Duty rates verified against the HTSUS · HTS finder · the duty stack · landed-cost calculator
USB-C, HDMI & data cable assemblies 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.
Cable assemblies fitted with connectors — USB-C, USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet patch cords, and AV leads — classify under HTS 8544.42.90 ("other electric conductors, fitted with connectors, ≤1,000 V") at a 2.6% base rate. The connectors are what put a cable in this line: bulk, unterminated cable classifies elsewhere.
| 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). The money nuance: telecom-grade connectorized cable can enter Free under 8544.42.20, and modular-telephone-terminated cable under 8544.42.10 — instead of 2.6% — which lowers the effective rate to 37.5% (China) or 12.5% (Vietnam). End-use and CBP practice decide; confirm before relying on it.
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 USB-C or HDMI cable?
Connectorized cable assemblies — USB-C, USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet patch, AV — classify under HTS 8544.42.90 at a 2.6% base rate. Effective U.S. duty: 40.1% from China, 15.1% from Vietnam, 0% from USMCA-qualifying Mexico.
Can a data cable enter at a lower rate than 8544.42.90?
Sometimes. Telecom-grade connectorized cable can enter Free under HTS 8544.42.20, and modular-telephone-terminated cable under 8544.42.10 — dropping the effective rate by the 2.6-point base. End-use and CBP practice decide, so confirm with a licensed broker.
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.