Frozen Whole Escolar Butterfish from China
Frozen whole escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum), marketed as butterfish, cleaned but intact. Falls under HTS 0303.89.0055 for other frozen fish specifically butterfish, excluding fillets. Popular in sushi preparations despite mercury content warnings.
Duty Rate — China → United States
35%
Rate breakdown
9903.03.0110%Except for products described in headings 9903.03.02–9903.03.11, articles the product of any country, as provided for in subdivision (aa) of U.S. note 2 to this subchapter
9903.88.0325%Except as provided in headings 9903.88.13, 9903.88.18, 9903.88.33, 9903.88.34, 9903.88.35, 9903.88.36, 9903.88.37, 9903.88.38, 9903.88.40, 9903.88.41, 9903.88.43, 9903.88.45, 9903.88.46, 9903.88.48, 9903.88.56, 9903.88.64, 9903.88.66, 9903.88.67, 9903.88.68, or 9903.88.69, articles the product of China, as provided for in U.S. note 20(e) to this subchapter and as provided for in the subheadings enumerated in U.S. note 20(f)
Import Tips
• Include FDA seafood HACCP plan certification, noting potential histamine risks in scombroid species like escolar
• Declare exact species nomenclature to prevent reclassification as oilfish under different commercial names
• Monitor EU import alerts for escolar due to laxative oil content, affecting transshipment documentation