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HSChapter 01
U.S. imports of live whales, dolphins, porpoises, manatees, dugongs, and related marine mammals (HS 010612) totaled $12K in June 2026, traded with 2 countries.
Live Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises, Manatees, Dugongs, and Related Marine Mammals imports of $12K in June 2026 ran 398% above the year-to-date monthly average of $2K.
The import of live cetaceans and sirenians into the United States is among the most heavily restricted wildlife trade categories, governed simultaneously by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), CITES (all cetacean species are listed on Appendix I or II), and USDA APHIS veterinary requirements. The MMPA effectively prohibits the import of marine mammals for public display unless the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) or US Fish & Wildlife Service issues a specific permit demonstrating the import serves a public display, scientific research, or rescue purpose. France, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan appear as source countries in trade data, likely reflecting transfers between accredited aquaria or research institutions rather than wild-capture commerce. Tariff line 0106120100 covers this heading.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act restricts import of live marine mammals to specific authorized purposes: public display at facilities meeting MMPA standards, bona fide scientific research, or rescue and rehabilitation. The importer must obtain a permit from NMFS (for cetaceans and pinnipeds) or USFWS (for sirenians such as manatees), and a CITES import permit is required for all species. Commercial trade in wild-caught cetaceans for entertainment is effectively prohibited.
CITES Appendix I listing prohibits commercial trade but permits non-commercial transfers — such as between accredited research institutions or zoological facilities — provided both the exporting and importing countries issue the appropriate CITES permits and the transfer is certified as non-commercial. This is why trade data for this heading reflects small volumes associated with institutional transfers rather than commercial sales.
Monthly import values over time
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| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| NETHERLANDS | $12K | -- | -$12K |
| EL SALVADOR | -- | -- | -- |
| UNITED KINGDOM | -- | -- | -- |
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0106120100 | WHALES, DOLPHINS, MANATEES, SEALS, ETC., LIVE | $12K | 0.00% | 100.00% |
CATTLE, LIVE, OTHER THAN PUREBRED BREEDING
HS 010229
SWINE, LIVE, NESOI, WEIGHING 50 KG OR MORE EACH
HS 010392
SWINE, LIVE, NESOI, WEIGHING LESS THAN 50 KG EACH
HS 010391
HORSES, LIVE, OTHER THAN PUREBRED BREEDING
HS 010129
ANIMALS, LIVE, NESOI
HS 010690
PRIMATES, LIVE
HS 010611
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | $12K | -- | -$12K |
| South Carolina | -- | -- | -- |
| California | -- | -- | -- |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEMBINA, ND | $12K | -- | -$12K |
| JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, NY | -- | -- | -- |
| LONG BEACH, CA | -- | -- | -- |