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 | §301 forced-labor | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 2.6% | 25% | 12.5% | 40.1% |
| Vietnam | 2.6% | — | 12.5% | 15.1% |
| Mexico USMCA | — | — | — | 0.0% |
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. That lowers the effective rate to 37.5% (China) or 12.5% (Vietnam). End-use and CBP practice decide; confirm before you rely on it.
Covers the codes Kestner's power & connectivity catalog actually classifies under. The layers add — MFN base + 25% Section 301 (China only) + 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor (China & Vietnam; USMCA-Mexico exempt).
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% | 40.1% | 15.1% | 0.0% |
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% |
8471.80.00 · 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 37.5% (China) or 12.5% (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 40.1% from China (2.6% + 25% Section 301 List 3 + 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor) and 15.1% from Vietnam (2.6% + 12.5%). USMCA-qualifying Mexico origin enters at 0%.
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% + 12.5%) and 12.5% from Vietnam. The whole 8504.40 heading enters Free, so 8504.40.95, .60 and .70 carry the same effective rates.
Is there a lower HTS code for telecom or data cable?
Sometimes. 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 — which lowers the effective rate to 37.5% (China) or 12.5% (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. Both carry the same Section 301 overlay as other cable; only the base rate differs.
Sources
- Duty rates (MFN, §301 25% + 12.5%) — verifiedthe duty stack
- USTR Section 301 / CBP9903.88.03 · 84 FR 20459
- White House Presidential Action / USTR §301 forced-laborPresidential Action 2026-07-23 · USTR Docket 2026-0265/0266 · HTSUS 9903.05.xx · 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.