Poplar Utility Poles from Japan
Rough-cut poles made from Populus deltoides (poplar) wood, typically 30-50 feet long and 8-12 inches in diameter at the butt end, used for electrical and telephone line support. They are stripped of bark and sapwood but not further processed, fitting HTS 4403.97.0026 as poles of poplar species in the rough state.
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
• Verify species certification as Populus spp. (poplar/aspen) via phytosanitary certificates to avoid reclassification
• Ensure ISPM 15 heat treatment documentation for poles to meet fumigation requirements and prevent quarantine issues
• Measure dimensions precisely; poles over roughly squared limits may shift to sawn lumber headings