Live, Fresh, or Chilled Cuttlefish and Squid

Classification at the 10-digit level requires species-level identification: Loligo spp. (market squid, longfin squid) go to 0307420020, while all other squid genera — such as Illex or Dosidicus — go to 0307420040. Importers should obtain species certificates or catch documentation from the foreign supplier to substantiate the correct line, as misclassification can trigger liquidation adjustments.

Fresh and chilled squid typically has a shelf life of only a few days post-harvest, so suppliers in Japan and South Korea generally rely on air freight to reach US ports within acceptable quality windows. This logistics constraint limits viable sourcing to countries with direct air cargo capacity to major US gateway airports, and any customs examination delay can jeopardize product condition and admissibility.