Analysis
Heading 8542 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule covers electronic integrated circuits; parts thereof. It divides into 5 six-digit subheadings and 5 eight-digit tariff lines, with 31 ten-digit statistical suffixes below them.
Every one of its 5 tariff lines is duty-free at the general rate, so classification within the heading affects statistics and Chapter 99 measures rather than the base duty.
The largest subheadings are 8542.31 (unnamed, 1 line), 8542.32 (unnamed, 1 line), 8542.33 (unnamed, 1 line) and 8542.39 (unnamed, 1 line).
Its median rate of duty-free sits at the 29th percentile of the headings in chapter 85.
By Census's concordance, most of its statistical lines are made by Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413). Those are the NAICS industries a US producer of these goods would report under.
The heading text decides whether a product belongs here at all (General Rule of Interpretation 1); the subheadings and lines below it only apply once that is settled. Section and chapter notes can override the heading wording, so read them for borderline goods.
Tariff lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 8542.31.00 | Processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits | Free |
| 8542.32.00 | Electronic integrated circuits: memories | Free |
| 8542.33.00 | Electronic integrated circuits: amplifiers | Free |
| 8542.39.00 | Electronic integrated circuits: other | Free |
| 8542.90.00 | Electronic integrated circuits; parts thereof: parts | Free |