HS code for USB cables in the European Union

Last updated 11 October 2026

Check your exact product Landed cost with 8544.42

Key facts

Most likely code: 8544.42
Chapter: 85: Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
Candidate codes: 2
HS edition: HS2022
National lines: 18
General duty (MFN): 0%, 3.3%

Summary

USB cables imported into the European Union are usually classified under HS code 8544.42 when it is an insulated electric conductor for no more than 1,000 volts, fitted with connectors. It sits in heading 85.44, “Insulated (including enamelled or anodised) wire, cable (including co-axial cable) and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors”. USB cables can also fall under 8544.49, depending on the connector fitting. The tariff of the European Union has 18 national lines under these codes. The general (MFN) duty in the European Union on the national lines under 8544.42 is 0% or 3.3%, depending on the line.

How to choose the right code

Is the cable fitted with connectors at its ends? Use 8544.42 when it is an insulated electric conductor for no more than 1,000 volts, fitted with connectors. Use 8544.49 when it is an insulated electric conductor for no more than 1,000 volts without connectors.

Some similar goods are classified elsewhere: 8544.70 applies when it is an optical fibre cable made up of individually sheathed fibres.

Codes for USB cables

Each code is listed with its legal text from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, quoted as published, and the condition under which it applies to USB cables.

8544.42
Most likely
Legal text: “Other electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1 000 V: Fitted with connectors”
Heading 85.44: “Insulated (including enamelled or anodised) wire, cable (including co-axial cable) and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors”
Applies when it is an insulated electric conductor for no more than 1,000 volts, fitted with connectors.
8544.49
Possible
Legal text: “Other electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1 000 V: Other”
Heading 85.44: “Insulated (including enamelled or anodised) wire, cable (including co-axial cable) and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors”
Applies when it is an insulated electric conductor for no more than 1,000 volts without connectors.
8544.70
Classified elsewhere
Legal text: “Optical fibre cables”
Heading 85.44: “Insulated (including enamelled or anodised) wire, cable (including co-axial cable) and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors”
Applies when it is an optical fibre cable made up of individually sheathed fibres.

National lines in the European Union

The tariff of the European Union splits these codes into 18 national lines, listed with their published text and general duty.

The general (MFN) duty in the European Union on the national lines under 8544.42 is 0% or 3.3%, depending on the line. Import VAT or sales tax is charged on top, and de minimis rules can change what is due; the landed cost calculator works it out for a shipment.

Under 8544.42

8544 42 10 00“Fitted with connectors › Of a kind used for telecommunications”0%
8544 42 90 10“Fitted with connectors › Other › Data transmission cable capable of a bit rate transmission of 600 Mbit/s or more, with: - a voltage of 1,25 V (± 0,25 V) - connectors fitted at one or both ends, at least one of which contains pins with a pitch of 1 mm, - outer screening shielding, used solely for communication between LCD, PDP or OLED panel and video processing electronic circuits”3.3%
8544 42 90 20“Fitted with connectors › Other › PET or PVC insulated flexible cable with or without connector with: -voltage of not more than 250 V, -a current of not more than 1 A, -a heat resistance of not more than 105 °C, -individual wires of a thickness of not more than 0,1 mm (± 0,01 mm) and a width of not more than 0,8 mm (± 0,03 mm), -a distance between conductors of not more than 0,5 mm and -a pitch (distance from centreline to centreline of condu…”3.3%
8544 42 90 45“Fitted with connectors › Other › Specially designed connector for solar power system: -as 1-part system with 1 plastic housing with 1 or more but not more than 4 diodes and 2 insulated copper cables with connectors or -as 3-part system with one plastic housing with 1 or more but not more than 4 diodes and 2 plastic housings with insulated copper cables with connectors, -with a current for the diodes of 3 A or more but not more of 50 A, -with…”3.3%
8544 42 90 50“Fitted with connectors › Other › Four-core connecting cable containing two female connectors for the transmission of digital signals from navigation and/or audio systems to a USB connector and/or LCD monitor, for use in the manufacture of goods of Chapter 87”3.3%
8544 42 90 55“Fitted with connectors › Other › Wire harness for the transmission of signals and/or electrical power, -with a 26-PIN or 28-PIN wire to board connectors in crimping technology, -bound by rubber or vinyl or electrical tape or conduit or a weave of extruded string or a combination thereof, for connection of power supply with main printed (circuit) board assembly (PBA) and electrical components of refrigerator or washing machine”3.3%
8544 42 90 70“Fitted with connectors › Other › Electric conductors: - of a voltage of not more than 80 V, - with a length of not more than 120 cm, - fitted with connectors, for use in the manufacture of hearing aids, accessory kits and speech processors”3.3%
8544 42 90 75“Fitted with connectors › Other › Electrical wiring harness or cable for the steering system: -with a rated voltage of 12 V, -fitted with connectors on both ends or/and with special adapter providing sealing and anti-rotation feature, -with or without plastic anchoring jaws for mounting the steering gear housing of motor vehicles, for use in the manufacture of power steering systems for motor vehicles”3.3%
8544 42 90 90“Fitted with connectors › Other”3.3%

Under 8544.49

8544 49 20 00“Other › Of a kind used for telecommunications, for a voltage not exceeding 80 V”0%
8544 49 91 00“Other › Other › Wire and cables, with individual conductor wires of a diameter exceeding 0,51 mm”3.7%
8544 49 93 10“Other › Other › Other › For a voltage not exceeding 80 V › Elastomeric connector, of rubber or silicone, consisting of one or more conductor elements”3.7%
8544 49 93 20“Other › Other › Other › For a voltage not exceeding 80 V › PET or PVC insulated flexible cable with or without connector with: -voltage of not more than 250 V, -a current of not more than 1 A, -a heat resistance of not more than 105 °C, -individual wires of a thickness of not more than 0,1 mm (± 0,01 mm) and a width of not more than 0,8 mm (± 0,03 mm), -a distance between conductors of not more than 0,5 mm and -a pitch (distance from centrel…”3.7%
8544 49 93 30“Other › Other › Other › For a voltage not exceeding 80 V › Electric conductors: - of a voltage of not more than 80 V, - of a platinum-iridium-alloy, - coated with poly(tetrafluoroethylene), - without connectors, for use in the manufacture of hearing aids, implants and speech processors”3.7%
8544 49 93 90“For a voltage not exceeding 80 V › Other”3.7%
8544 49 95 10“Other › Other › Other › For a voltage exceeding 80 V but less than 1 000 V › PET or PVC insulated flexible cable with or without connector with: -voltage of not more than 250 V, -a current of not more than 1 A, -a heat resistance of not more than 105 °C, -individual wires of a thickness of not more than 0,1 mm (± 0,01 mm) and a width of not more than 0,8 mm (± 0,03 mm), -a distance between conductors of not more than 0,5 mm and -a pitch (dis…”3.7%
8544 49 95 90“For a voltage exceeding 80 V but less than 1 000 V › Other”3.7%
8544 49 99 00“Other › Other › Other › For a voltage of 1 000 V”3.7%

Other countries

National tariff lines for USB cables are live for the United States. Each page lists the lines under the codes above, with their duty rates where they are live.

USB cables in United States4 national lines, duty rates live

Check your exact product

Describe your product, or paste its page, and the classifier suggests the code in the tariff of the European Union with its reasons.

Classify your product

Classification depends on the exact product

The right code depends on what the product is made of, how it is made and what it is for, so two products sold as USB cables can fall under different codes.

Guidance from published tariff data, not a binding ruling. For a decision customs must follow, apply to the destination’s customs authority for a binding tariff ruling.

Frequently asked questions

What is the HS code for USB cables?

Does the connector fitting change the HS code for USB cables?

Yes. Use 8544.42 when it is an insulated electric conductor for no more than 1,000 volts, fitted with connectors. Use 8544.49 when it is an insulated electric conductor for no more than 1,000 volts without connectors.

What is the duty on USB cables imported into the European Union?

Sources and updates

The legal texts are from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.

The national lines are from the tariff release of EU (areas=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/9e277705-ac42-441d-8580-90cd730d9bc6/Geographical%20areas%20composition.xlsx#?; duties=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/bfb94607-8b4c-40c3-ad33-1efef11bb80a/Duties%20Import%2001-99.xlsx#?; exclusions=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/4b3c682c-947c-4f34-932d-0b8d192537bd/Measure%20exclusions.xlsx#?; nomenclature=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/13694f84-6980-4966-8c91-22459447b52b/Nomenclature%20EN.xlsx#?), live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.

The duty rates are from the live rates release, live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.

The conditions and questions on this page were written for USB cables by border.bot and checked against those legal texts; the page changes when a new release goes live or the topic is reviewed again.

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