Import Duty on Electronics from China: 2026 HTS 85 & 84 Calculator
Pre-configured USITC Chapter 84 & Chapter 85 tariff calculator for consumer electronics, bare PCBs, PCBA assemblies, GaN chargers, audio gear, and smart devices.
2026 HTS Chapter 85 & 84 Tariff Breakdown for Chinese Electronics
Electrical machinery and consumer hardware imported from Shenzhen and Dongguan fall primarily under HTSUS Chapter 85 (electrical equipment) and Chapter 84 (data processing machines). While many electronics enjoy a 0% Column 1 Base MFN duty rate under the WTO Information Technology Agreement, calculating the true import duty on electronics from china requires layering USTR Section 301 Lists 1–4A and the 2025–2026 IEEPA surcharge.
| Electronic Product | HTS Subheading | Base MFN | Section 301 List | 2026 IEEPA | Combined Effective Rate | Load in Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Earbuds & Headsets | 8518.30.20 | 0.0% | List 4A (7.5%) | 20.0% | 27.50% | |
| Smartwatches & Wearables | 8517.62.00 | 0.0% | List 4A (7.5%) | 20.0% | 27.50% | |
| Bare PCBs & PCBA Boards | 8534.00.00 | 0.0% | List 1 (25.0%) | 20.0% | 45.00% | |
| USB-C Power Adapters & Chargers | 8504.40.95 | 1.5% | List 3 (25.0%) | 20.0% | 46.50% | |
| LED Strip Lights & Fixtures | 9405.42.84 | 3.9% | List 3 (25.0%) | 20.0% | 48.90% | |
| Semiconductors & ICs | 8542.31.00 | 0.0% | Strategic (50.0%) | 20.0% | 70.00% |
Worked Example: $5,000 Air Cargo Shipment of Bluetooth Earbuds vs. Bare PCBs
Let's compare two $5,000 FOB air freight shipments from Shenzhen to LAX (1,000 units, $680 air cargo fee) using our import duty on electronics from china calculator:
Scenario A: 1,000 Wireless Earbuds (HTS 8518.30.20 — List 4A)
- FOB Value: $5,000.00 ($5.00/unit) | Air Freight & Insurance: $715.00 (0% HMF on air cargo)
- Stacked Tariff (27.50%): $0.00 MFN + $375.00 Section 301 (7.5%) + $1,000.00 IEEPA (20%) = $1,375.00
- CBP Formal Entry Minimum MPF: $34.58
- Total Landed Cost: $7,124.58 ($7.12 per unit)
Scenario B: 1,000 Industrial PCBA Controller Boards (HTS 8534.00.00 — List 1)
- Stacked Tariff (45.00%): $0.00 MFN + $1,250.00 Section 301 (25%) + $1,000.00 IEEPA (20%) = $2,250.00
- Total Landed Cost (incl. $34.58 MPF & $715 Air Freight): $7,999.58 ($8.00 per unit) — $875 more in customs duty than consumer audio!
FCC Part 15, UL Certification & UN38.3 Lithium Battery Rules
Beyond modeling the import duty on electronics from china, hardware importers must ensure every radio-frequency device (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi) carries a valid FCC ID and Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC), while devices containing lithium-ion cells require UN38.3 test summaries and IATA PI965–PI967 dangerous goods air declarations.
Official 10-digit commodity classifications can be cross-referenced directly in the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) database prior to filing CBP Entry Summary Form 7501.
Importers of Record seeking formal tariff classification certainty may request an electronic binding ruling from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP eRulings) under 19 CFR Part 177.
All Chapter 99 China trade remedy announcements and statutory four-year review modifications are published by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
Frequently Asked Questions: Import Duty On Electronics From China
What is the tariff on bare PCBs and assembled PCBA boards from China?
Bare printed circuit boards under HTS 8534.00.00 have a 0% base MFN rate but are subject to a 25% Section 301 List 1 tariff (9903.88.01) plus the active 2026 IEEPA surcharge (totaling 45% stacked duty).
Are laptops and smartphones subject to Section 301 tariffs?
Finished laptops (8471.30.01) and smartphones (8517.13.00) were placed on List 4B (0% Section 301), though importers must check the active IEEPA surcharge dropdown in our calculator.
If I bundle a USB-C charger with a Bluetooth speaker, which HTS rate applies?
Under General Rule of Interpretation (GRI) 3(b), retail sets packaged together for sale are classified according to the component that imparts their 'essential character'—in this case, the Bluetooth speaker (HTS 8518.22, List 4A 7.5%), rather than the standalone charger (List 3 25%).
What is the 2026 US tariff on Chinese semiconductors and microchips?
Under the USTR strategic Section 301 revision, semiconductors and integrated circuits under HTS 8541 and 8542 face a 50% Section 301 tariff stacked with the 2026 IEEPA surcharge.
Can CBP seize electronics that lack FCC ID labels or UL marks?
Yes. CBP enforces FCC Part 2/Part 15 regulations at the border and will detain or seize uncertified RF transceivers or products bearing counterfeit UL/CSA certification marks.
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