2916.15.10.00 - Oleic, linoleic or linolenic acids

This HTS category, 2916.15.10.00, specifically covers oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. These are naturally occurring unsaturated fatty acids, characterized by the presence of one (oleic acid) or more (linoleic and linolenic acids) double bonds in their hydrocarbon chains. They are fundamental building blocks in various industrial applications, including the production of soaps, detergents, lubricants, paints, and pharmaceuticals. Their classification here is predicated on their specific chemical structure as unsaturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids.

Within the broader group of unsaturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids, this subcategory is distinct from other potential entries by its precise enumeration of these three common fatty acids. While the sibling category, 2916.15.51.00, covers "Other" unsaturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids, esters, and their derivatives not elsewhere specified, this node is for the specific acids themselves. This ensures that oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids are accurately identified and segregated for tariff purposes.

As this classification represents a leaf node within the HTS, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, the focus is on the direct classification of oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids themselves. Classification under this code would be appropriate for the pure acids or mixtures primarily composed of these specific fatty acids, provided they meet the chemical definition and are not derivatives such as salts or esters, which would fall under separate classifications.