Code 3208 20 · Heading 3208

Acrylic- or vinyl-polymer paints and varnishes in a non-water-based medium, and high-solvent polymer solutions

This covers clear or pigmented paints and varnishes based on acrylic or vinyl polymers, dispersed or dissolved in a non-water-based medium. It also covers acrylic- or vinyl-polymer solutions in volatile organic solvents when the solvent content is > 50 weight percent.

For example

Clear acrylic varnish dissolved in a non-water-based medium
A solution of vinyl polymer in volatile organic solvents with a solvent content of > 50 weight percent

See the official tariff text

Official tariff text

Paints and varnishes, incl. enamels and lacquers, based on acrylic or vinyl polymers, dispersed or dissolved in a non-aqueous medium; solutions based on acrylic or vinyl polymers in volatile organic solvents, containing > 50% solvent by weight

How we got to this code

VI
32
3208
3208 20

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The path to this code

Every code is reached through these choices, one level at a time.

Step 4 of 4

Step 1 · Section VI Products of the chemical or allied industries
Is it an inorganic or organic chemical; a pharmaceutical product; a fertilizer; a tanning or dye extract, pigment, paint, varnish, filler or printing ink; an essential oil, perfume, cosmetic or toilet product; soap, a surface-active, washing, cleaning, polishing or wax product; a protein, modified starch, glue or enzyme; an explosive, pyrotechnic article, match or other specified combustible material; a photographic or cinematographic product; or another chemical product?
✓
Step 2 · Chapter 32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their deriv… 5 of 11 chapters in section VI
Which named product type is it: tanning extract or tannin; dye or dye preparation; pigment or pigment preparation; ceramic, glass or enamel colour preparation; paint or varnish; prepared drier; pigment in a non-aqueous medium, embossing foil or retail-packed dye; artist or similar paint; filler, sealant, putty or similar surface-finishing preparation; or printing ink, ink or Indian ink?
✓
Step 3 · Heading 3208 Paints and varnishes, incl. enamels and lacquers, b… 8 of 15 headings under chapter 32
Is the product based on polyesters, acrylic or vinyl polymers, or another synthetic or chemically modified natural polymer?
✓
Step 4 · Subheading 3208 20 Paints and varnishes, incl. enamels and lacquers, b… 2 of 3 subheadings under heading 3208
Is it a solution of acrylic or vinyl polymers in volatile organic solvents with a solvent content of > 50 weight percent, or is it a clear or pigmented paint or varnish based on acrylic or vinyl polymers in a non-water-based medium?

Pick the 8-digit code

Pick the description that best matches your product.

Import duty on the codes below: 6.5%

2 codes below this one

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See all 3 codes at this level

Classification decides the rate here: from 0.0% to 6.5%.

3208 10 Paints and varnishes, incl. enamels and lacquers, based on polyesters, dispersed or dissolved in a non-aqueous medium; solutions based on polyesters in volatile organic solvents, containing > 50% solvent by weight 6.5%
3208 20 Paints and varnishes, incl. enamels and lacquers, based on acrylic or vinyl polymers, dispersed or dissolved in a non-aqueous medium; solutions based on acrylic or vinyl polymers in volatile organic solvents, containing > 50% solvent by weight you are here 6.5%
3208 90 Paints and varnishes based, incl. enamels and lacquers, on synthetic polymers or chemically modified natural polymers, dispersed or dissolved in a non-aqueous medium, and solutions of products of headings 3901 to 3913 in volatile organic solvents, containing > 50% solvent by weight (excl. those based on polyesters and acrylic or vinyl polymers and solutions of collodion) 0.0–6.5%

Selling to Norway, Great Britain and the United States

What they charge on arrival.

Norway, Great Britain and the United States use their own tariff lines under the 6-digit HS code. The rates below are what their customs charge on goods arriving from the EU. Match the goods against each country's own wording before you rely on a rate.

Norway

Duty free

Their lines2 Norwegian lines

32.08.2001 Containing trichloroethylene (TRI) or tetrachloroethylene (PER)

Norwegian tariff data checked Sept. 13, 2026.

Great Britain

From 0.0% to 6.0%

Their lines5 British lines

3208 20 10 10 Copolymer of N-vinylcaprolactam, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate

Northern Ireland follows other rules.

UK tariff data checked Sept. 13, 2026.

United States

10.0%

Estimated from published US measures

Their lines1 US line
Entry dateSept. 17, 2026

3208.20.00.00 Paints and varnishes (including enamels and lacquers) based on synthetic polymers

The US importer of record files the entry.

US tariff data checked Sept. 16, 2026.

See the 2 Norwegian lines

Selling to Norway

Norway splits the 6-digit category its own way, so these are Norway's own lines under it, not this EU code. Check your product against their wording; what Norwegian customs charges is shown per line.

32.08.2001

Containing trichloroethylene (TRI) or tetrachloroethylene (PER)

Ordinary duty

Duty free
32.08.2009

Other

Ordinary duty

Duty free

Norwegian tariff data version 1.5/1.2, last checked Sept. 13, 2026.

Contains data from Norwegian Customs (data.toll.no), licensed under CC BY 4.0, adapted for display.

See the 5 British lines

Selling to Great Britain

What UK customs charges when goods like these arrive in Great Britain.

3208 20 10 10

Copolymer of N-vinylcaprolactam, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, in the form of a solution in ethanol containing by weight 34 % or more but not more than 40 % of copolymer

Ordinary duty

Duty free
3208 20 10 20

Immersion topcoat solution containing by weight 0,5 % or more but not more than 15 % of acrylate-methacrylate-alkenesulphonate copolymers with fluorinated side chains, in a solution of n-butanol and/or 4-methyl-2-pentanol and/or diisoamylether

Ordinary duty

Duty free
3208 20 10 50

Copolymer of vinylcaprolactam and vinylpyrrolidone (CAS RN 51987-20-3) in the form of a solution in 2-butoxyethanol (CAS RN 111-76-2) containing by weight 45 % or more but not more than 58 % of copolymer

Ordinary duty

Duty free
3208 20 10 90

Other

Ordinary duty

Duty free
3208 20 90 00

Other

Ordinary duty

6.0%

Goods of EU origin

Duty free You need documentation of EU preferential origin to use this rate.

These rates apply in Great Britain. Different rules may apply for goods entering Northern Ireland.

UK tariff data version v4.0.1599, last checked Sept. 13, 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Source: UK Department for Business and Trade (data.api.trade.gov.uk).

See the 1 US line

Selling to the United States

What US customs charges when goods like these arrive from the EU. The US importer of record files the entry and pays the duty.

3208.20.00.00

Paints and varnishes (including enamels and lacquers) based on synthetic polymers or chemically modified natural polymers, dispersed or dissolved in a nonaqueous medium; solutions as defined in note 4 to this chapter, Based on acrylic or vinyl polymers

General rate

3.6%

From the EU

10.0% Estimated from published US measures US headings applied: 9903.05.39 Section 301 forced-labour action, 91 FR 47318 (memorandum 91 FR 47717), U.S. note 52 to subchapter III of chapter 99

Worked out for an entry on Sept. 17, 2026.

US tariff schedule 2026HTSRev19, last checked Sept. 16, 2026.

Last change we recorded: Revision 19 (2026), Sept. 16, 2026.

Anti-dumping and countervailing duties, US import taxes and customs fees are not included.

The descriptions above are the US tariff texts, which the United States publishes in English only.

Source: the US International Trade Commission's Harmonized Tariff Schedule (hts.usitc.gov), public domain, and the measures published in the Federal Register.

This is a planning estimate from the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (revision shown) and the published Federal Register measures as of the date shown, for a shipment of EU origin. It is not a customs entry, legal advice or a broker's opinion, and tariffs.help is not a US-licensed customs broker. The US importer of record or their broker confirms the classification, origin, value and the duty due before filing.

Duty rates shown here are estimates, read from official EU / Danish, Norwegian and UK tariff data for orientation only. Confirm the current rate with Toldstyrelsen, TARIC, Norwegian Customs or the UK Online Trade Tariff before you file. The rate you pay can also depend on the country of origin. These are base customs duties only: import VAT, excise duties, anti-dumping duties and safeguard or quota measures are not included.