Chapter 85 — Electrical machinery
HS 8517 — Telephone sets and communication apparatus
Telephone sets, including smartphones, and other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or data — including many networking devices.
What falls under HS 8517?
Products commonly classified under this heading include:
- smartphones
- routers and modems
- network switches
- intercoms
These are examples, not a classification ruling. The exact code — and your duty rate — depend on the finished product and your destination country.
What moves your duty rate?
For goods under HS 8517, the rate you pay usually turns on:
- device function (phone vs networking)
- whether it integrates other functions
- destination country and wireless certification
Duties vary widely by the full commodity code and destination. This page is a starting point — verify the rate with your customs broker before you commit.
Estimate your landed cost
Once you have a duty rate from your broker or the tariff schedule, put it into the landed-cost calculator with your product cost and freight to see the all-in number per unit. For the category-specific questions — supplier checks, compliance, freight — see the buyer's guide: Importing computer and phone accessories from China.
Not sure this is your code? Get a sourcing briefQuestions about HS 8517
Where do smartphones sit in the HS?
Smartphones are named in heading 8517. Many buyers still confirm the exact statistical suffix, since it can affect both duty and import documentation.