Carbon electrodes — HTS 8545
Carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery carbons and other articles of graphite or other carbon, with or without metal, of a kind used for electrical purposes
Chapter 85 › Heading 8545
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 8545 is a broad product category for articles made of graphite or other carbon that are designed for electrical use. It groups carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery carbons, and other similar carbon articles, including products that contain or are combined with metal.
The 4-digit heading is only the starting point. To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, identify the article’s specific function and type, such as an electrode, brush, lamp carbon, battery carbon, or another electrical carbon article. The tariff schedule may then distinguish products by their material, construction, use, or other stated characteristics. Confirm that the item belongs in heading 8545 rather than another heading covering a more specifically described electrical component.
What to check
- Describe the item’s exact electrical function and how it operates in the finished equipment.
- Confirm whether it is graphite, another form of carbon, or a combination with metal, and document its composition.
- Check whether the product is specifically a carbon electrode, brush, lamp carbon, battery carbon, or another article listed in the heading.
- Read every 8-digit subheading description and its related notes; do not stop at the 4-digit heading.
- Compare the product’s specifications, drawings, and intended use with the HTSUS wording, and obtain customs-broker advice when the classification is uncertain.
HTS heading 8545 summary
Carbon electrodes is a 4-digit product category containing 2 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 8545.19 | Other |
| 8545.90 | Other |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8545.11.00 👉 | Of a kind used for furnaces | Free | — | 45% |
| 8545.20.00.00 👉 | Brushes | Free | — | 45% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8545?
Carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery carbons and other articles of graphite or other carbon, with or without metal, of a kind used for electrical purposes. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.