HS Code 853540

HS code 853540 is the World Customs Organization 6-digit HS 2022 subheading for "Electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, or for making connections to or in electrical circuits (for example, switches, fuses, lightning arresters, voltage limiters, surge suppressors, plugs and other connectors, junction boxes), for a voltage exceeding 1000 V : Lightning arresters, voltage limiters and surge suppressors". The first two digits (85) are the chapter — Electrical machinery and equipment; sound and TV recorders and reproducers — and digits 3-4 (8535) are the heading. Countries add further digits (8-10) for their national tariff line.

Common products classified under 853540 include lightning arrester, surge arrester, surge protector, voltage limiter, surge suppressor, TVSS and similar items matching lightning arresters. The correct code still depends on the product's material, function and intended use.

Duty is set by the destination country, not by the 6-digit HS code alone. Start from the official tariff of your market — USITC HTS (US), TARIC / Access2Markets (EU), GOV.UK Trade Tariff (UK), CBSA (Canada), ABF (Australia) or Singapore Customs — and look up the full national code with China as the country of origin.

The first 6 digits (853540) are the same worldwide under the WCO Harmonized System. Beyond that, each country extends the code (HTS in the US, TARIC in the EU, etc.) and sets its own duty and tax rates.

Treat a supplier-provided code as a clue, not a final classification. It can be incomplete, China-export-specific, or mismatched to your destination's rules. Verify against the official tariff and your product's actual material and use.