Fish — HTS 0305
Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process
Chapter 03 › Heading 0305
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 0305 is a 4-digit product category for fish that has been preserved by drying, salting, placing in brine, or smoking. It can include smoked fish whether or not the fish was cooked before or during smoking. The heading groups products by their preservation method, but it does not by itself identify the exact species, presentation, or tariff treatment.
To reach a specific 8-digit HTSUS code, first confirm that the product belongs in heading 0305, then follow the subheadings and tariff-line descriptions. The narrower code commonly depends on the fish species or type, and may also depend on how the fish is presented—such as whole, in pieces, fillets, or otherwise prepared. Read the complete 8-digit description and any relevant legal notes, and confirm that the physical product matches every element.
What to check
- Identify the preservation method: dried, salted, in brine, or smoked, and document whether any other processing was performed.
- Determine the fish species and the product’s physical form, such as whole fish, fillets, pieces, or another presentation.
- Check whether the product is merely preserved or has additional preparation that may place it in a different heading.
- Compare the product’s ingredients, processing steps, packaging, and labeling with the full 8-digit HTSUS description and applicable notes.
- If the species, processing, or presentation is unclear, obtain a binding ruling or consult a qualified customs broker or classification specialist.
HTS heading 0305 summary
Fish is a 4-digit product category containing 0 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 0305.20 | Livers, roes and milt of fish, dried, smoked, salted or in brine |
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 0305?
Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.