HTS heading 8536 · Chapter 85
HTS 8536: Electrical apparatus for switching or protecting…
HTS heading 8536 covers electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, or for making connections to or in electrical circuits (for example, switches, relays, fuses, surge suppressors, plugs, sockets, lamp-holders and other connectors, junction boxes), for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 V; connectors for optical fibers, optical fiber bundles or cables. It has 16 tariff lines with a duty rate; the general (MFN) rates are Free (9 lines), 2.7% (7 lines).
Imports may also owe Chapter 99 tariffs (Section 232, 301 or 201) depending on origin and date, plus the Merchandise Processing Fee and, by sea, the Harbor Maintenance Fee.
Rates from the 2026 HTS Revision 22, effective October 30, 2026. Source: U.S. International Trade Commission.
Tariff lines and duty rates
| HTS code | Description | General | Special | Column 2 | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8536.10.00 | Fuses | 2.7% | Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | |
| 8536.10.00.20 | Glass cartridge[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.10.00.40 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.20.00 | Automatic circuit breakers | 2.7% | Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | |
| 8536.20.00.20 | Molded case[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.20.00.40 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.30 | Other apparatus for protecting electrical circuits: | ||||
| 8536.30.40.00 | Motor overload protectors[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → | |
| 8536.30.80.00 | Other[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → | |
| Relays: | |||||
| 8536.41.00 | For a voltage not exceeding 60 V | 2.7% | Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | |
| 8536.41.00.05 | Automotive signaling flashers[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| Other: | |||||
| With contacts rated at less than 10 A: | |||||
| 8536.41.00.20 | Electromechanical[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.41.00.30 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| Other: | |||||
| 8536.41.00.45 | Contactors[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| Other: | |||||
| 8536.41.00.50 | Electromechanical[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.41.00.60 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.49.00 | Other | 2.7% | Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | |
| With contacts rated at less than 10 A: | |||||
| 8536.49.00.50 | Electromechanical[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.49.00.55 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| Other: | |||||
| 8536.49.00.65 | Contactors[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| Other: | |||||
| 8536.49.00.75 | Electromechanical[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.49.00.80 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.50 | Other switches: | ||||
| 8536.50.40.00 | Motor starters[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → | |
| Other: | |||||
| 8536.50.70.00 | Electronic AC switches consisting of optically coupled input and output circuits (insulated thyristor AC switches); electronic switches, including temperature protected switches, consisting of a transistor and a logic chip (chip-on-chip technology); electromechanical snap-action switches for a current not exceeding 11 amps[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → | |
| 8536.50.90 | Other | Free | 35% | ||
| Rotary: | |||||
| 8536.50.90.20 | Rated at not over 5 A[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.50.90.25 | Rated at over 5 A[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| Push-button: | |||||
| Rated at not over 5 A | |||||
| 8536.50.90.31 | Momentary contact[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.50.90.32 | Other, gang switches[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.50.90.33 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.50.90.35 | Rated at over 5 A[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.50.90.40 | Snap-action, other than limit[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.50.90.45 | Knife[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.50.90.50 | Slide[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.50.90.55 | Limit[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.50.90.65 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| Lamp-holders, plugs and sockets: | |||||
| 8536.61.00.00 | Lamp-holders[No.] | 2.7% | Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | Estimate → |
| 8536.69 | Other: | ||||
| 8536.69.40 | Coaxial connectors; cylindrical multicontact connectors; rack and panel connectors; printed circuit connectors; ribbon or flat cable connectors | Free | 35% | ||
| 8536.69.40.10 | Coaxial connectors[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.69.40.20 | Cylindrical multicontact connectors[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.69.40.30 | Rack and panel connectors[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.69.40.40 | Printed circuit connectors[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.69.40.51 | Ribbon or flat cable connectors[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.69.80.00 | Other[No.] | 2.7% | Free (A*,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | Estimate → |
| 8536.70.00.00 | Connectors for optical fibers, optical fiber bundles or cables[No.] | Free | 45% | Estimate → | |
| 8536.90 | Other apparatus: | ||||
| 8536.90.40.00 | Terminals, electrical splices and electrical couplings; wafer probers[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → | |
| 8536.90.60.00 | Battery clamps of a kind used in motor vehicles of heading 8702, 8703, 8704 or 8711[No.] | 2.7% | Free (A*,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | Estimate → |
| 8536.90.85 | Other | Free | 35% | ||
| 8536.90.85.10 | Electrical distribution ducts[kg] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.90.85.30 | Junction boxes[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8536.90.85.85 | Other[No.] | Estimate → |
50 lines shown. Statistical suffixes (the last two digits) inherit the rate of the 8-digit subheading above them.
Example: base duty and fees on $10000
For HTS 8536.10.00 at the general rate of 2.7%, shipped by ocean, before any Chapter 99 tariffs:
| Base duty (2.7%) | $270.00 |
| Merchandise Processing Fee (0.3464%, min $34.58) | $34.64 |
| Harbor Maintenance Fee (0.125%) | $12.50 |
| Duty and fees | $317.14 |
Origin-specific tariffs can multiply this. Run this example from China or from Mexico to see every line.
Special program codes in this heading
- A, A*, A+
- Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
- AU
- U.S.–Australia FTA
- B
- Automotive Products Trade Act
- BH
- U.S.–Bahrain FTA
- CL
- U.S.–Chile FTA
- CO
- U.S.–Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement
- D
- African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
- E, E*
- Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
- IL
- U.S.–Israel FTA
- JO
- U.S.–Jordan FTA
- KR
- U.S.–Korea FTA (KORUS)
- MA
- U.S.–Morocco FTA
- OM
- U.S.–Oman FTA
- P, P+
- CAFTA-DR
- PA
- U.S.–Panama Trade Promotion Agreement
- PE
- U.S.–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement
- S, S+
- USMCA (United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement)
- SG
- U.S.–Singapore FTA
A special rate applies only when the goods qualify under that program's rules of origin and the claim is made at entry.
Duty by country of origin
Frequently asked questions
What is the duty rate for HTS 8536?
Heading 8536 has 16 rate lines. The general (MFN) duty rates are Free (9 lines), 2.7% (7 lines). Products of free trade agreement partners may enter at the special rate, and Column 2 rates apply to countries without normal trade relations. Chapter 99 tariffs can be added on top: calculate the full amount.
Do Section 301, 232 or 201 tariffs apply to HTS 8536?
It depends on the 8- or 10-digit subheading, the country of origin, the entry date and, for Section 232, the metal content. These additional duties are listed in Chapter 99 of the HTS. The free duty calculator checks each program for a given code, origin and date and shows which apply and why.
What fees are added to an import under HTS 8536?
Formal entries pay the Merchandise Processing Fee of 0.3464% of value (minimum $34.58, maximum $670.86 in FY2027). Ocean shipments also pay the Harbor Maintenance Fee of 0.125% of value. See the import duty calculator for how they combine.