2918.15.50.00 - Other

This HTS category, "Other," within "Salts and esters of citric acid," serves as a residual classification for salts and esters of citric acid that are not specifically listed under preceding subheadings. It encompasses a broad range of compounds derived from citric acid, including various metal salts (other than sodium salts, which are classified elsewhere) and organic esters of citric acid. These substances find applications in diverse industries, such as food and beverage (as acidulants, preservatives, and flavor enhancers), pharmaceuticals (as buffering agents or excipients), and industrial processes.

Distinguishing this category from its sibling, 2918.15.10.00 (Sodium citrate), is crucial. The sibling subheading exclusively covers sodium salts of citric acid, which are a distinct and commonly used group. This "Other" category, therefore, includes all other metallic salts of citric acid (e.g., potassium citrate, calcium citrate) and all esters formed by reacting citric acid with alcohols, provided they meet the criteria of being salts or esters of citric acid and are not otherwise specifically classified.

As this is a leaf node in the HTS, there are no further subcategories. Classification decisions within this subheading will therefore hinge on confirming that the product is indeed a salt or ester of citric acid and that it does not fall under any more specific provision within Chapter 29, particularly within the broader heading of carboxylic acids with additional oxygen function. Consideration should be given to the chemical structure and the specific counter-ion or alcohol moiety present in the compound.