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HSChapter 04
U.S. imports of cheese, not elsewhere specified or included (including cheddar and colby) (HS 040690) totaled $133.2M in July 2026, traded with 63 countries.
Importers of Cheese, Not Elsewhere Specified or Included (Including Cheddar and Colby) paid $19.4M in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 16% on $118.0M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: July 2026 dataHeading 0406.90 is the broadest cheese classification in Chapter 4, capturing aged and specialty varieties not covered by the fresh, grated, processed, or blue-veined headings — including Cheddar, Colby, Edam, Gouda, Gjetost, Goya, Swiss/Emmenthaler, Italian-type cow's-milk cheeses, sheep's-milk varieties, and Bryndza. Italy and France lead US imports under this heading, supplying aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino, Comté, and other premium varieties that anchor the specialty cheese retail and foodservice markets. The schedule's granularity is exceptional: separate lines exist for Canadian Cheddar without a license (0406900810), Romano/Reggiano/Parmesan/Provolone (0406904300), Swiss with eye formation (0406904800), and Pecorino in original loaves suitable for grating (0406905600), among many others. Dairy food admissibility requirements apply; importers should engage a licensed customs broker experienced in Chapter 4 additional notes.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
3.9K shipments/mo
Line 0406904800 specifically covers Swiss and Emmenthaler cheeses that exhibit the characteristic eye (hole) formation produced during aging, which is the defining quality marker for authentic Emmenthaler. Swiss-type cheeses that lack eye formation — such as certain processed or young Swiss-style products — would not qualify for this line and must be classified elsewhere, potentially under the processed cheese heading or a residual NESOI line. The distinction matters because TRQ treatment under Additional US Note 25 applies specifically to the eye-formation variety.
Line 0406900810 is reserved for Canadian Cheddar cheese imported without a TRQ import license, meaning it enters outside the quota at the over-quota duty rate. Importers who hold a valid license for Canadian Cheddar under the applicable TRQ program would instead use line 0406900890. This split allows CBP to separately track licensed (in-quota) and unlicensed (over-quota) Canadian Cheddar entries, which is important for quota administration and duty assessment.
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Subheading 1 of 5 in heading 0406
Subheading 040690 · $133.2M of $151.1M
ImportsExports
Imports
$133.2MYoY · Pro
Exports
$125.0MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 0406909550 | Cheese, Including Mixtures, NESOI | $73.9M |
| 0406901000 | Cheese, Cheddar, NESOI | $50.9M |
| 0406906500 | Cheese, Colby, NESOI | $179K |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Imports · July 2026
origin
Italy and France together supply 46% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
10.6% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 14.54%.