Cocoa paste — HTS 1803
Cocoa paste, whether or not defatted
Chapter 18 › Heading 1803
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 1803 is a four-digit product category for cocoa paste, also called cocoa liquor or cocoa mass. It covers cocoa paste made by grinding cocoa beans, whether the paste still contains its natural cocoa butter or has been partly or fully defatted. The heading is about the product’s physical composition and identity, not whether it is sold in bulk, retail packaging, or under a particular brand.
To reach the correct eight-digit HTSUS code, start with the heading’s subordinate provisions and compare the product with the legal descriptions at the six- and eight-digit levels. The main distinction is generally the type or material condition of the paste, such as whether it is defatted. Confirm any remaining statistical distinctions using the current HTSUS text, relevant legal notes, and the product’s specifications. The importer remains responsible for the classification, and a customs broker or binding ruling may be appropriate when the facts are unclear.
What to check
- Confirm that the product is cocoa paste or cocoa mass, rather than cocoa powder, cocoa beans, chocolate, or a preparation containing added ingredients.
- Check whether the paste is defatted, partly defatted, or not defatted, using the supplier’s formulation, processing description, and technical data.
- Review the complete ingredient list and manufacturing process for added sugar, milk, oils, flavors, or other materials that could place the product in a different heading.
- Read the current six- and eight-digit provisions under heading 1803, including any chapter or section notes, and match the product to the most specific wording.
- Keep product specifications, laboratory or supplier documentation, and packaging details to support the classification; ask a customs broker or seek a binding ruling if competing codes remain plausible.
HTS heading 1803 summary
Cocoa paste is a 4-digit product category containing 2 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.
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1803.10.00.00 👉 | Not defatted | Free | — | 6.6¢/kg |
| 1803.20.00.00 👉 | Wholly or partly defatted | 0.2¢/kg | Free | 6.6¢/kg |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 1803?
Cocoa paste, whether or not defatted. 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.