What is the U.S. tariff rate on measuring and inspection instruments?

USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 8.6% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–1.7%; 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 measuring and inspection instruments?

The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–1.7% across the family's 26 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 9026, 9031). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.

Which countries supply the most measuring and inspection instruments to the U.S.?

Top retained sources in 2025: Mexico ($1.9B at 3.04%), Germany ($1.7B at 9.28%), Japan ($1.1B at 8.32%). Mexico holds 17.2% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 74.7%; their HHI is 800, a lower bound whose floor falls in the diversified range without classifying the omitted tail.

How much measuring and inspection instruments does the U.S. import?

$11.2B of customs value in 2025, with $1.1B in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 10.2%.

Is the U.S. a net importer of measuring and inspection instruments?

Yes — a net importer in 2025: $11.2B imported vs $5.2B exported (exports are 47% of imports).

Tariff monitor · Instruments & Inspection

Measuring and Inspection Instruments: Statutory & Effective Tariff Rates

USITC Column 1 General rates for 26 measuring and inspection instruments HTS lines (parseable range 0%–1.7%). Effective rate Jun 2026: 8.6%; monthly history since 20

The short answer

The observed effective calculated-duty rate on U.S. imports of measuring and inspection instruments was 8.6% in Jun 2026, down from 10.93% a year earlier — USITC Calculated Duties divided by covered customs value. The Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–1.7% across 26 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. Mexico is the largest source, holding 17.2% of 2025 imports.

Statutory rates from the schedule

Flow, level, and pressure instruments plus measuring and checking machines, including CMMs. This family covers HTS headings 9026, 9031: 26 eight-digit rate lines with a parseable Column 1 General range of 0%–1.7% 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): 8.6% effective on $1.1B of imports, versus 10.93% in the same month a year earlier. The monthly archive holds 78 observations from 2020-01 through 2026-06.
In 2025, U.S. imports for consumption in this family totaled $11.2B in customs value, with $1.1B in USITC reported calculated duty on $11.2B of covered customs value: an effective calculated-duty rate of 10.2%. 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 1.48%, so the observed rate rose 8.7 points.
Top source countries in 2025: Mexico ($1.9B at 3.04%), Germany ($1.7B at 9.28%), Japan ($1.1B at 8.32%), Canada ($815.6M at 5.4%), China ($760.1M at 44.02%).
Reported freight and insurance equaled 2.27% of covered customs value in 2025 ($189.9M total); charge coverage was 74.7% 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

9026.10.20: Electrical · MFN Free
9026.10.40.00: Flow meters · MFN Free
9026.10.60.00: Other · MFN Free
9026.20.40.00: Electrical · MFN Free
9026.20.80.00: Other · MFN Free
9026.80.20.00: Electrical · MFN Free
9026.80.40.00: Heat meters incorporating liquid supply meters, and anemometers · MFN Free
9026.80.60.00: Other · MFN Free

Frequently asked questions

What is the U.S. tariff rate on measuring and inspection instruments? USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 8.6% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–1.7%; 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 measuring and inspection instruments? The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–1.7% across the family's 26 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 9026, 9031). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.
Which countries supply the most measuring and inspection instruments to the U.S.? Top retained sources in 2025: Mexico ($1.9B at 3.04%), Germany ($1.7B at 9.28%), Japan ($1.1B at 8.32%). Mexico holds 17.2% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 74.7%; their HHI is 800, a lower bound whose floor falls in the diversified range without classifying the omitted tail.
How much measuring and inspection instruments does the U.S. import? $11.2B of customs value in 2025, with $1.1B in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 10.2%.
Is the U.S. a net importer of measuring and inspection instruments? Yes — a net importer in 2025: $11.2B imported vs $5.2B exported (exports are 47% 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.