Bitter Lime Juice for Vinegar Production from Japan
Extremely bitter lime juice, unfit for drinking, fermented into specialty vinegars in industrial settings. Classified 2009.39.10.00 as lime juice not for beverage purposes before vinegar processing. Meets unfermented juice notes pre-fermentation.
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
• Specify pre-fermentation stage in docs to avoid chapter 22 vinegar shift
• Confirm <0.5% alcohol per chapter note 2009
• Bulk ship to prevent retail homogenization confusion