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HSChapter 04
U.S. imports of fresh, unripened, or uncured cheese, including whey cheese and curd (HS 040610) totaled $7.4M in April 2026, traded with 38 countries.
Importers of Fresh, Unripened, or Uncured Cheese, Including Whey Cheese and Curd paid $1.2M in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 20% on $6.0M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: April 2026 dataItaly leads US imports under this heading, supplying fresh mozzarella and ricotta that anchor the foodservice and specialty retail sectors, while Mexico is a major source of fresh Hispanic-style cheeses such as queso fresco and the specifically named Chongos variety, which has its own dedicated tariff lines (0406100400 and 0406100800). The US schedule is unusually granular, with separate lines for Cheddar-containing fresh cheese, Edam/Gouda types, Italian-type cow's-milk cheeses, and low-butterfat substitutes, each potentially subject to different Additional US Notes and TRQ treatment. All imported cheese must meet USDA and FDA dairy admissibility standards; importers should work with a licensed customs broker familiar with Chapter 4 additional notes to ensure correct classification and quota compliance.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Chongos is a traditional Mexican fresh cheese with a distinct curd texture and preparation method. CBP has assigned it dedicated 10-digit lines (0406100400 under Additional US Note 16, and 0406100800 for NESOI quantities) to allow differentiated duty treatment and quota tracking separate from other fresh cheeses. This level of specificity reflects the volume and commercial significance of Hispanic-style cheese imports from Mexico.
Fresh cheeses containing Cheddar are directed to line 0406102800 rather than the general fresh cheese lines, and they may be subject to different TRQ treatment under the applicable Additional US Notes. Misclassifying a Cheddar-containing product under a general fresh cheese line can result in underpayment of over-quota duties or incorrect quota attribution. A binding ruling from CBP is recommended when the Cheddar content is significant but the product is marketed primarily as a fresh or blended cheese.
Monthly import values over time
| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOREA, SOUTH | $7K | $27.0M | +$27.0M |
| MEXICO | $1.7M | $12.0M | +$10.3M |
| CHILE | -- | $5.3M | +$5.3M |
| DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | -- | $4.0M | +$4.0M |
| GUATEMALA | -- | $3.9M | +$3.9M |
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0406109500 | FRESH CHEESE (UNRIPENED)/WHEY CHEESE/CURD, NESOI | $4.1M | 17.98% | $716K |
| 0406108400 | OTHER CHEESE/SUBSTITUTES,SEE ADDITIONAL U S NTE 16 | $2.6M | 19.63% | $235K |
| 0406108800 | OTHER CHEESE AND SUBSTITUTES FOR CHEESE, NESOI | $610K | 27.31% | $167K |
| 0406107800 | CHEESE/SUBSTITUTES CONT LT 0.5% BUTTERFAT, NESOI | $124K | 26.59% | $33K |
| 0406105800 | ITALIAN-TYPE CHEESES (COW'S MILK), OR ETC, NESOI | $32K | 45.18% | $14K |
| 0406100800 | CHONGOS, FRESH (UNRIPENED OR UNCURED) CHEESE,NESOI | $16K | 82.55% | $13K |
| 0406100400 | CHONGOS, FRESH CHEESE, SEE ADDITIONAL U.S. NOTE 16 | $0 | -- | -- |
| 0406104800 | EDAM/GOUDA CHEESE OR CHEESE CNTAN EDAM/GOUDA NESOI | $0 | -- | -- |
| 0406104400 | EDAM & GOUDA CHEESES & ETC, SEE ADDTL U.S. NOTE 20 | $0 | -- | -- |
| 0406102800 | CHEDDAR CHEESE OR CHEESE CONTAIN CHEDDAR, NESOI | $0 | -- | -- |
FRESH CHEESE (UNRIPENED)/WHEY CHEESE/CURD, NESOI
OTHER CHEESE/SUBSTITUTES,SEE ADDITIONAL U S NTE 16
OTHER CHEESE AND SUBSTITUTES FOR CHEESE, NESOI
CHEESE/SUBSTITUTES CONT LT 0.5% BUTTERFAT, NESOI
ITALIAN-TYPE CHEESES (COW'S MILK), OR ETC, NESOI
CHONGOS, FRESH (UNRIPENED OR UNCURED) CHEESE,NESOI
CHONGOS, FRESH CHEESE, SEE ADDITIONAL U.S. NOTE 16
EDAM/GOUDA CHEESE OR CHEESE CNTAN EDAM/GOUDA NESOI
EDAM & GOUDA CHEESES & ETC, SEE ADDTL U.S. NOTE 20
CHEDDAR CHEESE OR CHEESE CONTAIN CHEDDAR, NESOI
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 0406100000 | FRESH CHEESE (INC WHEY CHEESE) NT FRMNTD, AND CURD | $78.0M |
FRESH CHEESE (INC WHEY CHEESE) NT FRMNTD, AND CURD
18.9M kg
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $784K | $33.1M | +$32.4M |
| Florida | $390K | $9.3M | +$9.0M |
| Idaho | -- | $8.1M | +$8.1M |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOS ANGELES, CA | $195K | $14.9M | +$14.7M |
| OAKLAND, CA | $307K | $14.2M | +$13.8M |
| LAREDO, TX | $1.3M | $6.6M | +$5.3M |