Analysis
Heading 8501 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule covers electric motors and generators (excluding generating sets). It divides into 17 six-digit subheadings and 48 eight-digit tariff lines, with 71 ten-digit statistical suffixes below them.
The spread of 6.7 percentage points between the cheapest and dearest lines makes misclassification expensive here. The highest rate, 6.7%, applies to 8501.10.20 (synchronous, valued not over $4 each).
5 of its 48 lines with a percentage rate are duty-free at the general rate (10%) and 43 are dutiable, from duty-free up to 6.7%. The median line pays 2.5%.
The largest subheadings are 8501.31 (of an output not exceeding 750 W, 5 lines), 8501.20 (universal AC/DC motors of an output exceeding…, 4 lines), 8501.32 (of an output exceeding 750 W but not exceeding 75…, 4 lines) and 8501.33 (of an output exceeding 75 kW but not exceeding…, 4 lines).
Its median rate of 2.5% sits at the 67th percentile of the headings in chapter 85.
Tariff lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 8501.10.20 | Synchronous, valued not over $4 each | 6.7% |
| 8501.10.40 | Of under 18.65 W: other | 4.4% |
| 8501.10.60 | Of 18.65 W or more but not exceeding 37.5 W | 2.8% |
| 8501.20.20 | Exceeding 37.5 W but not exceeding 74.6 W | 3.3% |
| 8501.20.40 | Exceeding 74.6 W but not exceeding 735 W | 4% |
| 8501.20.50 | Exceeding 735 W but under 746 W | 3.3% |
| 8501.20.60 | Universal AC/DC motors of an output exceeding 37.5 W: other | 2.4% |
| 8501.31.20 | Exceeding 37.5 W but not exceeding 74.6 W | 2.8% |
| 8501.31.40 | Exceeding 74.6 W but not exceeding 735 W | 4% |
| 8501.31.50 | Exceeding 735 W but under 746 W | 3.3% |
| 8501.31.60 | Motors: other | 2.4% |
| 8501.31.81 | Of an output not exceeding 750 W: generators | 2.5% |
| 8501.32.20 | Exceeding 750 W but not exceeding 14.92 kW | 2.9% |
| 8501.32.45 | Electric motors of a kind used as the primary source of mechanical power for electrically powered vehicles of subheadings 8703.40, 8703.50, 8703.60, 8703.70 or 8703.80 | Free |
| 8501.32.55 | Other: other | Free |
| 8501.32.61 | Of an output exceeding 750 W but not exceeding 75 kW: generators | 2% |
| 8501.33.20 | Exceeding 75 kW but under 149.2 kW | Free |
| 8501.33.30 | 149.2 kW or more but not exceeding 150 kW | 2.8% |
| 8501.33.40 | Motors: other | 2.8% |
| 8501.33.61 | Of an output exceeding 75 kW but not exceeding 375 kW: generators | 2.5% |
| 8501.34.30 | Of an output exceeding 375 kW: motors | 2.8% |
| 8501.34.61 | Of an output exceeding 375 kW: generators | 2% |
| 8501.40.20 | Of an output exceeding 37.5 W but not exceeding 74.6 W | 3.3% |
| 8501.40.40 | Of an output exceeding 74.6 W but not exceeding 735 W | 4% |
| 8501.40.50 | Of an output exceeding 735 W but under 746 W | 3.3% |
| 8501.40.60 | Other AC motors, single-phase: other | 3.7% |
| 8501.51.20 | Exceeding 37.5 W but not exceeding 74.6 W | 2.5% |
| 8501.51.40 | Exceeding 74.6 W but not exceeding 735 W | 2.5% |
| 8501.51.50 | Exceeding 735 W but under 746 W | 3.3% |
| 8501.51.60 | Of an output not exceeding 750 W: other | 2.5% |
| 8501.52.40 | Exceeding 750 W but not exceeding 14.92 kW | 3.7% |
| 8501.52.80 | Of an output exceeding 750 W but not exceeding 75 kW: other | Free |
| 8501.53.40 | Exceeding 75 kW but under 149.2 kW | Free |
| 8501.53.60 | 149.2 kW or more but not exceeding 150 kW | 4.2% |
| 8501.53.80 | Of an output exceeding 75 kW: other | 2.8% |
| 8501.61.01 | Of an output not exceeding 75 kVA | 2.5% |
| 8501.62.01 | Of an output exceeding 75 kVA but not exceeding 375 kVA | 2.5% |
| 8501.63.01 | Of an output exceeding 375 kVA but not exceeding 750 kVA | 2.5% |
| 8501.64.01 | Of an output exceeding 750 kVA | 2.4% |
| 8501.71.00 | Of an output not exceeding 50 W | 2.5% |
| 8501.72.10 | Of an output not exceeding 750 W | 2.5% |
| 8501.72.20 | Of an output exceeding 750 W but not exceeding 75 kW | 2% |
| 8501.72.30 | Of an output exceeding 75 kW but not exceeding 375 kW | 2.5% |
| 8501.72.90 | Of an output exceeding 50 W: other | 2% |
| 8501.80.10 | Of an output not exceeding 75 kVA | 2.5% |
| 8501.80.20 | Of an output exceeding 75 kVA but not exceeding 375 kVA | 2.5% |
| 8501.80.30 | Of an output exceeding 375 kVA but not exceeding 750 kVA | 2.5% |
| 8501.80.90 | Photovoltaic AC generators: other | 2.4% |