7101.10.30

Analysis

HTS 7101.10.30 covers graded and temporarily strung for convenience of transport under heading 7101 (pearls, natural or cultured, whether or not worked or graded but not strung, mounted or…).

There is no general-rate duty on this line, which puts it with roughly 45% of the 108 tariff lines in chapter 71 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.

The other lines in the same group are 7101.10.60 (natural pearls: other, duty-free), 7101.21.00 (cultured pearls: unworked, duty-free), 7101.22.30 (graded and temporarily strung for convenience of transport, duty-free) and 7101.22.60 (worked: other, duty-free).

Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 339910 (Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing), an industry of 1,844 US establishments employing 19,188 people, the industry a domestic producer of these goods reports under.

Goods from countries without normal trade relations pay the column 2 rate of 10% instead of nothing, so origin decides between free entry and a 10% duty.

All 4 neighbouring lines carry the same duty-free rate, so a borderline choice between them changes the statistics reported, not the duty paid.