U.S. imports of Medical, Surgical, Dental & Veterinary Instruments & Appliances (NESOI) (HS 901890) totaled $1.7B in August 2026, imported from 95 countries.
Importers of Medical, Surgical, Dental & Veterinary Instruments & Appliances (NESOI) paid $100.5M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 5.77% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataAs a broad residual heading, 901890 captures a wide spectrum of medical and veterinary instruments — from anesthetic apparatus and electro-surgical devices to defibrillators, dialysis equipment, and sphygmomanometers — that are not classified under more specific Chapter 90 headings. Mexico and Costa Rica are the leading US supply sources, reflecting substantial nearshore medical-device manufacturing, while Germany and Ireland contribute high-value electro-medical and therapeutic equipment. All articles entering as medical devices are subject to FDA admissibility review, and electro-surgical or life-sustaining equipment may require premarket approval or 510(k) clearance. The heading's 22 active 10-digit tariff lines — spanning optical instruments, dialysis apparatus, defibrillators, and NESOI electro-medical appliances — make precise classification critical to correct duty treatment.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
55.8K import shipments a month
Yes — defibrillators have their own dedicated 10-digit line (9018906400), separate from the broader electro-surgical instruments line (9018906000). Printed circuit assemblies specifically for those defibrillators are further broken out under 9018906800. Importers should verify that the device meets the technical description for the specific line rather than defaulting to the NESOI electro-medical line.
FDA requires that the foreign manufacturer be registered and the device listed in FDA's device database. Depending on device class, a 510(k) clearance number or PMA approval must be on file. At entry, CBP may request an FDA release, and shipments may be detained for FDA examination if the device lacks proper registration or labeling. Consulting a licensed customs broker or regulatory affairs specialist before importation is strongly recommended.
ImportsExports
Imports
$1.7BYoY · free account
Exports
$1.7BYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $20.8B of Medical, Surgical, Dental & Veterinary Instruments & Appliances (NESOI) and exported $19.4B.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Mexico and Costa Rica together supply 48% of it. China pays 13.2% duty; Mexico 2.1%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
49.6% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 5.77% of imports for consumption.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
Inst & Appliances for Medical, Surgical, Etc, NESOI
Optical Instruments and Appliances and Parts, NESOI
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
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.
Subheading 1 of 13 in heading 9018
Subheading 901890 · $1.7B of $3.6B
Trade Directory
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