Duty rates verified against the HTSUS · HTS finder · the duty stack · landed-cost calculator
Power adapters & chargers classify under HTS 8504.40.85 — as of , the effective U.S. duty is 37.5% from China, 12.5% from Vietnam, and 0.0% from USMCA-qualifying Mexico.
Switching power adapters and chargers — wall adapters, GaN and USB-C chargers, set-top-box and networking supplies — classify under HTS 8504.40.85 ("static converters, for telecommunication apparatus"). The whole 8504.40 heading enters Free at the MFN base rate, so the entire effective duty is the Section 301 overlay.
| Origin | MFN base | §301 China | §301 forced-labor | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | Free | 25% | 12.5% | 37.5% |
| Vietnam | Free | — | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| 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). Adjacent power codes carry the same rate: 8504.40.95 ("other" static converters), 8504.40.60 (supplies for incorporation into ADP machines), and 8504.40.70 are all Free at base — a converter classified under any of them pays the same effective duty as 8504.40.85.
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 for a power adapter or USB-C charger?
Power adapters and chargers commonly classify under HTS 8504.40.85 (static converters for telecommunication apparatus), which is Free at the MFN base rate. Related converters fall under 8504.40.95, .60 or .70 — also Free — so the effective duty is the same across the heading.
What is the tariff on a power adapter from China vs Vietnam?
As of July 24, 2026: 37.5% from China (0% base + 25% Section 301 List 3 + 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor) versus 12.5% from Vietnam (only the forced-labor layer). A USMCA-qualifying Mexico origin enters at 0%.
Sources
- USITC HTSUSHTSUS 8504.40.85 (Free)
- 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.