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HSChapter 90
U.S. exports of instruments and apparatus specially designed for telecommunications (HS 903040) totaled $69.6M in July 2026.
Importers of Instruments and Apparatus Specially Designed for Telecommunications paid $5.5M in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 11% on $51.1M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: July 2026 dataTelecommunications-specific test and measurement equipment — including cross-talk meters, gain-measuring instruments, distortion analyzers, and signal-level meters purpose-built for telecom network testing — enters under a single US tariff line (9030400000). The 'specially designed' criterion is the critical classification threshold: general-purpose oscilloscopes or spectrum analyzers used incidentally in telecom work do not qualify here. Malaysia and Germany are the top suppliers, with Canada also a notable source. Importers should document the instrument's design intent and primary application to support the 'specially designed' claim during CBP review.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
1.5K shipments/mo
CBP looks at the instrument's design specifications, marketing materials, and technical documentation to determine whether telecom network testing is the primary intended use. Features such as frequency ranges matched to telecom bands, built-in telecom protocol analysis, or connectors specific to telecom infrastructure support the 'specially designed' claim. A general-purpose instrument that happens to be used in a telecom environment typically does not qualify.
Instruments that emit radio frequency energy or are marketed as intentional radiators may require FCC equipment authorization before importation. Test and measurement equipment used exclusively in controlled laboratory or professional settings may qualify for an exemption, but importers should confirm FCC applicability with their compliance counsel before the first shipment.
Subheading 3 of 11 in heading 9030
Subheading 903040 · $57.8M of $416.1M
ImportsExports
Imports
$57.8MYoY · Pro
Exports
$69.6MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · July 2026
destination
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
10.3% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 9.57%.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9030400000 | Oth Inst, Specially Designed for Telecommunication | $57.8M | 9.57% | 88.38% | $5.5M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9030400000 | Inst Specially Designed for Telecommunication Nes | $69.6M |
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.
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