What is the U.S. tariff rate on batteries and storage cells?

USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 16.09% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 2.5%–3.5%; individual lines are called “Free” only when the official General field is literally Free, and product, origin, preference and tariff mix can contribute to the observed-rate difference.

What are the statutory MFN line rates for batteries and storage cells?

The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 2.5%–3.5% across the family's 20 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 8506, 8507). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.

Which countries supply the most batteries and storage cells to the U.S.?

Top retained sources in 2025: China ($12.2B at 23.99%), South Korea ($3.9B at 7.89%), Japan ($3.6B at 12.15%). China holds 45.2% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 92.4%; their HHI is 2500, a lower bound whose floor falls in the moderately concentrated range without classifying the omitted tail.

How much batteries and storage cells does the U.S. import?

$27.1B of customs value in 2025, with $4.3B in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 16.02%.

Is the U.S. a net importer of batteries and storage cells?

Yes — a net importer in 2025: $27.1B imported vs $8.0B exported (exports are 29% of imports).

Tariff monitor · Electrical & Wiring

Batteries and Storage Cells: Statutory & Effective Tariff Rates

USITC Column 1 General rates for 20 batteries and storage cells HTS lines (parseable range 2.5%–3.5%). Effective rate Jun 2026: 16.09%; monthly history since 2023.

The short answer

The observed effective calculated-duty rate on U.S. imports of batteries and storage cells was 16.09% in Jun 2026, down from 19.84% a year earlier — USITC Calculated Duties divided by covered customs value. The Column 1 General line-rate range is 2.5%–3.5% across 20 HTS lines in the 2026 schedule; individual lines are called “Free” only when the official General field is literally Free, which still does not determine a shipment’s final duty. China is the largest source, holding 45.2% of 2025 imports.

Statutory rates from the schedule

Primary cells and rechargeable storage batteries — from backup power to the packs behind cordless tools and equipment. This family covers HTS headings 8506, 8507: 20 eight-digit rate lines with a parseable Column 1 General range of 2.5%–3.5% in the 2026 schedule. “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for that line; it does not determine final entry liability.

Observed calculated-duty data

Latest month on record (2026-06): 16.09% effective on $2.1B of imports, versus 19.84% in the same month a year earlier. The monthly archive holds 42 observations from 2023-01 through 2026-06.
In 2025, U.S. imports for consumption in this family totaled $27.1B in customs value, with $4.3B in USITC reported calculated duty on $27.1B of covered customs value: an effective calculated-duty rate of 16.02%. The aggregate reflects the recorded entry mix but does not attribute the result to a specific legal provision.
A year earlier the effective calculated-duty rate was 5.96%, so the observed rate rose 10.1 points.
Top source countries in 2025: China ($12.2B at 23.99%), South Korea ($3.9B at 7.89%), Japan ($3.6B at 12.15%), Mexico ($1.7B at 1.51%), Vietnam ($972.9M at 13.54%).
Reported freight and insurance equaled 2.21% of covered customs value in 2025 ($554.0M total); charge coverage was 92.4% of customs value, from USITC DataWeb. It is shown alongside the effective calculated-duty rate and is not part of the customs-value duty base.

Representative rate lines

8506.10.00: Manganese dioxide · MFN 2.7%
8506.30.10.00: Having an external volume not exceeding 300 cm3 · MFN 2.7%
8506.30.50.00: Other · MFN 2.7%
8506.40.10: Having an external volume not exceeding 300 cm3 · MFN 2.7%
8506.40.50.00: Other · MFN 2.7%
8506.50.00: Lithium · MFN 2.7%
8506.60.00: Air-zinc · MFN 2.7%
8506.80.00: Other primary cells and primary batteries · MFN 2.7%

Frequently asked questions

What is the U.S. tariff rate on batteries and storage cells? USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 16.09% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 2.5%–3.5%; individual lines are called “Free” only when the official General field is literally Free, and product, origin, preference and tariff mix can contribute to the observed-rate difference.
What are the statutory MFN line rates for batteries and storage cells? The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 2.5%–3.5% across the family's 20 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 8506, 8507). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.
Which countries supply the most batteries and storage cells to the U.S.? Top retained sources in 2025: China ($12.2B at 23.99%), South Korea ($3.9B at 7.89%), Japan ($3.6B at 12.15%). China holds 45.2% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 92.4%; their HHI is 2500, a lower bound whose floor falls in the moderately concentrated range without classifying the omitted tail.
How much batteries and storage cells does the U.S. import? $27.1B of customs value in 2025, with $4.3B in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 16.02%.
Is the U.S. a net importer of batteries and storage cells? Yes — a net importer in 2025: $27.1B imported vs $8.0B exported (exports are 29% of imports).

About this data

Reference statistics derived from USITC published data. Not a customs ruling. MFN-Free and Special-rate fields describe statutory line coverage only; final entry liability requires origin, date, eligibility, exclusions and other transaction facts. Calculated Duties are statistical estimates, not a cash-collections ledger. Confirm classification, origin, program eligibility, and final entry liability with a licensed customs broker.

Last reviewed 2026-08-31.