Robotic & Stick Vacuums Import Duty Rate — HTS 8508.11.0000
Vacuum cleaners with self-contained electric motor of power not exceeding 1,500 W
Customs Duty Summary
Chapter 85 covers robotic & stick vacuums (HTS 8508.11.0000) at a 0% Column 1 rate. When sourced from China, USTR Section 301 tariffs apply (Subject to Section 301 (25% if China origin)), bringing combined tariff liability to approximately 25.0%.
Tariff & Duty Rate Breakdown
Official USITC duty components applicable to HTS 8508.11.0000
No.
Free under MFN Column 1
Chapter 85
⚠️ Customs Notice: Illustrative reference — verify exact classification against USITC.gov before filing. Always verify binding rulings and final classification codes with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or a licensed customs broker prior to commercial entry filing.
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Home & Appliances
Air conditioners, refrigerators, electric coffee makers, and smart home vacuum appliances.
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Frequently Asked Questions for HTS 8508.11.0000
Official tariff rules, origin differences, and regulatory compliance for importing robotic & stick vacuums
What is the total import duty rate on appliances under HTS 8508.11.0000?
Under US Harmonized Tariff Schedule Chapter 85, vacuum cleaners with self-contained electric motor of power not exceeding 1,500 w (HTS 8508.11.0000) carries a base Column 1 MFN rate of 0.0%. While non-China shipments enter at this base rate, goods originating in China face a punitive 25% Section 301 surcharge (List 3), bringing total tariff exposure to approximately 25.0%. Importers must also factor in CBP's 0.3464% Merchandise Processing Fee on formal entries (min $33.58, max $651.50).
What tariff advantages exist when nearshoring HTS 8508.11.0000 appliances to Mexico or Southeast Asia?
Nearshoring appliance manufacturing to Mexico provides a major tariff advantage: under USMCA, qualifying appliances enter the US at 0% duty (eliminating both the 0.0% MFN rate and China's 25% Section 301 tariff), provided motors, compressors, and electrical assemblies meet USMCA regional value content and tariff-shift rules. Alternatively, sourcing from manufacturing hubs in Vietnam, Thailand, or Malaysia avoids the 25% Section 301 penalty, paying only the standard 0.0% base duty.
What electrical safety and energy efficiency rules apply to appliances under HTS 8508.11.0000?
Commercial shipments of vacuum cleaners with self-contained electric motor of power not exceeding 1,500 w under Chapter 85 must demonstrate compliance with US electrical safety standards, typically verified via OSHA-recognized Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) certifications (such as UL or ETL standards). Refrigeration and air-conditioning units must comply with Department of Energy (DOE) energy conservation standards and EPA Title VI Clean Air Act regulations governing refrigerant recovery and leak containment.
How does the suspension of Section 321 de minimis affect imports of vacuum cleaners with self-contained electric motor of power not exceeding 1,500 w under HTS 8508.11.0000?
With the Section 321 $800 de minimis exemption suspended across all origins under 19 CFR 10.151 and 19 CFR 145.31, small appliances and component shipments are dutiable from the first dollar. Shipments under HTS 8508.11.0000 require customs entry (informal Entry Type 11 for values under $2,500) and must pay applicable MFN duties (0.0%), China Section 301 tariffs (25%), and entry fees. Shipments must also substantiate compliance with UL/ETL electrical safety and Department of Energy (DOE) conservation standards regardless of parcel value. (Regulatory status verified as of Q3 2026; subject to active administrative rulemaking).