Analysis
HTS 2918.13.30 covers potassium sodium tartrate (Rochelle salts) under heading 2918 (carboxylic acids with additional oxygen function and their anhydrides, halides, peroxides…).
Within this group the rate runs from duty-free to 4.4%. Compared with 2918.13.50 (salts and esters of tartaric acid: other), which pays 4.4%, a misclassification either way moves the duty by 4.4 percentage points.
The normal trade relations rate here is zero, shared by about 26% of the 1050 tariff lines in chapter 29, a useful check when a neighbouring dutiable line is a candidate. Free here means free of the base duty only: origin-specific Chapter 99 duties such as Section 301 can still be owed.
The other lines in the same group are 2918.13.10 (potassium antimony tartrate (Tartar emetic), duty-free), 2918.13.20 (potassium bitartrate (Cream of tartar), duty-free) and 2918.13.50 (salts and esters of tartaric acid: other, 4.4%).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2918.13.10 | Potassium antimony tartrate (Tartar emetic) | Free |
| 2918.13.20 | Potassium bitartrate (Cream of tartar) | Free |
| 2918.13.50 | Salts and esters of tartaric acid: other | 4.4% |