Duty rates verified against the HTSUS · HTS finder · the duty stack · landed-cost calculator
Power cords & IEC cordsets classify under HTS 8544.42.90 — as of , the effective U.S. duty is 40.1% from China, 15.1% from Vietnam, and 0.0% from USMCA-qualifying Mexico.
AC power cords and cordsets — IEC C13/C14 computer cords, NEMA-plug appliance cords, and extension cords — are connector-fitted conductors, so they classify under HTS 8544.42.90 at a 2.6% base rate. A common mistake is filing them with the power-supply heading: a cord carries current but converts nothing, so 8504.40 does not apply.
First-party data: We bench-tested 7 Amazon C13 power cords — gauge, copper, heat, and every UL/ETL file number.
| 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% |
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). Extension cords have their own statistical breakout (8544.42.90.10) inside the same duty line, so the rate is identical. And a cordset without its connectors — bare cordage on a reel — moves to the unterminated lines of 8544.49 instead.
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 cord?
AC power cords and IEC cordsets (C13/C14 computer cords, appliance cords, extension cords) classify under HTS 8544.42.90 at a 2.6% base rate — effective 40.1% from China, 15.1% from Vietnam. They are conductors, not converters, so the 8504.40 power-supply heading does not apply.
Do extension cords use a different HTS code?
Extension cords report under the statistical suffix 8544.42.90.10, but it is the same duty line as other connectorized cords — the rate does not change.
Sources
- USITC HTSUSHTSUS 8544.42.90 (2.6%)
- 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.