Vegetable Tanned Buffalo Whole Hide Leather from Japan
Whole leather hide from buffalo animals, chrome-free vegetable tanned and oiled after crusting, hair removed, unit surface area ≤2.6 m², not fancy. Classified in 4107.19.20.00 as further prepared bovine (buffalo included) leather, whole and small-sized. Used for high-end belts and wallets.
Duty Rate — Japan → United States
52.5%
Rate breakdown
9903.41.0540%Bovine (including buffalo) and equine leather (provided for in heading 4104 or 4107); goat, kid, sheep and lamb leather, the foregoing dyed, colored, stamped or embossed (provided for in heading 4105, 4106, 4112 or 4113)
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
• Document the vegetable tanning process to distinguish from crust or reversible tanning, as per chapter note (b)
• Confirm buffalo origin via supplier certificates; mislabeling as 'bovine' without proof leads to customs holds
• Measure hides flat without stretching; exceeding 28 sq ft reclassifies, a frequent importer error