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 8536

Heading 8536 covers electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, or for making connections to or in electrical circuits (for example, switches, relays, fuses, surge suppressors, plugs, sockets, lamp-holders and other connectors, junction boxes), for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 v; connectors for optical fibers, optical fiber bundles or cables. Duty is assessed at the 10-digit statistical line; the figures here are resolved for 8536.10.00.20, the first line under this heading. Its Column 1 rate is 2.7%; other lines under 8536 carry different Column 1 rates. On top of that, the ad valorem total depends on origin: China carries 40.20% and Italy carries 10.00%.

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

43 statistical lines under this heading · 2 distinct Column 1 rates · highest ad valorem total 40.20% from China · lowest 10.00% from Italy

Origin	Ad valorem layers	Layers	Reported under
China CHN	40.20%	mfn + s301 + s301	9903.88.01 9903.05.31
Vietnam VNM	15.20%	mfn + s301	9903.05.84
Thailand THA	15.20%	mfn + s301	9903.05.77
Brazil BRA	15.20%	mfn + s301	9903.05.27
Mexico MEX	12.70%	mfn + s301	9903.05.55
Canada CAN	12.70%	mfn + s301	9903.05.29
India IND	12.70%	mfn + s301	9903.05.44
United Kingdom GBR	12.70%	mfn + s301	9903.05.81
Japan JPN	12.50%	s301	9903.05.49
South Korea KOR	12.50%	s301	9903.05.71
Germany DEU	10.00%	s301	9903.05.39
Italy ITA	10.00%	s301	9903.05.39

Table 1Rate by country of origin for 8536.10.00.20, resolved 2026-08-31. The first statistical line under 8536; other lines may carry different Column 1 rates.

Code	Description	Column 1	Special	Units
8536.10.00.20	Glass cartridge	inherited	—	No.
8536.10.00.40	Other	inherited	—	No.
8536.20.00.20	Molded case	inherited	—	No.
8536.20.00.40	Other	inherited	—	No.
8536.30.40.00	Motor overload protectors	Free	—	No.
8536.30.80.00	Other	Free	—	No.
8536.41.00.05	Automotive signaling flashers	inherited	—	No.
8536.41.00.20	Electromechanical	inherited	—	No.
8536.41.00.30	Other	inherited	—	No.
8536.41.00.45	Contactors	inherited	—	No.
8536.41.00.50	Electromechanical	inherited	—	No.
8536.41.00.60	Other	inherited	—	No.
8536.49.00.50	Electromechanical	inherited	—	No.
8536.49.00.55	Other	inherited	—	No.
8536.49.00.65	Contactors	inherited	—	No.
8536.49.00.75	Electromechanical	inherited	—	No.
8536.49.00.80	Other	inherited	—	No.
8536.50.40.00	Motor starters	Free	—	No.
8536.50.70.00	Electronic AC switches consisting of optically coupled input and output circuits (insulated thyristor AC switches); electronic switches, including temperature protected switches, consisting of a transistor and a logic chip (chip-on-chip technology); electromechanical snap-action switches for a current not exceeding 11 amps	Free	—	No.
8536.50.90.20	Rated at not over 5 A	inherited	—	No.
8536.50.90.25	Rated at over 5 A	inherited	—	No.
8536.50.90.31	Momentary contact	inherited	—	No.
8536.50.90.32	Other, gang switches	inherited	—	No.
8536.50.90.33	Other	inherited	—	No.
8536.50.90.35	Rated at over 5 A	inherited	—	No.
8536.50.90.40	Snap-action, other than limit	inherited	—	No.
8536.50.90.45	Knife	inherited	—	No.
8536.50.90.50	Slide	inherited	—	No.
8536.50.90.55	Limit	inherited	—	No.
8536.50.90.65	Other	inherited	—	No.
8536.61.00.00	Lamp-holders	2.7%	Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	No.
8536.69.40.10	Coaxial connectors	inherited	—	No.
8536.69.40.20	Cylindrical multicontact connectors	inherited	—	No.
8536.69.40.30	Rack and panel connectors	inherited	—	No.
8536.69.40.40	Printed circuit connectors	inherited	—	No.
8536.69.40.51	Ribbon or flat cable connectors	inherited	—	No.
8536.69.80.00	Other	2.7%	Free (A*,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	No.
8536.70.00.00	Connectors for optical fibers, optical fiber bundles or cables	Free	—	No.
8536.90.40.00	Terminals, electrical splices and electrical couplings; wafer probers	Free	—	No.
8536.90.60.00	Battery clamps of a kind used in motor vehicles of heading 8702, 8703, 8704 or 8711	2.7%	Free (A*,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	No.
8536.90.85.10	Electrical distribution ducts	inherited	—	kg
8536.90.85.30	Junction boxes	inherited	—	No.
8536.90.85.85	Other	inherited	—	No.

Table 2Statistical suffixes under 8536. 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)	2.7%	2.70%	—	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 plus 25%	25.00%	9903.88.01	2018-07-06
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 Action: China's Acts, Policies and Practices Related to Technology Transfer (List 1) (83 FR 28710), published 2018-06-20. 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 8536.10.00.20 from China, resolved 2026-08-31.

Common questions

What is the duty rate for HTS 8536?: Heading 8536 covers electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, or for making connections to or in electrical circuits (for example, switches, relays, fuses, surge suppressors, plugs, sockets, lamp-holders and other connectors, junction boxes), for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 v; connectors for optical fibers, optical fiber bundles or cables. Duty is assessed at the 10-digit statistical line; the figures here are resolved for 8536.10.00.20, the first line under this heading. Its Column 1 rate is 2.7%; other lines under 8536 carry different Column 1 rates. On top of that, the ad valorem total depends on origin: China carries 40.20% 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.