U.S. imports of Electrical Signaling, Safety, and Traffic Control Equipment for Railways and Subways (HS 853010) totaled $4.1M in August 2026, imported from 19 countries.
Importers of Electrical Signaling, Safety, and Traffic Control Equipment for Railways and Subways paid $120K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 2.93% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Electrical Signaling, Safety, and Traffic Control Equipment for Railways and Subways imports of $4.1M in August 2026 ran 59% above the year-to-date monthly average of $2.6M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataRailway and subway electrical signaling and traffic control systems — covering interlocking equipment, train detection circuits, platform safety controls, and related apparatus — are consolidated into a single 10-digit line (8530100000) in the US tariff schedule. These systems are critical infrastructure inputs for transit authorities and freight rail operators, and procurement is often governed by Buy America requirements under federal transit funding programs. Canada leads US imports under this heading, with Poland and Japan also among notable suppliers.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
87 import shipments a month
Yes. Equipment procured by transit agencies using Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds is subject to Buy America requirements, which mandate that manufactured products be produced in the United States with a specified domestic content threshold. Imported signaling equipment classified under 8530100000 would generally not satisfy Buy America unless a waiver is granted. Importers and transit contractors should confirm waiver status and FTA guidance before sourcing internationally.
Heading 8530 is specific to signaling, safety, and traffic control apparatus designed for railways, streetcar lines, and subways — including track circuit equipment, axle counters, and interlocking systems. General-purpose switchboards, control panels, and programmable logic controllers used in industrial settings fall under heading 8537 even if they could theoretically be adapted for rail use. The principal design and intended application for railway traffic management is the key classification criterion.
Subheading 3 of 3 in heading 8530
Subheading 853010 · $4.1M of $37.7M
ImportsExports
Imports
$4.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$2.3MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $25.8M of Electrical Signaling, Safety, and Traffic Control Equipment for Railways and Subways and exported $36.3M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8530100000 | Electric Signal/Traffic Control Eqpt Fr Rail/Subwy | $4.1M | 2.93% | 24.26% | $120K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8530100000 | Electric Signal/Traffic Control Eqpt Fr Rail/Subwy | $2.3M |
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.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Canada and Poland together supply 89% of it. China pays 37.5% duty; Mexico 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
75.7% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 2.93% of imports for consumption.