Note.--For the statutory description, see the Tariff Schedules of the United States Annotated (TSUSA-1969). U.S. trade position U.S. consumption of tonka beans is supplied entirely from imports, as they are not grown in the United States or any of its possessions. The volume of imports rises and falls with the fluctuations in crop production in the supplying countries. Comment Tonka beans are the seeds of tonka bean trees which are indigenous to tropical South America. The fruit is about the size of a small mango. The dried fruit yields a single kidney-shaped seed or bean approximately 1-1/2 inches long. Before shipping the dried beans are soaked in rum. Through this processing, called crystallization, small crystals of a substance known as coumarin form on the outside of the beans. Coumarin is the substance principally responsible for the vanillalike aroma which makes the bean desirable for use principally in flavoring smoking tobacco. Some tonka beans are also used in the manufacture of perfumes, confectionery, bitters, liqueurs, artificial vanilla extract, and other products. In the United States, however, the use of coumarin, or commodities containing coumarin in food products, has in effect been prohibited under Food and Drug Administration Regulations since 1954 (21 CFR 3.33) because of the toxic properties attributable to coumarin. Coumarin (item 408.70) is considered in the summary on miscellaneous benzenoid aromatic or odoriferous compounds. Both the natural product and the synthetic product made from benzenoid chemicals are called coumarin. December 1969 TONKA BEANS The column 1 rate of duty applicable to imports (see general headnote 3 in the TSUSA-1969) is as follows: Only The tabulation above shows the column 1 rate prior to January 1, 1968, and modifications therein as a result of of duty in effect concessions granted by the United States in the sixth round of trade negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. the second (that in effect during 1969) and final stages of the five annual rate modifications are shown above (see the TSUSA-1969 for the other stages). During the period from August 31, 1963, when the TSUS became effective, to December 31, 1967, the prior rate did not change. shown above The ad valorem equivalent of the specific rate of duty (11 cents per pound) in effect on December 31, 1968, based on dutiable imports in 1968, averaged 25.2 percent. Tonka beans are gathered from wild trees in Venezuela and Brazil, and from cultivated trees in Trinidad. The beans from Venezuela generally bring the highest price, whereas Brazil's exports--smaller beans from a different species of tree--generally bring the lowest price. During the period 1963-68, U.S. annual imports of tonka beans have averaged 344,000 pounds with an average value of $236,000. The year to year volume has been erratic due to normal changes in crop output. During recent years Venezuela has been the leading supplier of U.S. imports, with Trinidad second and Brazil third (see table). December 1969 Tonka beans: U.S. imports for consumption, by principal sources, 1963-68 543: : 1/ 23,546: Total---: 196,041 : 376,346 : 281,913 : 481,498 : 493,060: 233,083 Venezuela---:$118,685 :$ 56,764 :$ 87,097 :$269,581 : $176,977 : $ 51,030 All other---: : 49,757 : 1,666: 2,205: 6,854 : 4,348 Total---: 168,291: 207,203 : 181,907 : 493,116 : 265,664 Unit value (per pound) 101,878 Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce. December 1969 Commodity TSUS item 193.15 Vanilla beans- Note.--For the statutory description, see the Tariff Schedules of the United States Annotated (TSUSA-1969). U.S. trade position Imports supply all of the vanilla beans consumed in the United States. Description and uses Vanilla beans are the cured and full-grown unripe fruit, or pod, of a climbing orchid plant native to Mexico. The dark-brown cured vanilla pods are usually eight inches or more in length, are oily in appearance, and have the characteristic vanilla odor. They contain 12 percent or more of extractable aromatic constituents, about a quarter of which is vanillin. Natural vanilla extract consists of the extractives from vanilla beans dissolved in an alcoholic solution, frequently containing about 35 percent ethyl alcohol by weight. Such extracts are included under TSUS items 450.30-450.50. Vanilla extract is consumed as a household and industrial food flavoring, primarily for ice cream and confectionery, though some is used to flavor liqueurs and beverages; it is also used in perfumery. Because it contains other aromatic substances as well as vanillin and has a distinctive flavor perferred by its users, natural vanilla extract commands a price several times as large as that of synthetic vanillin, generally made from lignin, a woodpulp byproduct. A product known as vanilla-vanillin consists of a blend of vanilla extract and synthetic vanillin. U.S. tariff treatment The column 1 rates of duty applicable to imports (see general headnote 3 in the TSUSA-1969) are as follows: December 1969 |