Sodium Alginate Powder from China
Sodium alginate is the sodium salt of alginic acid, a natural polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed, appearing as a white to yellowish powder in primary form. It falls under HTS 3913.10.00.00 as a salt of alginic acid not elsewhere specified. Primarily used in food, pharmaceutical, and textile industries for its gelling and thickening properties.
Duty Rate — China → United States
24.2%
Rate breakdown
9903.88.157.5%Except as provided in headings 9903.88.39, 9903.88.42, 9903.88.44, 9903.88.47, 9903.88.49, 9903.88.51, 9903.88.53, 9903.88.55, 9903.88.57, 9903.88.65, 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(r) to this subchapter and as provided for in the subheadings enumerated in U.S. note 20(s)
9903.05.3112.5%Section 301 (forced labor) — additional 12.5% ad valorem on products of China
Import Tips
• Verify purity and seaweed source documentation to confirm natural origin; ensure COA shows sodium alginate content >95% for proper classification
• Common pitfall: mislabeling as synthetic polymer leading to wrong chapter