Duty rates verified against the HTSUS · the duty stack · landed-cost calculator
Pick your product — or type a description — to get the HTS code it most commonly classifies under and the effective U.S. duty from China, Vietnam, and Mexico, layer by layer. Rates are the verified figures from the duty stack; the tool also flags the lower-duty classification nuances — the cases where a different HTS code legitimately cuts the rate.
HTS 8544.42.90
Other electric conductors, fitted with connectors, for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 V — Other
| Origin | MFN base | §301 China | §232 copper | §301 forced-labor | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 2.6% | 25% | 25% | — | 52.6% |
| Vietnam | 2.6% | — | 25% | — | 27.6% |
| Mexico USMCA | — | — | 25% | — | 25.0% |
Two things changed here in 2026. Telecom-grade connectorized cable can still enter Free under HTS 8544.42.20, and modular-telephone-terminated cable under 8544.42.10, instead of 2.6% under 8544.42.90 — but all three lines are “articles of copper” in HTSUS note 16(c)(viii), so the 25% Section 232 copper duty follows the cable across and the move saves only the 2.6-point base. That copper duty applies from every origin, USMCA Mexico included, and it replaces the 12.5% forced-labor duty rather than stacking with it. It only reaches an article whose copper and aluminium together are at least 15% of its weight; below that the good falls to 9903.82.03 and pays 40.1% (China) or 15.1% (Vietnam) instead. End-use, construction and CBP practice decide; confirm before you rely on any of it.
Covers the codes Kestner's power & connectivity catalog actually classifies under. The layers add — MFN base + 25% Section 301 (China only) + 25% Section 232 copper (connectorized cable, every origin) + 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor (China & Vietnam; USMCA-Mexico exempt, and not charged on goods already carrying the copper duty).
Confirm a classification or request a quote →A classification guide, not customs or legal advice. HTS codes shown are the ones Kestner's products commonly enter under; the correct code for your part depends on its construction and end use. Confirm with a licensed customs broker before you file, and verify current rates against the duty stack.
The codes, side by side
Effective U.S. duty by origin for the power and connectivity HTS codes, current as of the verification date above.
| HTS code · description | MFN base | China | Vietnam | Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|---|
8504.40.85 · Static converters | Free | 37.5% | 12.5% | 0.0% |
8504.40.95 · Static converters | Free | 37.5% | 12.5% | 0.0% |
8544.42.90 · Other electric conductors, fitted with connectors, for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 V | 2.6% | 52.6% | 27.6% | 25.0% |
8544.20.00 · Coaxial cable and other coaxial electric conductors | 5.3% | 42.8% | 17.8% | 0.0% |
8544.70.00 · Optical fiber cables | Free | 37.5% | 12.5% | 0.0% |
8544.49.30 · Not fitted with connectors, ≤1,000 V | 5.3% | 42.8% | 17.8% | 0.0% |
8471.80.10.00 · Other units of automatic data processing machines | Free | 37.5% | 12.5% | 0.0% |
The classification nuances that change the rate
Three cases are worth checking before you accept a rate. First, telecom-grade or modular-terminated cable can enter Free under HTS 8544.42.20 or 8544.42.10, rather than 2.6% under 8544.42.90 — dropping the effective rate to 50.0% (China) or 25.0% (Vietnam). End-use and CBP practice decide, so it needs support, not assumption. Second,bulk (unterminated) cable is not the connectorized code: CBP’s current position — ruling N354596 (October 2025) — puts standard bulk Cat5e/6 on spools under 8544.49.30 at 5.3%, because the Free ≤80 V telecom line (8544.49.10) is decided by the cable’s maximum voltage rating, and ordinary LAN jacket is rated 300 V. Third, the entire 8504.40 power-supply heading enters Free at MFN, so a converter classified under 8504.40.95,.60 or .70 carries the same effective rate as 8504.40.85. Getting the code right is the difference between a defensible entry and an overpayment — or a wrong number a broker screenshots later.
Direct answers by product
Each product type also has a standalone answer page — the code, the full layer table, and the nuances, at a stable URL:
Frequently asked
What HTS code is a USB-C or HDMI cable, and what is the U.S. duty?
Connectorized cable assemblies — USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet patch, and AV cables — classify under HTS 8544.42.90, a 2.6% base rate. The effective U.S. duty is 52.6% from China (2.6% + 25% Section 301 List 3 + 25% Section 232 copper) and 27.6% from Vietnam (2.6% + 25% Section 232). USMCA-qualifying Mexico origin enters at 25.0%, not zero, because the Section 232 copper duty is collected in addition to any free-trade rate.
What is the tariff on a power adapter or charger from China?
Power adapters and chargers classify under HTS 8504.40.85, which is Free at the MFN base rate. The effective U.S. duty is 37.5% from China (0% + 25% Section 301 + 12.5% forced-labor) and 12.5% from Vietnam. The whole 8504.40 heading enters Free, so 8504.40.95, .60 and .70 carry the same effective rates — and no 8504 code is on a Section 232 metals list, so no copper duty applies.
Is there a lower HTS code for telecom or data cable?
Only by the 2.6-point base. Telecom-grade connectorized cable can enter Free under HTS 8544.42.20, and modular-telephone-terminated cable under 8544.42.10, instead of 2.6% under 8544.42.90 — but all three lines are articles of copper in HTSUS note 16(c)(viii), so the 25% Section 232 copper duty applies either way. That takes the effective rate to 50.0% (China) or 25.0% (Vietnam). End-use and CBP practice decide, so confirm with a licensed broker before relying on it.
What HTS code is bulk Cat6 or Cat5e cable without connectors?
Bulk (unterminated) Ethernet cable on spools or reels classifies under HTS 8544.49.30 at a 5.3% base rate under CBP’s current practice — ruling N354596 (October 2025) holds that the cable’s maximum voltage rating decides, and standard LAN cable is rated 300 V, so it does not qualify for the Free ≤80 V telecommunications line (8544.49.10). Effective U.S. duty: 42.8% from China, 17.8% from Vietnam. Cable fitted with connectors classifies under 8544.42.90 instead.
What is the duty on coaxial cable and optical fiber?
Coaxial cable (HTS 8544.20.00) has a 5.3% base — 42.8% effective from China, 17.8% from Vietnam. Optical fiber cable (HTS 8544.70.00) is Free at base — 37.5% from China, 12.5% from Vietnam. Neither appears on the Section 232 copper list, so unlike connectorized assemblies they pay no copper duty and keep the 12.5% forced-labor layer.
Sources
- Duty rates (MFN, §301 25% + 12.5%, §232 copper 25%) — verifiedthe duty stack
- USITC HTSUS Ch. 99 (Section 232 copper)HTSUS 9903.82.09 (+25%) · U.S. note 16(b)–(c)(viii) · Rev. 19 · eff. 2026-04-06
- USTR Section 301 / CBP9903.88.03 · 84 FR 20459
- USTR §301 forced-labor · Federal Register91 FR 47318 (2026-07-28) · HTSUS 9903.05.31 (China) / 9903.05.84 (Vietnam) · eff. 2026-07-24
- HTSUS classification & base ratesUSITC HTSUS
- Bulk cable classification — voltage rating decidesCBP ruling N354596 (2025)
Know the code, then hold the origin.
The code sets the rate; the origin decides whether you pay the China layer or not. Kestner builds power and connectivity hardware in its own plants in both China and Vietnam and documents the country of origin per unit — so the code you plan against and the origin you elect are the ones that clear customs.