Mother-of-Pearl Button Blanks from Germany
Cut and polished blanks from mother-of-pearl shells for high-end shirt buttons. Falls under HTS 9606.30.8000 as other button blanks, allowing shell material per chapter notes unless minor constituent.
Duty Rate — Germany → United States
10%
Rate breakdown
9903.05.3910%Except for products described in headings 9903.05.85–9903.05.92 and 9903.05.97, articles the product of a member state of the European Union, with an ad valorem (or ad valorem equivalent) rate of duty under column 1 less than 10 percent, as provided for in U.S. note 52 to this subchapter
Import Tips
• Obtain CITES permits if shell species are protected
• Document shell origin and processing to avoid misclassification as finished pearls
• Test for natural vs synthetic to confirm chapter note allowances