9001.90.50

Analysis

HTS 9001.90.50 covers other: prisms under heading 9001 (optical fibers and optical fiber bundles; optical fiber cables other than those of…).

Goods from countries without normal trade relations pay the column 2 rate of 65% instead of nothing, so origin decides between free entry and a 65% duty.

There is no general-rate duty on this line, which puts it with roughly 73% of the 296 tariff lines in chapter 90 that are also free. Duty-free at the general rate does not rule out additional duties under Chapter 99, such as Section 301 or Section 232 measures, which depend on the country of origin.

The other lines in the same group are 9001.90.40 (other: lenses, duty-free), 9001.90.60 (other: mirrors, duty-free), 9001.90.80 (halftone screens designed for use in engraving or…, duty-free) and 9001.90.90 (other: other, duty-free).

Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 33331 (Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing), an industry of 1,731 US establishments employing 80,504 people, the industry a domestic producer of these goods reports under.

All 4 neighbouring lines carry the same duty-free rate, so a borderline choice between them changes the statistics reported, not the duty paid.