What is the U.S. tariff rate on valves and fluid controls?

USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 12.55% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–5.6%; 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 valves and fluid controls?

The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–5.6% across the family's 14 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 8481). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.

Which countries supply the most valves and fluid controls to the U.S.?

Top retained sources in 2025: Mexico ($3.6B at 5.65%), China ($3.0B at 45.92%), Germany ($1.5B at 10.87%). Mexico holds 20.1% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 79.9%; their HHI is 940, a lower bound whose floor falls in the diversified range without classifying the omitted tail.

How much valves and fluid controls does the U.S. import?

$18.1B of customs value in 2025, with $2.9B in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 16.03%.

Is the U.S. a net importer of valves and fluid controls?

Yes — a net importer in 2025: $18.1B imported vs $11.5B exported (exports are 63% of imports).

Tariff monitor · Machinery & Equipment

Valves and Fluid Controls: Statutory & Effective Tariff Rates

USITC Column 1 General rates for 14 valves and fluid controls HTS lines (parseable range 0%–5.6%). Effective rate Jun 2026: 12.55%; monthly history since 2014.

The short answer

The observed effective calculated-duty rate on U.S. imports of valves and fluid controls was 12.55% in Jun 2026, down from 16.74% a year earlier — USITC Calculated Duties divided by covered customs value. The Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–5.6% across 14 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 20.1% of 2025 imports.

Statutory rates from the schedule

Taps, cocks, valves, and similar appliances for pipes, tanks, and process systems. This family covers HTS heading 8481: 14 eight-digit rate lines with a parseable Column 1 General range of 0%–5.6% 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): 12.55% effective on $1.7B of imports, versus 16.74% in the same month a year earlier. The monthly archive holds 150 observations from 2014-01 through 2026-06.
In 2025, U.S. imports for consumption in this family totaled $18.1B in customs value, with $2.9B in USITC reported calculated duty on $18.1B of covered customs value: an effective calculated-duty rate of 16.03%. 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 6.01%, so the observed rate rose 10.0 points.
Top source countries in 2025: Mexico ($3.6B at 5.65%), China ($3.0B at 45.92%), Germany ($1.5B at 10.87%), Japan ($1.3B at 10.79%), Italy ($1.2B at 10.42%).
Reported freight and insurance equaled 3.1% of covered customs value in 2025 ($446.9M total); charge coverage was 79.9% 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

8481.10.00: Pressure-reducing valves · MFN 2%
8481.20.00: Valves for oleohydraulic or pneumatic transmissions · MFN 2%
8481.30.10: Of copper · MFN 3%
8481.30.20: Of iron or steel · MFN 5%
8481.30.90.00: Other · MFN 3%
8481.40.00.00: Safety or relief valves · MFN 2%
8481.80.10: Of copper · MFN 4%
8481.80.30: Of iron or steel · MFN 5.6%

Frequently asked questions

What is the U.S. tariff rate on valves and fluid controls? USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 12.55% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–5.6%; 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 valves and fluid controls? The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–5.6% across the family's 14 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 8481). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.
Which countries supply the most valves and fluid controls to the U.S.? Top retained sources in 2025: Mexico ($3.6B at 5.65%), China ($3.0B at 45.92%), Germany ($1.5B at 10.87%). Mexico holds 20.1% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 79.9%; their HHI is 940, a lower bound whose floor falls in the diversified range without classifying the omitted tail.
How much valves and fluid controls does the U.S. import? $18.1B of customs value in 2025, with $2.9B in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 16.03%.
Is the U.S. a net importer of valves and fluid controls? Yes — a net importer in 2025: $18.1B imported vs $11.5B exported (exports are 63% 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.