Analysis
Subheading 2918.21 covers salicylic acid and its salts, within heading 2918. The first six digits are shared by every country that uses the Harmonized System, so this part of the code is the same in the US, UK and EU schedules; the 2 US tariff lines below it are national.
None of its 2 lines is duty-free at the general rate. Rates run from 6.5% to 6.5% with a median of 6.5%, so the line you choose sets the duty.
The US splits it as follows: 2918.21.10 for suitable for medicinal use (6.5%) and 2918.21.50 for salicylic acid and its salts: other (6.5%).
By Census's concordance, most of its statistical lines are made by Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411) and All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (325199). Those are the NAICS industries a US producer of these goods would report under.
Goods only reach 2918.21 once they fall within heading 2918 (carboxylic acids with additional oxygen function and their anhydrides, halides, peroxides…). Under General Rule 6, subheadings are then compared only with others at the same level, so a product is matched against its siblings, not against lines elsewhere in the chapter.
Tariff lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2918.21.10 | Suitable for medicinal use | 6.5% |
| 2918.21.50 | Salicylic acid and its salts: other | 6.5% |