2401.20.33.30 - Maryland

This HTS classification, 2401.20.33.30, specifically covers "Maryland" unmanufactured tobacco. This refers to leaf tobacco that has been partly or wholly stemmed or stripped, is not threshed or similarly processed, and is not classified as flue-cured or burley leaf. The "Maryland" designation signifies a particular type of light air-cured tobacco, characterized by its specific curing process and leaf properties, distinct from other air-cured varieties.

The crucial distinction for this category lies in its genetic and cultivation origins, leading to a unique chemical composition and physical structure that differentiates it from flue-cured (2401.20.33.10) and burley (2401.20.33.20) tobaccos. While all fall under the broader umbrella of "flue-cured, burley and other light air-cured leaf," this sub-classification isolates the specific "Maryland" variety. The "Other" sibling category (2401.20.33.40) would encompass any other light air-cured leaf tobacco that does not fit the specific "Maryland," "flue-cured," or "burley" designations.

As a leaf node, 2401.20.33.30 does not have further subcategories. Classification within this specific code hinges on the precise identification of the tobacco as "Maryland" type, meaning it is a light air-cured leaf that has undergone stemming or stripping but not threshing, and meets the requirements of additional U.S. note 5 to Chapter 24 when entered. This note likely details specific quality, moisture content, or processing characteristics that define eligible "Maryland" tobacco for preferential tariff treatment.