Oh man, this is getting more and more complex....
On a flash of insight I decided to look up the tariffs
for dried mushrooms, both chinese export and US import
and found a few documents:
(china)
http://www.apectariff.org/tdb.cgi/ff3230/apecfind.cgi?CN+0712
TARIFF M.F.N. GENERAL TARIFF VAT EXCISE COMBINED DUTY
NUMBER GOODS DESCRIPTION RATE RATE RATE RATE AND TAX RATE
07123030 --- Mushrooms 13 90 17 32.21
(USA)
http://www.apectariff.org/tdb.cgi/ff3230/apecfind.cgi?US+0712
Heading/ Units Rates of Duty
Sub- of 1
heading Stat Article Quantity 2
Suffix Description General Special
0712 Dried vegetables, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in
powder, but not further prepared:
16.6% (MX)
0712.30 Mushrooms and truffles:
Mushrooms:
0712.30.10 00 Air dried or sun dried.............. kg...... 1.8>/kg + 2.5% Free (A,CA,E,IL,J, MX) 22>/kg + 45%
0712.30.20 00 Other............................... kg...... 2.2>/kg + 3.1% Free (A+,CA,E,IL,J,MX) 22>/kg + 45%
(note: the US tariff info page was buggered to begin with)
So, does this mean that if I get something from China,
I'm paying a 32.21% tax on it before it leaves the
dock, and when it comes in to SF or wherever, I pay 45%!?!?
Just to keep this topic germane to this site, I include
these links pertaining to tariffs on essential oils:
(USA essential oil tariffs)
http://www.apectariff.org/tdb.cgi/ff3230/apecfind.cgi?US+3301
China's heterocyclic compound heading, including safrole:
http://www.apectariff.org/tdb.cgi/ff3230/apecfind.cgi?CN+2932
China's essential oil heading, closest thing I could find
that's near to our hearts, but sassafrass or ocotea simply
weren't listed in this particular database:
http://www.apectariff.org/tdb.cgi/ff3230/apecfind.cgi?CN+3301
Thanks again for all your help, you guys rox0r!