Optical fibers and optical fiber bundles — HTS 9001
Optical fibers and optical fiber bundles; optical fiber cables other than those of heading 8544; sheets and plates of polarizing material; lenses (including contact lenses), prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, of any material, unmounted, other than such elements of glass not optically worked
Chapter 90 › Heading 9001
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 9001 is a broad product category for certain optical goods. It includes optical fibers and fiber bundles; optical fiber cables that are not classified in heading 8544; sheets and plates made of polarizing material; and unmounted optical elements such as lenses, contact lenses, prisms, and mirrors. These items may be made from various materials, but ordinary glass that has not been optically worked is excluded from this heading.
To narrow a product from heading 9001 to a specific 8-digit code, first identify the product’s basic type and function, such as a fiber, cable, polarizing sheet, lens, prism, or mirror. Then review the relevant subheadings and product descriptions, which may distinguish goods by material, optical characteristics, intended use, or other physical features. Confirm whether the item is mounted or unmounted and whether a specific exclusion, such as heading 8544 for certain cables, applies.
What to check
- Describe the item precisely, including its optical function, material, dimensions, and whether it is mounted or unmounted.
- Check whether a cable belongs in heading 8544 before classifying it as an optical fiber cable under heading 9001.
- Determine whether glass has been optically worked; ordinary unworked glass may fall outside this heading.
- Compare the product with every applicable 8-digit description rather than relying only on a commercial name such as “lens” or “fiber.”
- Keep product specifications, drawings, photographs, and supplier information to support the classification; seek a customs broker or binding ruling when the distinctions are unclear.
HTS heading 9001 summary
Optical fibers and optical fiber bundles is a 4-digit product category containing 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 9001.90 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9001.10.00 👉 | Optical fibers, optical fiber bundles and cables | 6.7% | Free | 65% |
| 9001.20.00.00 👉 | Sheets and plates of polarizing material | Free | — | 50% |
| 9001.30.00.00 👉 | Contact lenses | 2% | Free | 40% |
| 9001.40.00.00 👉 | Spectacle lenses of glass | 2% | Free | 40% |
| 9001.50.00.00 👉 | Spectacle lenses of other materials | 2% | Free | 40% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 9001?
Optical fibers and optical fiber bundles; optical fiber cables other than those of heading 8544; sheets and plates of polarizing material; lenses (including contact lenses), prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, of any material, unmounted, other than such elements of glass not optically worked. 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.