U.S. imports of Mounted Prisms, Mirrors & Other Optical Elements, NESOI (HS 900290) totaled $25.1M in August 2026, imported from 50 countries.
Importers of Mounted Prisms, Mirrors & Other Optical Elements, NESOI paid $2.9M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.76% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataMounted prisms, mirrors, and other optical elements not elsewhere specified serve critical roles in laser systems, defense optics, semiconductor lithography, and precision measurement instruments. Germany, Japan, and Switzerland — three countries with deep traditions in precision optics manufacturing — collectively dominate US imports under this heading. The US schedule subdivides the heading into mounted prisms (9002902000), mounted mirrors (9002904000), mounted lenses for closed-circuit TV cameras without motors (9002908500), and other optical elements (9002909500), among others, making correct sub-classification essential for mixed shipments. Goods of Chinese origin may be subject to Section 301 tariffs.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
1.2K import shipments a month
Unmounted optical elements — those not set in a frame, housing, or mechanical assembly — are classified under heading 900190, while elements that have been mounted in a frame or mechanical support are classified under 900290. The mounting status at the time of importation is determinative; an element shipped loose in packaging without a mechanical mount is unmounted even if it will later be assembled into an instrument.
These three countries host the world's leading manufacturers of high-precision optical systems — including companies specializing in laser optics, metrology, and defense applications — where mounted optical assemblies require tight tolerances and proprietary coating technologies. The concentration reflects decades of investment in optical engineering infrastructure and skilled labor that is difficult to replicate quickly elsewhere, creating supply-chain concentration risk for US importers dependent on single-source precision components.
Subheading 2 of 4 in heading 9002
Subheading 900290 · $25.1M of $119.4M
ImportsExports
Imports
$25.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$22.9MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $273.3M of Mounted Prisms, Mirrors & Other Optical Elements, NESOI and exported $312.3M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9002909500 | Optical Elements, NESOI | $18.6M | 11.05% | 79.90% | $2.1M |
| 9002904000 | Mirrors Mounted, NESOI | $4.7M | 14.09% | 94.89% | $667K |
| 9002902000 | Prisms Mounted, NESOI | $1.4M | 12.31% | 95.77% | $167K |
| 9002908500 | Mnt Lens, Closed-Cir Tv Cameras W/O Motors, NESOI | $252K | 16.32% | 100.00% | $41K |
| 9002907000 | Halfton Screen for Engraving/Photographic Process | $7K | 37.49% | 100.00% | $3K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9002900000 | Prism, Mirrors, Mounted & Parts & Accessorie, Neso | $22.9M |
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
Germany and Japan together supply 42% of it. China pays 37.4% duty; Taiwan 5.4%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
15.9% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 11.76% of imports for consumption.
Trade Directory
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