HTS heading 1209 · Chapter 12
HTS 1209: Seeds, fruits and spores of a kind used for sowing
HTS heading 1209 covers seeds, fruits and spores of a kind used for sowing. It has 18 tariff lines with a duty rate; the general (MFN) rates are Free (9 lines), 1.5¢/kg (2 lines), 1.6¢/kg (1 line) and others.
Imports may also owe Chapter 99 tariffs (Section 232, 301 or 201) depending on origin and date, plus the Merchandise Processing Fee and, by sea, the Harbor Maintenance Fee.
Rates from the 2026 HTS Revision 22, effective October 30, 2026. Source: U.S. International Trade Commission.
Tariff lines and duty rates
| HTS code | Description | General | Special | Column 2 | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1209.10.00.00 | Sugar beet seeds[kg] | Free | Free | Estimate → | |
| Seeds of forage plants: | |||||
| 1209.21.00 | Alfalfa (lucerne) seeds | 1.5¢/kg | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 17.6¢/kg | |
| 1209.21.00.20 | Certified[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.21.00.40 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.22 | Clover (Trifolium spp.) seeds: | ||||
| 1209.22.20.00 | White and ladino[kg] | 1.6¢/kg | Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E, IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S, SG) | 13¢/kg | Estimate → |
| 1209.22.40 | Other | Free | 18¢/kg | ||
| 1209.22.40.20 | Alsike[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.22.40.30 | Crimson[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| Red: | |||||
| 1209.22.40.41 | Double cut[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.22.40.49 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.22.40.60 | Sweet[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.22.40.95 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.23.00 | Fescue seeds | Free | 4.4¢/kg | ||
| 1209.23.00.20 | Tall[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| Creeping red: | |||||
| 1209.23.00.31 | Certified[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.23.00.39 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.23.00.60 | Meadow[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.23.00.90 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.24.00.00 | Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis L.) seeds[kg] | 1.2¢/kg | Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E, IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S, SG) | 11¢/kg | Estimate → |
| 1209.25.00 | Rye grass (Lolium multiflorium Lam., Lolium perenne L.) seeds | 1.4¢/kg | Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E, IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S, SG) | 6.6¢/kg | |
| 1209.25.00.20 | Annual[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.25.00.40 | Perennial[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.29 | Other: | ||||
| 1209.29.10.00 | Beet[kg] | Free | 9¢/kg | Estimate → | |
| 1209.29.91 | Other | Free | 8% | ||
| 1209.29.91.20 | Bent grass (genus Agrostis)[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| Bermuda grass for sowing: | |||||
| 1209.29.91.25 | Husked[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.29.91.26 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.29.91.30 | Birdsfoot trefoil[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| Bromegrass: | |||||
| 1209.29.91.36 | Meadow[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.29.91.37 | Smooth[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.29.91.38 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.29.91.40 | Orchard grass[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.29.91.60 | Sudan grass[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| Wheatgrass: | |||||
| 1209.29.91.71 | Crested[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.29.91.74 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.29.91.76 | Wild rye[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.29.91.79 | Other grass[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.29.91.96 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.30.00 | Seeds of herbaceous plants cultivated principally for their flowers | 1¢/kg | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 13.2¢/kg | |
| 1209.30.00.10 | Petunia[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.30.00.90 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| Other: | |||||
| 1209.91 | Vegetable seeds: | ||||
| 1209.91.10.00 | Cauliflower[kg] | 5.9¢/kg | Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E, IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S, SG) | 55¢/kg | Estimate → |
| 1209.91.20.00 | Celery[kg] | Free | 4.4¢/kg | Estimate → | |
| 1209.91.40.00 | Onion[kg] | Free | 33¢/kg | Estimate → | |
| 1209.91.50.00 | Parsley[kg] | 0.68¢/kg | Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E, IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S, SG) | 4.4¢/kg | Estimate → |
| 1209.91.60 | Pepper | Free | 33¢/kg | ||
| 1209.91.60.10 | Sweet pepper[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.60.90 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80 | Other | 1.5¢/kg | Free (A*,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 13.2¢/kg | |
| 1209.91.80.05 | Broccoli[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| Cabbage: | |||||
| 1209.91.80.08 | Green cabbage[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.09 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.10 | Carrot[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.20 | Radish[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.30 | Spinach[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.40 | Cucumber[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.45 | Kale[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.47 | Kohlrabi[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.50 | Lettuce[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.54 | Parsnip[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.55 | Pumpkin[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.60 | Squash[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.70 | Tomato[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.74 | Turnip[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.91.80.90 | Other[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.99 | Other: | ||||
| 1209.99.20.00 | Tree and shrub[kg] | Free | 17.6¢/kg | Estimate → | |
| 1209.99.41 | Other | 0.83¢/kg | Free (A*,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 13.2¢/kg | |
| 1209.99.41.70 | Tobacco[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 1209.99.41.90 | Other[kg] | Estimate → |
69 lines shown. Statistical suffixes (the last two digits) inherit the rate of the 8-digit subheading above them.
Example: base duty and fees on $10000
For HTS 1209.10.00.00 at the general rate of Free, shipped by ocean, before any Chapter 99 tariffs:
| Base duty (Free) | $0.00 |
| Merchandise Processing Fee (0.3464%, min $34.58) | $34.64 |
| Harbor Maintenance Fee (0.125%) | $12.50 |
| Duty and fees | $47.14 |
Origin-specific tariffs can multiply this. Run this example from China or from Mexico to see every line.
Special program codes in this heading
- A, A*, A+
- Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
- AU
- U.S.–Australia FTA
- BH
- U.S.–Bahrain FTA
- CL
- U.S.–Chile FTA
- CO
- U.S.–Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement
- D
- African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
- E, E*
- Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
- IL
- U.S.–Israel FTA
- JO
- U.S.–Jordan FTA
- KR
- U.S.–Korea FTA (KORUS)
- MA
- U.S.–Morocco FTA
- OM
- U.S.–Oman FTA
- P, P+
- CAFTA-DR
- PA
- U.S.–Panama Trade Promotion Agreement
- PE
- U.S.–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement
- S, S+
- USMCA (United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement)
- SG
- U.S.–Singapore FTA
A special rate applies only when the goods qualify under that program's rules of origin and the claim is made at entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is the duty rate for HTS 1209?
Heading 1209 has 18 rate lines. The general (MFN) duty rates are Free (9 lines), 1.5¢/kg (2 lines), 1.6¢/kg (1 line), 1.2¢/kg (1 line). Products of free trade agreement partners may enter at the special rate, and Column 2 rates apply to countries without normal trade relations. Chapter 99 tariffs can be added on top: calculate the full amount.
Do Section 301, 232 or 201 tariffs apply to HTS 1209?
It depends on the 8- or 10-digit subheading, the country of origin, the entry date and, for Section 232, the metal content. These additional duties are listed in Chapter 99 of the HTS. The free duty calculator checks each program for a given code, origin and date and shows which apply and why.
What fees are added to an import under HTS 1209?
Formal entries pay the Merchandise Processing Fee of 0.3464% of value (minimum $34.58, maximum $670.86 in FY2027). Ocean shipments also pay the Harbor Maintenance Fee of 0.125% of value. See the import duty calculator for how they combine.