AGOA covers more than 6,700 products based on the HTS-8 tariff classification. This includes approximately 5,100 products (tariff lines) that fall under the GSP as well as more than 1,600 tariff lines that are duty-free only for exports to the US from AGOA beneficiaries. A searchable list of products eligible for duty-free export to the US is available at this link. 

What is the HTS-8 product classification?

The HTS refers to the US Harmonised Tariff System nomenclature, and is based (up to the 6th digit) on the internationally standardized Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, managed by the World Customs Organisation. It classifies all traded products into sections, chapters, headings, sub-headings and so on.

Let’s take, for example, "pineapples in packages":

• Section II represents vegetable products (and comprises Chapters 6 - 14)
• Chapter 08 covers ‘edible fruit and nuts, peel of citrus/melons’
• Heading 0804 covers dates, figs, pineapples, avocadoes etc.
• Sub-Heading 0804.30 covers pineapples
• The 8-digit sub-division 0804.30.40 covers ‘pineapples in crates or other packages’

 

Using the above example and using the AGOA product lookup tool here:

Tariff line 08043040 has a standard US import duty of 1.11 / kg  (as of 2023)

It also has the AGOA ‘D’ code in the US tariff book, meaning that when imported into the US from an AGOA beneficiary, this import duty is not applicable. The same product is also eligible for GSP preferences (program indicator A+) which indicates that when the GSP is in force, imports into the US from least-developed beneficiary countries under the GSP would also be able to claim preferential entry. 

 

 

Link to AGOA Eligibility Lookup Tool

 

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