U.S. imports of Aqueous Paints and Varnishes, Not Elsewhere Specified (HS 320990) totaled $26.5M in August 2026, imported from 46 countries.
Importers of Aqueous Paints and Varnishes, Not Elsewhere Specified paid $1.8M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 6.80% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Aqueous Paints and Varnishes, Not Elsewhere Specified imports of $26.5M in August 2026 ran 13% above the year-to-date monthly average of $23.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataWater-borne coatings based on binder chemistries other than acrylic or vinyl polymers — including water-reducible alkyds, polyurethane dispersions, and epoxy emulsions — fall under this residual aqueous heading, entering on tariff line 3209900000. Canada dominates US supply, with Sweden a notable source reflecting Scandinavian leadership in waterborne alkyd and wood-coating technologies. The NESOI designation means classification here is valid only after ruling out the acrylic/vinyl aqueous line; importers should retain formulation documentation identifying the film-forming resin to support that determination.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
905 import shipments a month
Heading 3209100000 is reserved for coatings based on acrylic or vinyl polymers. A polyurethane dispersion (PUD) uses polyurethane as the primary film-forming resin, which is neither acrylic nor vinyl, so it falls into the residual aqueous NESOI line at 3209900000. The resin identity — not the water-borne medium — is the distinguishing factor.
Sweden's position reflects its established industry in waterborne wood coatings and water-reducible alkyd systems, which are widely used in furniture finishing and architectural joinery. These formulations, based on modified alkyd or urethane-alkyd resins rather than acrylic polymers, naturally fall into the NESOI aqueous category rather than the acrylic/vinyl line.
Subheading 1 of 2 in heading 3209
Subheading 320990 · $26.5M of $41.1M
ImportsExports
Imports
$26.5MYoY · free account
Exports
$29.9MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $269.2M of Aqueous Paints and Varnishes, Not Elsewhere Specified and exported $315.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3209900000 | Paints & Varnishes, In An Aqueous Medium, NESOI | $26.5M | 6.80% | 62.43% | $1.8M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 3209900000 | Paints & Varnishes, In An Aqueous Medium, NESOI | $29.9M |
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 · August 2026
origin
Sweden and Canada together supply 49% of it. Japan pays 12.4% duty; Canada 0.4%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
37.6% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 6.80% of imports for consumption.