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 8544

Heading 8544 covers insulated (including enameled or anodized) wire, cable (including coaxial cable) and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fiber cables, made up of individually sheathed fibers, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors. Duty is assessed at the 10-digit statistical line; the figures here are resolved for 8544.11.00.20, the first line under this heading. Its Column 1 rate is 3.5%; other lines under 8544 carry different Column 1 rates. On top of that, the ad valorem total depends on origin: China carries 41.00% and Italy carries 10.00%.

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

19 statistical lines under this heading · 7 distinct Column 1 rates · highest ad valorem total 41.00% from China · lowest 10.00% from Italy

Origin	Ad valorem layers	Layers	Reported under
China CHN	41.00%	mfn + s301 + s301	9903.88.01 9903.05.31
Vietnam VNM	16.00%	mfn + s301	9903.05.84
Thailand THA	16.00%	mfn + s301	9903.05.77
Brazil BRA	16.00%	mfn + s301	9903.05.27
Mexico MEX	13.50%	mfn + s301	9903.05.55
Canada CAN	13.50%	mfn + s301	9903.05.29
India IND	13.50%	mfn + s301	9903.05.44
United Kingdom GBR	13.50%	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 8544.11.00.20, resolved 2026-08-31. The first statistical line under 8544; other lines may carry different Column 1 rates.

Code	Description	Column 1	Special	Units
8544.11.00.20	33 AWG (0.18 mm in diameter) and finer	inherited	—	kg
8544.11.00.30	22 AWG (0.643 mm in diameter) and finer but larger than 33 AWG (0.18 mm in diameter)	inherited	—	kg
8544.11.00.50	Other	inherited	—	kg
8544.19.00.00	Other	3.9%	Free (A*,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	kg
8544.20.00.00	Coaxial cable and other coaxial electric conductors	5.3%	Free (A*,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	kg
8544.30.00.00	Ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles, aircraft or ships	5%	Free (A*,AU,B,BH,C,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	No.
8544.42.10.00	Fitted with modular telephone connectors	Free	—	No.
8544.42.20.00	Of a kind used for telecommunications	Free	—	No.
8544.42.90.10	Extension cords as defined in statistical note 7 to this chapter	inherited	—	No.
8544.42.90.90	Other	inherited	—	No.
8544.49.10.00	Of a kind used for telecommunications	Free	—	kg
8544.49.20.00	Other	3.5%	Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	kg
8544.49.30.40	For a voltage exceeding 600 V	inherited	—	kg
8544.49.30.80	Other	inherited	—	kg
8544.49.90.00	Other	3.9%	Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	kg
8544.60.20.00	Fitted with connectors	3.7%	Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,JP,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	No.
8544.60.40.00	Of copper	3.5%	Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,JP,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	kg
8544.60.60.00	Other	3.2%	Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,JP,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	kg
8544.70.00.00	Optical fiber cables	Free	—	Fiber m

Table 2Statistical suffixes under 8544. 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)	3.5%	3.50%	—	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 8544.11.00.20 from China, resolved 2026-08-31.

Common questions

What is the duty rate for HTS 8544?: Heading 8544 covers insulated (including enameled or anodized) wire, cable (including coaxial cable) and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fiber cables, made up of individually sheathed fibers, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors. Duty is assessed at the 10-digit statistical line; the figures here are resolved for 8544.11.00.20, the first line under this heading. Its Column 1 rate is 3.5%; other lines under 8544 carry different Column 1 rates. On top of that, the ad valorem total depends on origin: China carries 41.00% 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.