PlainTariff

HTS Section XVIII

Optical, Photographic, Measuring, Medical Instruments

Section XVIII groups 3 HTS chapters covering 1,083 tariff classifications, averaging about 2.8% general (MFN) duty, peaking in Chapter 91 at 4.6%.

2.8%
avg chapter duty
3
HTS chapters
1,083
tariff classifications
4.6%
peak (Ch 91)

According to the U.S. International Trade Commission Harmonized Tariff Schedule 2026 Basic Edition, PlainTariff indexes 13,855 Column 1 general-rate tariff lines across 96 chapters as of August 2026. See our methodology for how rates are parsed and when the USITC vintage updates.

Section at a glance

According to PlainTariff's dutiable-only average MFN rates (USITC HTS 2026 Basic Edition), Section XVIII ranks #17 of 20 among sections with a measurable dutiable average (highest average = #1). The 3 chapters here average about 2.8% general (MFN) duty across 1,083 classifications.

#17 of 20
among sections by dutiable avg
2.8%
avg chapter duty
3
HTS chapters
1,083
tariff classifications

Section averages orient only; duty is set at the individual tariff-line level (USITC HTS 2026 Basic Edition).

A mixed-rate section that needs a chapter comparison

Section XVIII spans 3 chapters with a 2.8% average general (MFN) rate. Compare the chapter bars before treating the section-level figure as representative of a product.

The section summary guides the search; the tariff-line page supplies the rate.

Catalog
1,083
classifications
Route
3 chapters
before the heading

HTS section dispatch

SEC-XVIII · Section XVIII

RATE-LIGHT · RANK-MID · BOOK-MID · CH-3 · PEAK-MILD · PHOTO-FINISH

  • RATE-LIGHT

    4.6% avg MFN

  • RANK-MID

    #17 of 20

  • BOOK-MID

    1,083 lines

  • CH-3

    3 chapters

  • PEAK-MILD

    Peak 16%

  • PHOTO-FINISH

    ≈ Sec V

Nearest avg-rate peer: Section V (+0.1 pts)

Dutiable MFN neighbourhood around Section XVIII

Lowest/highest poles plus sections nearest this sheet on dutiable-only average (USITC HTS 2026)

Sec XVI · lowest avg3.6%Sec XV · near4%Sec XVIII · this section4.6%Sec V · near4.7%Sec VII · near4.8%Sec VI · near5%Sec XII · highest avg15%

Source: USITC HTS 2026 As of 2026

Sec XVI · lowest avgSec XV · nearSec XVIII · this sectionSec V · nearSec VII · nearSec VI · nearSec XII · highest avg

Section XVIII vs all HTS sections by classification count

Where this section's tariff-line inventory sits among all 22 HTS sections (schedule breadth, not a virtue ranking)

1,083 9th of 22 higher than 13 of 22 sections

Sections banded by USITC HTS classification count

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more sections. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule 2026 Basic Edition · 2026-05-15

MFN rate bands in Section XVIII

Exclusive bands across all 517 tariff lines in this section (USITC HTS 2026). Rate complex covers non-ad-valorem or unparsed general rates, not a restatement of the chapter-average chart below.

Average duty rate by chapter, Section XVIII

Mean general (MFN) rate across each chapter's tariff lines

Ch 901%Ch 914.6%Ch 922.8%

Source: USITC HTS 2026 As of 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What does HTS Section XVIII cover? ▼
HTS Section XVIII covers Optical, Photographic, Measuring, Medical Instruments. It contains 3 chapters with a total of 1,083 individual tariff classifications.
How many chapters are in Section XVIII? ▼
Section XVIII contains 3 chapters. Each chapter groups related products with their own headings, subheadings, and tariff lines specifying duty rates.
Should I use the section average as a product duty rate? ▼
No. The section average is a comparison aid. The applicable general, special, and Column 2 rates appear on the exact tariff-line page for the product classification.
Where does Section XVIII sit among other HTS sections on PlainTariff? ▼
According to PlainTariff's dutiable-only average MFN rates (USITC HTS 2026 Basic Edition), Section XVIII ranks #17 of 20 among sections with a measurable dutiable average (highest average = #1). See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How is the Harmonized Tariff Schedule organized? ▼
The HTS is organized into 22 Sections (Roman numerals I–XXII), which contain 99 Chapters. Each Chapter has Headings (4-digit), Subheadings (6-digit), and Tariff Lines (8-10 digit) with specific duty rates. Sections group related product categories together.
Where can I find the duty rate for a specific product? ▼
Click on a chapter in the table above to see all its tariff lines. Each tariff line links to a detail page with the General (MFN), Special (FTA), and Column 2 duty rates. For complex classifications, consult a licensed customs broker.

Nationwide HTS sections with similar tariff profiles

Two peer sets for Section XVIII, each excluding this section (the chapter table above stays the within-section path).

Similar dutiable average rate

Nearest other sections by dutiable-only MFN average (2.8% here).

Sec XVI 3.6% Sec XIX 3.7% Sec XV 4.0% Sec V 4.7% Sec VII 4.8% Sec VI 5.0%

Similar HTS line inventory

Nearest other sections by tariff-line count (1,083 here).

Sec IX 988 lines Sec XVII 897 lines Sec XX 868 lines Sec XIII 852 lines Sec VII 819 lines Sec XII 807 lines

Next steps

Drill from this section down to the exact rate for your product.

The section average is a rough guide; actual duty depends on the precise HTS classification and country of origin.

Related sections

Section XIISection XVISection VSection VII | All sections | Highest tariffs

Sources: U.S. International Trade Commission Harmonized Tariff Schedule (2026 Basic Edition) and FAO FAOSTAT Trade: Crops and Livestock. See our methodology for how figures are computed.

Every figure on PlainTariff is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.