Finishing agents — HTS 3809
Finishing agents, dye carriers to accelerate the dyeing or fixing of dyestuffs and other products and preparations (for example, dressings and mordants), of a kind used in the textile, paper, leather or like industries, not elsewhere specified or included
Chapter 38 › Heading 3809
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 3809 is a broad product category for chemical preparations used in textile, paper, leather, and similar industries. It groups finishing agents, dye carriers, dressings, mordants, and related preparations that help treat, condition, dye, or fix materials, when the product is not more specifically classified elsewhere. The heading describes the product’s industrial use and function, not simply its brand name or the presence of a particular chemical.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTS code, first confirm that the product belongs in heading 3809 and then use the subheading structure to narrow it by the relevant material or product type. The lower-level codes commonly distinguish preparations intended for textiles, paper, leather, or similar uses and may further separate them by chemical composition or stated function. Read the full legal description, including section and chapter notes, because an apparently similar product may belong in another heading or be excluded as a different kind of chemical preparation.
What to check
- Check the product’s primary industrial function, such as finishing, dye carrying, dressing, or mordant use, and document how it is used.
- Review the complete ingredient or chemical-composition information, including active substances, carriers, solvents, and mixtures; request a safety data sheet and technical data sheet from the supplier.
- Match the product to the correct end-use branch—textile, paper, leather, or another like industry—rather than relying only on the product name or marketing description.
- Compare the full 8-digit wording and the applicable section, chapter, and heading notes; confirm that no more-specific HTS heading or exclusion applies.
- Keep records supporting the classification, and ask a customs broker or seek a formal ruling when the composition, principal function, or intended use is uncertain.
HTS heading 3809 summary
Finishing agents is a 4-digit product category containing 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3809.10.00.00 👉 | With a basis of amylaceous substances | 2.2¢/kg + 3% | 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 3809?
Finishing agents, dye carriers to accelerate the dyeing or fixing of dyestuffs and other products and preparations (for example, dressings and mordants), of a kind used in the textile, paper, leather or like industries, not elsewhere specified or included. 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.