Analysis
Subheading 8540.12 covers monochrome, within heading 8540. The first six digits are shared by every country that uses the Harmonized System, so this part of the code is the same in the US, UK and EU schedules; the 4 US tariff lines below it are national.
None of its 4 lines is duty-free at the general rate. Rates run from 3.3% to 3.6% with a median of 3.45%, so the line you choose sets the duty.
The US splits it as follows: 8540.12.10 for non-high definition (3.6%), 8540.12.20 for television picture tubes having a straight line dimension across the… (3.6%), 8540.12.50 for non-high definition (3.3%) and 8540.12.70 for other: high definition (3.3%).
By Census's concordance, most of its statistical lines are made by Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (334419). Those are the NAICS industries a US producer of these goods would report under.
Goods only reach 8540.12 once they fall within heading 8540 (thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas…). Under General Rule 6, subheadings are then compared only with others at the same level, so a product is matched against its siblings, not against lines elsewhere in the chapter.
Tariff lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 8540.12.10 | Non-high definition | 3.6% |
| 8540.12.20 | Television picture tubes having a straight line dimension across the faceplate greater than 29 cm but having no straight line dimension across the faceplate that exceeds 42 cm: high definition | 3.6% |
| 8540.12.50 | Non-high definition | 3.3% |
| 8540.12.70 | Other: high definition | 3.3% |