Analysis
HTS 8544.11.00 covers winding wire: of copper under heading 8544 (insulated (including enameled or anodized) wire, cable (including coaxial cable) and…). US Customs collects import statistics for it under 3 ten-digit suffixes, reported in kilograms.
Neighbouring lines carry rates from duty-free to 5.3%, so the exact line matters. The widest gap is with 8544.70.00 (optical fiber cables), at duty-free: a product that belongs there but is entered here, or the reverse, changes the duty by 3.5 percentage points.
The general duty rate is 3.5% of the customs value, which is above most the rates in chapter 85 (83rd percentile of 624 lines with an ad valorem rate). On a shipment valued at $10,000 that is $350 in duty before any Chapter 99 additions or preference claims.
The column 2 rate, for countries without normal trade relations, is 40%, 11.4 times the general rate.
Goods that qualify under GSP, the Australia FTA, the Automotive Products Trade Act, the Bahrain FTA, the Chile FTA, and 13 others can enter duty-free instead of paying 3.5%. It is also eligible under GSP, the developing-country programme, which Congress has to renew; check whether GSP is in force on the entry date.
Statistical suffixes
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 8544.19.00 | Winding wire: other | 3.9% |
| 8544.20.00 | Coaxial cable and other coaxial electric conductors | 5.3% |
| 8544.30.00 | Ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles, aircraft or ships | 5% |
| 8544.42.10 | Fitted with modular telephone connectors | Free |
| 8544.42.20 | Of a kind used for telecommunications | Free |
| 8544.42.90 | Other: other | 2.6% |
| 8544.49.10 | Of a kind used for telecommunications | Free |
| 8544.49.20 | For a voltage not exceeding 80 V: other | 3.5% |
| 8544.49.30 | Other: of copper | 5.3% |
| 8544.49.90 | Other: other | 3.9% |
| 8544.60.20 | Fitted with connectors | 3.7% |
| 8544.60.40 | Other: of copper | 3.5% |
| 8544.60.60 | Other: other | 3.2% |
| 8544.70.00 | Optical fiber cables | Free |