HTS Chapter 16 · Section IV
Preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or of insects
Chapter 16 averages a 3.5% general (MFN) duty across its 117 rated tariff lines, with the steepest line reaching 35%.
- 3.5%
- avg MFN duty
- 35%
- highest line
- 117
- rated tariff lines
- 43%
- enter duty-free
Tariff lines in Chapter 16 by duty-rate band
How the 117 rated lines in this chapter distribute across general (MFN) rate ranges
About HTS Chapter 16
HTS Chapter 16 — Preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or of insects — organizes 315 tariff classifications in the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Of these, 117 carry explicit duty rates at the tariff-line level, meaning importers can look up a specific Column 1 General (MFN) rate for every qualifying shipment. Chapter 16 sits within Section IV (Prepared Foodstuffs; Beverages, Spirits; Tobacco), which groups commercially related product categories together.
The average general duty rate across all tariff lines in this chapter is 3.5%, with the highest individual rate reaching 35%. Duty burden varies widely across tariff lines within this chapter — classification precision matters. Below, each line links to its individual detail page showing General, Special (FTA), and Column 2 rates.
Use this chapter page as the entry point for classifying any product that falls under preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or of insects. The tree below preserves the HTS indentation hierarchy (heading → subheading → tariff line), so you can narrow from broad category to specific 8-10 digit code. All data comes from the US International Trade Commission (USITC) HTS 2026 Basic Edition, the official schedule of import duties used by US Customs and Border Protection.
Chapter 16 At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total tariff classifications | 315 | All headings, subheadings, and tariff lines. |
| Lines with explicit rates | 117 | Tariff lines carrying a Column 1 General duty. |
| Average general rate | 3.5% | Mean MFN rate across rated lines. |
| Highest line rate | 35% | Peak Column 1 General rate within the chapter. |
Source: USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule 2026 Basic Edition. Computed at last data refresh — see methodology.
Tariff Lines
1601.00 Sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal, blood or insects; food preparations based on these products:
1601.00.20 Pork
0.8¢/kg
1601.00.20.10 Canned
kg 1601.00.20.90 Other
kg Other:
1601.00.40 Beef in airtight containers
3.4%
1601.00.40.10 Canned
kg 1601.00.40.90 Other
kg 1601.00.60 Other
3.2%
1601.00.60.20 Beef
kg Other:
1601.00.60.60 Canned
kg 1601.00.60.80 Other
kg 1602 Other prepared or preserved meat, meat offal, blood or insects:
1602.10 Homogenized preparations:
1602.10.10.00 Put up for retail sale as food suitable for infants or for dietetic purposes
kg 1.9%
1602.10.50 Put up for retail sale as food suitable for young children
6.4%
1602.10.50.60 Canned
kg 1602.10.50.80 Other
kg 1602.20 Of liver of any animal:
1602.20.20.00 Of goose
kg 4.9¢/kg
1602.20.40.00 Other
kg 3.2%
Of poultry of heading 0105:
1602.31.00 Of turkeys
6.4%
1602.31.00.20 Prepared meals
kg 1602.31.00.40 Other
kg 1602.32.00 Of chickens
6.4%
Prepared meals:
1602.32.00.10 In airtight containers
kg 1602.32.00.30 Other
kg 1602.32.00.40 Other
kg 1602.39.00 Other
6.4%
Prepared meals:
1602.39.00.15 In airtight containers
kg 1602.39.00.35 Other
kg 1602.39.00.45 Other
kg Of swine:
1602.41 Hams and cuts thereof:
1602.41.10.00 Containing cereals or vegetables
kg 6.4%
Other:
1602.41.20 Boned and cooked and packed in airtight containers
5.3¢/kg
1602.41.20.20 In containers holding less than 1 kg
kg 1602.41.20.40 Other
kg 1602.41.90.00 Other
kg 1.4¢/kg
1602.42 Shoulders and cuts thereof:
1602.42.20 Boned and cooked and packed in airtight containers
4.2¢/kg
1602.42.20.20 In containers holding less than 1 kg
kg 1602.42.20.40 Other
kg 1602.42.40.00 Other
kg 1.4¢/kg
1602.49 Other, including mixtures:
1602.49.10.00 Offal
kg 3.2%
Other:
Not containing cereals or vegetables:
1602.49.20.00 Boned and cooked and packed in air- tight containers
kg 4.2¢/kg
1602.49.40.00 Other
kg 1.4¢/kg
Other:
1602.49.60.00 Mixtures of pork and beef
kg 3.2%
1602.49.90.00 Other
kg 6.4%
1602.50 Of bovine animals :
1602.50.05.00 Offal
kg 2.3%
Other:
Not containing cereals or vegetables:
Cured or pickled:
1602.50.07 Corned beef in airtight containers
Free
1602.50.07.20 In containers holding less than 1 kg
kg 1602.50.07.40 Other
kg 1602.50.08.00 Other
kg 4.5%
Other:
1602.50.21 In airtight containers
1.4%
1602.50.21.20 In containers holding less than 1 kg
kg 1602.50.21.40 Other
kg 1602.50.60.00 Other
kg 1.8%
1602.50.90 Other
2.5%
1602.50.90.20 Prepared meals
kg 1602.50.90.40 Other
kg 1602.90 Other, including preparations of blood of any animal:
1602.90.10.00 Frog meat
kg 2.7%
1602.90.91 Other
6.4%
1602.90.91.60 Canned
kg 1602.90.91.80 Other
kg 1603.00 Extracts and juices of meat, fish or crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates:
1603.00.10.00 Clam juice
kg 8.5%
1603.00.90 Other
Free
1603.00.90.10 Of meat
kg 1603.00.90.90 Other
kg 1604 Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs:
Fish, whole or in pieces, but not minced:
1604.11 Salmon:
1604.11.20 In oil, in airtight containers
6%
1604.11.20.20 Pink (humpie)
kg 1604.11.20.30 Sockeye
kg 1604.11.20.90 Other
kg 1604.11.40 Other
Free
Canned:
1604.11.40.10 Chum (dog)
kg 1604.11.40.20 Pink (humpie)
kg 1604.11.40.30 Sockeye
kg 1604.11.40.40 Other
kg 1604.11.40.50 Other
kg 1604.12 Herrings:
1604.12.20.00 In oil, in airtight containers
kg 4%
Other:
1604.12.40.00 In tomato sauce, smoked or kippered, and in immediate containers weighing with their contents over 0.45 kg each
kg Free
1604.12.60 Other
Free
Pickled:
1604.12.60.10 Fillets
kg 1604.12.60.30 Other
kg Other:
1604.12.60.50 Kipper snacks
kg 1604.12.60.90 Other
kg 1604.13 Sardines, sardinella and brisling or sprats:
In oil, in airtight containers:
1604.13.10.00 Smoked sardines, neither skinned nor boned, valued $1 or more per kg in tin- plate containers, or $1.10 or more per kg in other containers
kg Free
Other:
1604.13.20.00 Neither skinned nor boned
kg 15%
1604.13.30.00 Skinned or boned
kg 20%
Other:
1604.13.40.00 In immediate containers weighing with their contents under 225 grams each
kg Free
1604.13.90.00 Other
kg 3.1%
1604.14 Tunas, skipjack tuna and bonito (Sarda spp.):
Tunas and skipjack:
In airtight containers:
1604.14.10 In oil
35%
1604.14.10.10 In foil or other flexible containers weighing with their contents not more than 6.8 kg each
kg Other:
1604.14.10.91 Albacore
kg 1604.14.10.99 Other
kg Not in oil:
1604.14.22 In containers weighing with their contents not over 7 kg each, and not the product of any insular possession of the United States, for an aggregate quantity entered in any calendar year not to exceed 4.8 percent of apparent United States consumption of tuna in airtight containers during the immediately preceding year, as reported by the National Marine Fisheries Service
6%
Albacore (Thunnus alalunga):
1604.14.22.51 In foil or other flexible con- tainers weighing with their contents not more than 6.8 kg each
kg 1604.14.22.59 Other
kg Other:
1604.14.22.91 In foil or other flexible con- tainers weighing with their contents not more than 6.8 kg each
kg 1604.14.22.99 Other
kg 1604.14.30 Other
12.5%
Albacore (Thunnus alalunga):
1604.14.30.51 In foil or other flexible con- tainers weighing with their contents not more than 6.8 kg each
kg 1604.14.30.59 Other
kg Other:
1604.14.30.91 In foil or other flexible con- tainers weighing with their contents not more than 6.8 kg each
kg 1604.14.30.99 Other
kg Not in airtight containers:
1604.14.40.00 In bulk or in immediate containers weighing with their contents over 6.8 kg each, not in oil
kg 1.1¢/kg
1604.14.50.00 Other
kg 6%
Bonito (Sarda spp.):
1604.14.70.00 In oil
kg 4.9%
1604.14.80.00 Not in oil
kg 6%
1604.15.00.00 Mackerel
kg 3%
1604.16 Anchovies:
1604.16.20.00 In oil, in airtight containers
kg Free
Other:
1604.16.40.00 In immediate containers weighing with their contents 6.8 kg or less each
kg 5%
1604.16.60.00 Other
kg Free
1604.17 Eels:
1604.17.10.00 In airtight containers
kg 4%
Other:
Fish sticks and similar products of any size or shape, fillets or other portions of fish, if breaded, coated with batter or similarly prepared:
1604.17.40.00 Neither cooked nor in oil
kg 10%
1604.17.50.00 Other
kg 7.5%
Other:
1604.17.60.00 In oil and in bulk or in immediate containers over 7 kg each
kg Free
1604.17.80.00 Other
kg 6%
1604.18 Shark fins:
1604.18.10.00 In airtight containers
kg 4%
1604.18.90.00 Other
kg 6%
1604.19 Other (including yellowtail):
In airtight containers:
Not in oil:
1604.19.10.00 Bonito, yellowtail and pollock
kg 4%
1604.19.22.00 Other
kg 4%
In oil:
1604.19.25.00 Bonito, yellowtail and pollock
kg 5%
1604.19.32.00 Other
kg 4%
Other:
Fish sticks and similar products of any size or shape, fillets or other portions of fish, if breaded, coated with batter or similarly prepared:
1604.19.41.00 Neither cooked nor in oil
kg 10%
1604.19.51.00 Other
kg 7.5%
Other:
1604.19.61.00 In oil and in bulk or in immediate containers weighing with their contents over 7 kg each
kg Free
1604.19.82.00 Other
kg 6%
1604.20 Other prepared or preserved fish:
1604.20.05 Products containing meat of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates; prepared meals
5%
1604.20.05.10 Prepared meals
kg 1604.20.05.90 Other
kg Other:
1604.20.10.00 Pastes
kg Free
Balls, cakes and puddings:
1604.20.15.00 In oil
kg Free
Not in oil:
In immediate containers weighing with their contents not over 6.8 kg each:
1604.20.20.00 In airtight containers
kg Free
1604.20.25.00 Other
kg Free
1604.20.30.00 Other
kg Free
Fish sticks and similar products of any size or shape, if breaded, coated with batter or similarly prepared:
1604.20.40.00 Neither cooked nor in oil
kg 10%
1604.20.50 Other
7.5%
1604.20.50.10 Pre-cooked and frozen
kg 1604.20.50.90 Other
kg 1604.20.60 Other
Free
1604.20.60.10 Pre-cooked and frozen
kg 1604.20.60.90 Other
kg Caviar and caviar substitutes:
1604.31.00.00 Caviar
kg 15%
1604.32 Caviar substitutes:
1604.32.30.00 Boiled and in airtight containers
kg Free
1604.32.40.00 Other
kg Free
1605 Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved:
1605.10 Crab:
1605.10.05 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
10%
1605.10.05.10 In airtight containers
kg 1605.10.05.90 Other
kg Other:
Crabmeat:
1605.10.20 In airtight containers
Free
1605.10.20.10 King crab
kg Snow crab (Chionoecetes bairdi, C. opilio, C. tanneri and C. angulatus):
1605.10.20.22 C. opilio (small)
kg 1605.10.20.25 Other
kg 1605.10.20.30 Dungeness
kg Swimming crabs (Portunidae):
1605.10.20.51 Callinectes spp., including blue crabs (C. sapidus)
kg 1605.10.20.59 Other
kg 1605.10.20.90 Other
kg 1605.10.40 Other
5%
Frozen:
1605.10.40.02 King crab
kg Snow crab (Chionoecetes bairdi, C. opilio, C. tanneri and C. angulatus):
1605.10.40.05 C. opilio (small)
kg 1605.10.40.10 Other
kg 1605.10.40.15 Dungeness
kg Swimming crabs (Portunidae):
1605.10.40.25 Callinectes spp., including blue crabs (C. sapidus)
kg 1605.10.40.30 Other
kg 1605.10.40.35 Other
kg 1605.10.40.40 Other
kg 1605.10.60 Other
Free
1605.10.60.10 In airtight containers
kg 1605.10.60.90 Other
kg Shrimps and prawns:
1605.21 Not in airtight containers:
1605.21.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg 5%
1605.21.10 Other
Free
Frozen, imported in accordance with statistical note 1 to this chapter:
1605.21.10.20 Breaded
kg 1605.21.10.30 Other
kg 1605.21.10.50 Other, imported in accordance with statistical note 1 to this chapter
kg 1605.29 Other:
1605.29.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg 5%
1605.29.10 Other
Free
1605.29.10.10 Frozen, imported in accordance with statistical note 1 to this chapter
kg 1605.29.10.40 Other, imported in accordance with statistical note 1 to this chapter
kg 1605.30 Lobster:
1605.30.05 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
10%
1605.30.05.10 In airtight containers
kg 1605.30.05.90 Other
kg 1605.30.10 Other
Free
Lobster meat, cooked by steaming or boiling in water and out of shell, whether or not frozen but not further prepared or preserved:
1605.30.10.10 Frozen
kg 1605.30.10.30 Not frozen
kg Other:
1605.30.10.50 In airtight containers
kg 1605.30.10.90 Other
kg 1605.40 Other crustaceans:
1605.40.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg Free
1605.40.10 Other
Free
1605.40.10.10 Peeled freshwater crawfish tail meat
kg 1605.40.10.90 Other
kg Molluscs:
1605.51 Oysters:
1605.51.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg Free
Other:
1605.51.40.00 Smoked
kg Free
1605.51.50.00 Other
kg 4.7%
1605.52 Scallops, including queen scallops:
1605.52.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg Free
1605.52.60.00 Other
kg Free
1605.53 Mussels:
1605.53.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg Free
1605.53.60.00 Other
kg Free
1605.54 Cuttle fish and squid:
1605.54.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg Free
1605.54.60 Other
Free
1605.54.60.10 Cuttle fish
kg Squid:
1605.54.60.20 Loligo
kg 1605.54.60.30 Other
kg 1605.55 Octopus:
1605.55.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg Free
1605.55.60.00 Other
kg Free
1605.56 Clams, cockles and arkshells:
1605.56.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg Free
Other:
Clams:
In airtight containers:
1605.56.10.00 Razor clams (Siliqua patula)
kg Free
Other:
1605.56.15.00 Boiled clams, whether whole, minced or chopped, and whether or not salted, but not otherwise prepared or preserved, in immediate containers, the contents of each container not exceeding 680 grams gross weight
kg 10%
1605.56.20.00 Other
kg Free
1605.56.30.00 Other
kg Free
1605.56.60.00 Other
kg Free
1605.57 Abalone:
1605.57.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg Free
1605.57.60.00 Other
kg Free
1605.58 Snails, other than sea snails:
1605.58.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg Free
1605.58.55.00 Other
kg 5%
1605.59 Other:
1605.59.05.00 Products containing fish meat; prepared meals
kg Free
1605.59.60.00 Other
kg Free
Other aquatic invertebrates:
1605.61.00.00 Sea cucumbers
kg Free
1605.62.00.00 Sea urchins
kg Free
1605.63.00.00 Jellyfish
kg Free
1605.69.00.00 Other
kg Free
Frequently Asked Questions
What does HTS Chapter 16 cover? ▼
HTS Chapter 16 covers Preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or of insects. It contains 315 individual tariff classifications, of which 117 have specified duty rates. This chapter falls under Section IV (Prepared Foodstuffs; Beverages, Spirits; Tobacco).
What is the average tariff rate for Chapter 16? ▼
The average general (MFN) duty rate across all tariff lines in Chapter 16 is 3.5%. The highest individual rate in this chapter is 35%. Actual duty on a specific product depends on its precise HTS classification.
How do I find the correct HTS code for my product? ▼
Browse the tariff lines listed below organized by heading and subheading. Each item with an HTS number links to its full detail page showing general, special, and Column 2 duty rates. For complex classifications, consult a licensed customs broker or contact US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Are there any duty-free items in Chapter 16? ▼
Yes, many chapters contain items with a "Free" general rate, meaning no duty is assessed for imports from most-favored-nation countries. Look for items marked "Free" in the tariff lines table below. Additional preferential rates may also apply under free trade agreements.
Where does PlainTariff get its tariff data? ▼
All tariff data comes from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 2026 Basic Edition, the official schedule of US import duties.
Learn More About Tariffs
Next steps
Find the exact rate for your product within Chapter 16.
- Click any tariff line above to see its General, Special, and Column 2 rates. Tariff lines above
- Estimate the landed duty cost on a shipment in this chapter. Tariff calculator
- Search the full schedule by product description. Search HTS
The chapter average is an orientation only — duty is set per tariff line, and Special preferential rates may apply to qualifying origins.
Related
Sources: U.S. International Trade Commission Harmonized Tariff Schedule (2026 Basic Edition) and FAO FAOSTAT Trade: Crops and Livestock. See our methodology for how figures are computed.