Unsweetened Chocolate Baking Block from Japan
A solid block of ground cocoa beans with added cocoa fat, containing less than 32% butterfat and 60% sugar, designed for industrial chocolate production. It qualifies under HTS 1806.32.18.00 as a preparation wholly of ground cocoa beans without fillings, not for retail candy consumption. This excludes retail-packaged products, focusing on bulk for manufacturing.
Duty Rate — Japan → United States
12.5%
Rate breakdown
9903.05.4912.5%Section 301 (forced labor) — Japan (col1 rate < 12.5 percent): MFN < 12.5% → total duty capped at 12.5%
Import Tips
• Verify butterfat and milk solids content via lab analysis to confirm under 32% threshold; provide certificates to Customs
• Ensure entry excludes retail candy packaging; declare as industrial ingredient to avoid quota misclassification
• Monitor annual quantitative limits (2.12M kg total); prioritize origins like Ireland/UK for quota access