Dextrins and other modified starches — HTS 3505
Dextrins and other modified starches (for example, pregelatinized or esterified starches); glues based on starches, or on dextrins or other modified starches
Chapter 35 › Heading 3505
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 3505 is a broad product category for certain starch-based materials and adhesives. It groups dextrins; chemically or otherwise modified starches, such as pregelatinized or esterified starches; and glues made from starch, dextrins, or other modified starches. The heading is about the product’s composition and use, not simply the fact that it contains starch.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTS code, start with the product’s technical identity and then follow the heading’s subheadings and tariff descriptions. The more specific code may distinguish the type of modified starch or dextrin, or whether the product is a starch-based glue. Review the legal notes, section and chapter notes, and any applicable statistical suffix descriptions; if the product is a mixture or a finished adhesive preparation, classification may require customs-broker or ruling advice.
What to check
- Obtain the technical data sheet, ingredient list, manufacturing description, and product samples or specifications.
- Determine whether the merchandise is a dextrin, a modified starch, or a glue based on starch materials; do not rely only on the brand name.
- Confirm the modification or chemical form, such as pregelatinized, esterified, or another documented treatment.
- Read the full 8-digit tariff description and compare it with the product’s actual composition, physical form, and intended use.
- Check current official HTS notes and classification guidance, and ask a customs broker or request a binding ruling when the product could fit more than one provision.
HTS heading 3505 summary
Dextrins and other modified starches is a 4-digit product category containing 2 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3505.10.00 👉 | Dextrins and other modified starches | 0.7¢/kg | Free | 6.6¢/kg |
| 3505.20.00.00 👉 | Glues | 2.1¢/kg + 2.9% | Free | 17.6¢/kg + 25% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 3505?
Dextrins and other modified starches (for example, pregelatinized or esterified starches); glues based on starches, or on dextrins or other modified starches. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.