Duty rates verified against the HTSUS · HTS finder · the duty stack · landed-cost calculator
Coaxial cable classifies under HTS 8544.20.00 — as of , the effective U.S. duty is 42.8% from China, 17.8% from Vietnam, and 0.0% from USMCA-qualifying Mexico.
Coaxial cable — RG6, RG59, RG11 and other coaxial conductors — classifies under HTS 8544.20.00 at a 5.3% base rate, the highest base of the common cable codes. The heading covers coax whether or not it is fitted with connectors, so bulk reels and finished jumpers land on the same line.
| Origin | MFN base | §301 China | §301 forced-labor | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 5.3% | 25% | 12.5% | 42.8% |
| Vietnam | 5.3% | — | 12.5% | 17.8% |
| Mexico USMCA | — | — | — | 0.0% |
The layers add on the same entered value — MFN base, plus the 25% Section 301 (Chinese origin only), plus the 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor duty (China and Vietnam; USMCA-compliant Mexico exempt). Because the base is already 5.3%, coax carries the heaviest effective load in the category: 42.8% from China. The 25-point China–Vietnam gap is the same as every other cable line — the Section 301 List 3 layer applies to Chinese origin only.
Estimate a per-unit landed figure with the landed-cost calculator, run a whole BOM through the BOM tariff analyzer, or check another product in the HTS code & duty finder.
Frequently asked
What is the HTS code and duty for coaxial cable?
Coaxial cable (RG6, RG59, RG11, etc.) classifies under HTS 8544.20.00 at a 5.3% base rate — the same line whether bulk or connectorized. Effective U.S. duty: 42.8% from China, 17.8% from Vietnam, 0% from USMCA-qualifying Mexico.
Sources
- USITC HTSUSHTSUS 8544.20.00 (5.3%)
- 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
A classification guide, not customs or legal advice. The code shown is where this product type commonly enters; 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.
Know the code, then hold the origin.
The code sets the rate; the origin decides whether you pay the China layer. 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.