Loading...
SITCSection 0
U.S. imports of cheese, not elsewhere specified (SITC 02499) totaled $133.2M in July 2026, traded with 63 countries.
Importers of Cheese, Not Elsewhere Specified 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 dataThe residual 'not elsewhere specified' cheese category captures specialty and artisan varieties that do not fit neatly into the named headings for processed, blue-veined, grated, or fresh cheese — including washed-rind, smoked, mixed-milk, and other craft styles increasingly sought by US specialty retailers and restaurants. Classification into this residual heading requires ruling out all more-specific categories, making a careful compositional and production-method analysis essential before entry. USDA FSIS admissibility requirements apply regardless of variety, and importers of novel or unfamiliar cheese types should consider seeking a binding ruling to avoid reclassification risk. The diversity of products in this heading means that duty exposure and TRQ applicability can vary significantly by specific HTS subheading.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
3.9K shipments/mo
Basic heading 27 of 337 in section 0
Basic heading 02499 · $133.2M of $14.4B
A binding ruling from US Customs and Border Protection is advisable when a cheese variety has unusual compositional characteristics — such as mixed animal milks, non-standard fat content, or atypical processing — that make it unclear whether it belongs in a named heading (blue-veined, processed, fresh) or the NES residual. A ruling provides legal certainty on classification and the applicable duty rate before the first shipment arrives.
Smoked or flavored natural cheeses that are not grated, powdered, processed, blue-veined, or fresh may indeed classify here. However, if flavoring or added ingredients are substantial enough to change the essential character of the product — for example, a cheese spread with significant non-dairy additions — it may shift to a food preparation heading. Compositional analysis and ingredient documentation are key to supporting the correct classification.
Supplier Network
Get discovered by U.S. importers searching for HS 02499 — Cheese, Not Elsewhere Specified. Be the first supplier listed.
Imports · July 2026
origin
Italy and France together supply 46% of it.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$133.2MYoY · Pro
Exports
$125.0MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.