Indigo Carmine Lake Blue from Mexico
Indigo carmine lake is a deep blue pigment formed by adsorbing indigo carmine dye onto an alumina substrate, qualifying as a color lake under U.S. note 3. It is used in printing inks, textiles, and pharmaceutical coatings. HTS 3205.00.40 applies to such preparations based on color lakes.
Duty Rate — Mexico → United States
16.5%
Rate breakdown
9903.05.5510%Section 301 (forced labor) — additional 10% ad valorem on products of Mexico
Import Tips
• Confirm dye purity via HPLC analysis; declare exact substrate percentage
• Common pitfall: incorrect declaration as water-soluble dye leading to audits