Chilled Chinese Bitter Gourd from Japan
Chinese bitter gourd (Momordica charantia var. charantia) is a lighter green, less bitter variety used in soups and salads, harvested fresh and chilled for market. It precisely matches HTS 0709.99.90.05 as fresh or chilled bitter melon under other vegetables. Popular in stir-fries for its crisp texture.
Duty Rate — Japan → United States
20%
Rate breakdown
9903.05.480%Section 301 (forced labor) — Japan (col1 rate ≥ 12.5 percent): MFN >= 12.5% → no additional duty
Import Tips
• Use refrigerated containers to preserve chill status and avoid 0711 reclassification; obtain APHIS permits for quarantine pests
• Document harvest date to prove freshness
• Common pitfall: incorrect weighting leading to tomato-like misclassification