Tariff monitor · Electrical & Wiring

Insulated wire and cable: statutory & effective tariff rates

Statutory HTS duty rates for 15 insulated wire and cable tariff lines (MFN Free–5.3%), from USITC. Effective rate May 2026: 10.79%; monthly history since 2014.

Statutory rates from the schedule

  • Insulated wire, cable, and other conductors, with or without connectors — panel and harness stock. This family covers HTS heading 8544: 15 eight-digit rate lines with MFN (column 1, general) rates of Free–5.3% in the 2026 schedule.
  • Chapter 99 flags on individual lines mark Section 301/232 overlay provisions (e.g. 9903.88.01) that apply on top of the MFN column.

What importers actually paid

  • Latest month on record (2026-05): 10.79% effective on $3.4B of imports, versus 12.86% in the same month a year earlier. The monthly archive holds 149 observations from 2014-01 through 2026-05.
  • In 2025, U.S. imports for consumption in this family totaled $35.7B in customs value and paid $4.4B in calculated duties: an effective tariff rate of 12.27%. The effective rate captures Section 301/232 overlays, exclusions, and special-program use that the statutory column cannot.
  • A year earlier the effective rate was 3.42%, so the duty burden rose 8.8 points.
  • Top source countries in 2025: Mexico ($17.7B at 2.6%), China ($3.6B at 53.21%), Vietnam ($2.6B at 17.08%), Philippines ($1.2B at 18.81%), South Korea ($1.0B at 10.79%).

Representative rate lines

  • 8544.11.00: Of copper — MFN 3.5%
  • 8544.19.00.00: Other — MFN 3.9%
  • 8544.20.00.00: Coaxial cable and other coaxial electric conductors — MFN 5.3%
  • 8544.30.00.00: Ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles, aircraft or ships — MFN 5%
  • 8544.42.10.00: Fitted with modular telephone connectors — MFN Free
  • 8544.42.20.00: Of a kind used for telecommunications — MFN Free
  • 8544.42.90: Other — MFN 2.6%
  • 8544.49.10.00: Of a kind used for telecommunications — MFN Free

About this data

  • Reference statistics derived from USITC published data. Not a customs ruling; verify rates with a licensed customs broker before relying on them.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.