Frozen Breaded Eel Fillets from China
These are eel fillets coated with a breadcrumb batter, frozen without cooking or oil packing, designed for easy frying. Classified under HTS 1604.17.40.00 as prepared eel portions that are breaded but neither cooked nor in oil, fitting the 'fish sticks and similar products' category. They match the subheading for uncooked, uncoated-in-oil eel products.
Duty Rate — China → United States
47.5%
Rate breakdown
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)
9903.05.3112.5%Section 301 (forced labor) — additional 12.5% ad valorem on products of China
Import Tips
• Verify species certification as eel to comply with HTS 1604.17 specificity; misclassification to general fish sticks risks penalties
• Provide documentation proving breading process without cooking or oil immersion, including processing logs
• Check for Section 609 restrictions if any shrimp byproducts used in batter; common pitfall is inadequate country-of-origin labeling