HTS heading 3901 · Chapter 39
HTS 3901: Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms
HTS heading 3901 covers polymers of ethylene, in primary forms. It has 10 tariff lines with a duty rate; the general (MFN) rates are 6.5% (7 lines), Free (2 lines), 5.3% (1 line).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3901.10 | Polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94: | ||||
| 3901.10.10.00 | Having a relative viscosity of 1.44 or more[kg] | 6.5% | Free (AU,BH,CL,CO,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 43% | Estimate → |
| 3901.10.50 | Other | 6.5% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 43% | |
| 3901.10.50.10 | Linear low density polyethylene[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 3901.10.50.20 | Low density polyethylene, except linear low density polyethylene[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 3901.10.50.30 | Medium density polyethylene[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 3901.20 | Polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more: | ||||
| 3901.20.10.00 | Having a relative viscosity of 1.44 or more[kg] | 6.5% | Free (AU,BH,CL,CO,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P, PA,PE,S,SG) | 43% | Estimate → |
| 3901.20.50.00 | Other[kg] | 6.5% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 43% | Estimate → |
| 3901.30 | Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers: | ||||
| 3901.30.20.00 | Vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride-ethylene terpolymers, containing by weight less than 50 percent derivatives of vinyl acetate, except those polymerized from aromatic or modified aromatic monomers[kg] | Free | 43.5% | Estimate → | |
| 3901.30.60.00 | Other[kg] | 5.3% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 43.5% | Estimate → |
| 3901.40.00.00 | Ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers, having a specific gravity of less than 0.94[kg] | 6.5% | Free (AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 43% | Estimate → |
| 3901.90 | Other: | ||||
| 3901.90.10.00 | Elastomeric[kg] | Free | 20% | Estimate → | |
| Other: | |||||
| 3901.90.55.01 | Ethylene copolymers[kg] | 6.5% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 43% | Estimate → |
| 3901.90.90.00 | Other[kg] | 6.5% | Free (A*,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,K,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 2.2¢/kg +33.5% | Estimate → |
13 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 3901.10.10.00 at the general rate of 6.5%, shipped by ocean, before any Chapter 99 tariffs:
| Base duty (6.5%) | $650.00 |
| Merchandise Processing Fee (0.3464%, min $34.58) | $34.64 |
| Harbor Maintenance Fee (0.125%) | $12.50 |
| Duty and fees | $697.14 |
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
- K
- Agreement on Trade in Pharmaceutical Products
- 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.