Chapter 85 — Electrical machinery
HS 8544 — Insulated wire, cable and other conductors
Insulated wire, cable and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors — including many finished cables.
What falls under HS 8544?
Products commonly classified under this heading include:
- USB and charging cables
- power cords
- data cables
- wiring harnesses
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 8544, the rate you pay usually turns on:
- whether the cable is fitted with connectors
- conductor material (copper vs other)
- voltage rating
- destination country
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 electronics accessories from China.
Not sure this is your code? Get a sourcing briefQuestions about HS 8544
Are USB cables classified as cable or as electronics?
A finished USB cable is usually an insulated conductor under heading 8544, even with connectors fitted. The connector alone can differ — describe the finished product.