Why does the rate differ by country for the same HTS code?

The Column 1 rate is the same for every origin with normal trade relations. Trade-remedy duties under Sections 232, 301 and 338 are imposed by origin, by product, or by both, so two shipments of the same article from different countries can carry very different totals.

Is this the rate I will actually pay?

It is the rate that applies to this classification and origin on the date shown. The duty owed on a specific entry also depends on the 10-digit statistical suffix, declared content where a duty is content-based, preference eligibility, and any AD/CVD order in scope.

HTS 8531

Heading 8531 covers electric sound or visual signaling apparatus (for example, bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), other than those of heading 8512 or 8530; parts thereof. Duty is assessed at the 10-digit statistical line; the figures here are resolved for 8531.10.00.15, the first line under this heading. Its Column 1 rate is 1.3%; other lines under 8531 carry different Column 1 rates. On top of that, the ad valorem total depends on origin: China carries 38.80% and Italy carries 10.00%.

Chapter 85 · Verified 2026-08-31
HTS 2026HTSRev17

16 statistical lines under this heading · 2 distinct Column 1 rates · highest ad valorem total 38.80% from China · lowest 10.00% from Italy

Origin	Ad valorem layers	Layers	Reported under
China CHN	38.80%	mfn + s301 + s301	9903.88.03 9903.05.31
Vietnam VNM	13.80%	mfn + s301	9903.05.84
Thailand THA	13.80%	mfn + s301	9903.05.77
Brazil BRA	13.80%	mfn + s301	9903.05.27
Japan JPN	12.50%	s301	9903.05.49
South Korea KOR	12.50%	s301	9903.05.71
Mexico MEX	11.30%	mfn + s301	9903.05.55
Canada CAN	11.30%	mfn + s301	9903.05.29
India IND	11.30%	mfn + s301	9903.05.44
United Kingdom GBR	11.30%	mfn + s301	9903.05.81
Germany DEU	10.00%	s301	9903.05.39
Italy ITA	10.00%	s301	9903.05.39

Table 1Rate by country of origin for 8531.10.00.15, resolved 2026-08-31. The first statistical line under 8531; other lines may carry different Column 1 rates.

Code	Description	Column 1	Special	Units
8531.10.00.15	Battery powered	inherited	—	No.
8531.10.00.25	Other	inherited	—	No.
8531.10.00.35	Burglar alarms	inherited	—	No.
8531.10.00.45	Other	inherited	—	No.
8531.20.00.20	Incorporating LCD's	inherited	—	No.
8531.20.00.40	Other	inherited	—	No.
8531.80.15.00	Doorbells, chimes, buzzers and similar apparatus	1.3%	Free (A,AU,B,BH,C,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	kg
8531.80.90.05	Incorporating electric discharge (fluorescent) devices	inherited	—	No.
8531.80.90.26	Other	inherited	—	No.
8531.80.90.31	Horns	inherited	—	No.
8531.80.90.41	Other sound signaling apparatus	inherited	—	No.
8531.80.90.51	Other	inherited	—	No.
8531.90.15.00	Of the panels of subheading 8531.20	Free	—	No.
8531.90.30.00	Other	Free	—	No.
8531.90.75.00	Of the panels of subheading 8531.20	Free	—	No.
8531.90.90.01	Other	Free	—	No.

Table 2Statistical suffixes under 8531. Duty is assessed at the 10-digit level; the Column 1 rate is stated at the subheading and inherited below it.

Programme	Rate as published	Contribution	Reported under	In force from
Column 1 General (MFN)	1.3%	1.30%	—	not established
Source: USITC, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 2026 HTS Revision 17, published 2026-08-01. Verified 2026-08-31.
Section 301	The duty provided in the applicable subheading + 25%	25.00%	9903.88.03	2018-09-24
Status unconfirmed. The second statutory four-year review of this action is running. The continuation-request deadlines for the underlying 2018 actions closed on 2026-07-05 and 2026-08-22 and no continuation notice has been published. There is no evidence of termination either, and the duty is almost certainly still collectible; what we cannot do is cite a document saying so. Source: USTR, Notice of Modification of Section 301 Action: China's Acts, Policies and Practices Related to Technology Transfer (List 3) (83 FR 47974), published 2018-09-21. Verified 2026-08-31.
Section 301	The duty provided in the applicable subheading + 12.5%	12.50%	9903.05.31	2026-07-24
Source: USTR, Notice of Actions in Section 301 Investigations of Various Economies (FR Doc. 2026-15181), published 2026-07-28. Verified 2026-08-31.

Table 3Duty stack for 8531.10.00.15 from China, resolved 2026-08-31.

Common questions

What is the duty rate for HTS 8531?: Heading 8531 covers electric sound or visual signaling apparatus (for example, bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), other than those of heading 8512 or 8530; parts thereof. Duty is assessed at the 10-digit statistical line; the figures here are resolved for 8531.10.00.15, the first line under this heading. Its Column 1 rate is 1.3%; other lines under 8531 carry different Column 1 rates. On top of that, the ad valorem total depends on origin: China carries 38.80% and Italy carries 10.00%.
Why does the rate differ by country for the same HTS code?: The Column 1 rate is the same for every origin with normal trade relations. Trade-remedy duties under Sections 232, 301 and 338 are imposed by origin, by product, or by both, so two shipments of the same article from different countries can carry very different totals.
Is this the rate I will actually pay?: It is the rate that applies to this classification and origin on the date shown. The duty owed on a specific entry also depends on the 10-digit statistical suffix, declared content where a duty is content-based, preference eligibility, and any AD/CVD order in scope.