Vegetable Pretanned Sheepskin from Merino Lambs from China
This is a sheepskin from Merino lambs that has undergone vegetable pretanning, a reversible process using plant tannins, leaving it preserved but not fully tanned. It falls under HTS 4102.29.20.00 as raw sheep or lamb skin, without wool, vegetable pretanned, and not further prepared. The pretanning stabilizes the hide for subsequent leather processing.
Duty Rate — China → United States
20%
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 the pretanning process is reversible and uses only vegetable tannins to confirm classification under 4102; chemical tanning shifts to 4105
• Provide documentation like tannery certificates proving no full tanning, parchment-dressing, or further preparation occurred
• Avoid common pitfalls by ensuring skins are dewooled and split if applicable, as wool-on versions classify differently