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HSChapter 85
U.S. imports of fully or partly automatic electric resistance welding machines (HS 851521) totaled $29.9M in July 2026, traded with 29 countries.
Importers of Fully or Partly Automatic Electric Resistance Welding Machines paid $2.0M in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 12% on $17.2M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Fully or Partly Automatic Electric Resistance Welding Machines imports of $29.9M in July 2026 ran 40% above the year-to-date monthly average of $21.4M.
Last updated: July 2026 dataResistance welding machines that are fully or partly automatic — including spot welders, seam welders, and projection welders integrated into robotic or mechanized production lines — serve as backbone equipment in automotive body assembly, appliance manufacturing, and metal fabrication. Japan leads US imports under this heading, consistent with its dominance in automotive robotics and welding automation, with Germany and Canada also among the top suppliers. All imports under this heading fall under a single 10-digit line (8515210000). The automation criterion is the critical classification boundary: machines requiring manual repositioning of the workpiece for each weld cycle are classified separately under 851529.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
132 shipments/mo
A machine is considered at least partly automatic if it incorporates mechanical or electronic controls that automatically sequence, position, or advance the workpiece or electrodes without manual intervention for each weld cycle. A basic bench-top spot welder where the operator manually positions each part and actuates the weld is generally non-automatic and falls under 851529. Integrated robotic welding cells, automatic seam welders with motorized feed, and programmable multi-spot welding guns are typical 851521 candidates.
When a resistance welding machine and a robotic manipulator are imported together as a functional welding cell, classification depends on which component imparts the essential character to the system. If the welding function is primary and the robot is ancillary, the system may be classified under 851521. If the robot is a general-purpose industrial robot that happens to carry a welding gun, the robot heading may govern. GRI 3(b) essential-character analysis and consultation with a licensed customs broker are recommended for integrated robotic welding systems.
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Subheading 3 of 8 in heading 8515
Subheading 851521 · $29.9M of $176.1M
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8515210000 | Electric Welders, Resistance, Full or Part Automat | $29.9M | 6.69% | 57.68% | $2.0M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8515210000 | Electric Welders, Resistance, Full or Part Automat | $4.2M |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
ImportsExports
Imports
$29.9MYoY · Pro
Exports
$4.2MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · July 2026
origin
Canada and Japan together supply 61% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
42.4% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 6.69%.