriferous or flavoring compounds, 6.5%), 2916.31.30 (products described in additional U.S. note 3 to section VI, 6.5%) and 2916.31.50 (other: other, 6.5%).
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 is the industry code a US manufacturer of the same product would normally use.
Statistical suffixes
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2916.31.20 | Odoriferous or flavoring compounds | 6.5% |
| 2916.31.30 | Products described in additional U.S. note 3 to section VI | 6.5% |
| 2916.31.50 | Other: other | 6.5% |