Capisaga

Trade Shifts · HS 8517

Telephones and telecom equipment (HS 8517)

Where the US buys telephones and telecom equipment (HS 8517) from: each partner’s share of US general imports.

14.1%

China’s share, 12 months to Aug 2026

2017: 64.1% · change −49.9 points

What changed

China supplied 14.1% of US imports of telephones and telecom equipment (HS 8517) in the 12 months to August 2026, down from 64.1% in 2017.

The largest gains over the same period: Vietnam (+19.4 points), India (+17.3 points).

Baseline: calendar year 2017, the last full year before the 2018 Section 301 tariffs. Sentences are generated from the figures by fixed templates.

Chart

Measure
Period
Range
Show
US imports, US dollars: Telephones and telecom equipment (HS 8517), monthlyUS imports of telephones and telecom equipment (HS 8517) by partner, US dollars, monthly figures, Sep 2021 to Aug 2026. China: $6.0 billion (Sep 2021) to $1.4 billion (Aug 2026). Highlighted: China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Mexico, India and all other origins; other watchlist partners in grey. Vertical lines mark policy events listed below the chart.17,18,2133

US general imports, US dollars (axis in billions). Monthly figures, not seasonally adjusted. All other origins is World minus the five highlighted partners (China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Mexico and India). It includes the other watchlist partners, which are also drawn individually as thin grey lines.

A missing month means Census published no figure for that partner and product. That usually reflects little or no recorded trade, but we don't assume zero, so the line shows a gap.

Dashed vertical lines mark policy events; numbers match the list below. On narrow screens, events within a few weeks of each other share one marker.

Policy events

US measures affecting this product or all imports, with official sources. Tariff lists are written at the 8-digit level; this page covers HS 8517, so most measures cover only part of it. Status as checked on 13 Oct 2026. Partner-specific trade deals after August 2025 are not yet mapped in the event list.

  1. Event 1

    Section 301 List 1: 25% on $34 billion of imports from China

    Section 301 · In force · announced , effective · China

    25% additional duty.

    Shown on every chart as a reference point. It does not list products in this heading.

  2. Event 2

    Section 301 List 3: additional duty on $200 billion of imports from China

    Section 301 · In force · announced , effective · China

    In force, modified: started at 10%; 25% since 10 May 2019.

    Partial: the measure covers some products in this heading. 1 HTS8 subheadings listed (HTSUS 2020 Basic Edition, ch. 99 U.S. note 20(f)).

  3. Event 3

    List 3 increase to 25% postponed to 2 March 2019

    Section 301 · Superseded · · China

    Rate stayed at 10%.

    Partial: the measure covers some products in this heading. 1 HTS8 subheadings listed (HTSUS 2020 Basic Edition, ch. 99 U.S. note 20(f)).

  4. Event 4

    List 3 increase to 25% postponed until further notice

    Section 301 · Superseded · · China

    Rate stayed at 10%.

    Partial: the measure covers some products in this heading. 1 HTS8 subheadings listed (HTSUS 2020 Basic Edition, ch. 99 U.S. note 20(f)).

  5. Event 5

    List 3 rate raised from 10% to 25%

    Section 301 · In force · announced , effective · China

    25% additional duty.

    Partial: the measure covers some products in this heading. 1 HTS8 subheadings listed (HTSUS 2020 Basic Edition, ch. 99 U.S. note 20(f)).

  6. Event 6

    Section 301 List 4A: additional duty on imports from China

    Section 301 · In force, reduced · announced , effective · China

    Reduced: started at 15% (announced at 10%, raised before taking effect); 7.5% since 14 Feb 2020.

    Partial: the measure covers some products in this heading. 4 HTS8 subheadings listed (HTSUS 2020 Basic Edition, ch. 99 U.S. note 20(s)).

  7. Event 7

    List 4A rate set at 15% before taking effect

    Section 301 · Superseded · announced , effective · China

    15% from 1 Sep 2019; reduced to 7.5% from 14 Feb 2020.

    Partial: the measure covers some products in this heading. 4 HTS8 subheadings listed (HTSUS 2020 Basic Edition, ch. 99 U.S. note 20(s)).

  8. Event 8

    Section 301 List 4B suspended before taking effect

    Section 301 · Suspended · announced , effective · China

    The 15% duty scheduled for 15 Dec 2019 never applied.

    Partial: the measure covers some products in this heading. 2 HTS8 subheadings listed (HTSUS 2020 Basic Edition, ch. 99 U.S. note 20(u)).

  9. Event 9

    Phase One: List 4A rate cut from 15% to 7.5%

    Section 301 · In force · announced , effective · China

    7.5% additional duty on List 4A products.

    Partial: the measure covers some products in this heading. 4 HTS8 subheadings listed (HTSUS 2020 Basic Edition, ch. 99 U.S. note 20(s)).

  10. Event 10

    USMCA enters into force

    Trade agreement · In force · · Canada, Mexico

    Replaces NAFTA.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  11. Event 11

    IEEPA duty on imports from China (fentanyl order)

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · China, Hong Kong

    Started at 10%; 20% from 4 Mar 2025; 10% from 10 Nov 2025. Ended: the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs (20 Feb 2026), and EO 14389 ended the duties. The date collection stopped is not recorded until the CBP notice is found.

    CBP's implementation notice applies it to products of China including Hong Kong.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  12. Event 12

    IEEPA duty on imports from Canada

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · Canada

    25% (energy and potash 10%). First set for 4 Feb 2025, paused until 4 Mar 2025 (EO 14197). USMCA-qualifying goods exempt from 7 Mar 2025; 35% from 1 Aug 2025. Ended: the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs (20 Feb 2026), and EO 14389 ended the duties. The date collection stopped is not recorded until the CBP notice is found.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  13. Event 13

    IEEPA duty on imports from Mexico

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · Mexico

    25%. First set for 4 Feb 2025, paused until 4 Mar 2025 (EO 14198). USMCA-qualifying goods exempt from 7 Mar 2025. Ended: the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs (20 Feb 2026), and EO 14389 ended the duties. The date collection stopped is not recorded until the CBP notice is found.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  14. Event 14

    IEEPA fentanyl duty on China raised from 10% to 20%

    IEEPA · Superseded · announced , effective · China, Hong Kong

    20%; reduced to 10% from 10 Nov 2025.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  15. Event 15

    USMCA-qualifying goods from Canada exempted from the IEEPA duty

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · Canada

    Exemption ended with the duty.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  16. Event 16

    USMCA-qualifying goods from Mexico exempted from the IEEPA duty

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · Mexico

    Exemption ended with the duty.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  17. Event 17 (marked on the chart)

    Reciprocal tariffs (IEEPA)

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · all partners except Canada, Mexico

    10% from 5 Apr 2025; country rates from 9 Apr 2025: China 34%, Vietnam 46%, Thailand 36%, Malaysia 24%, Indonesia 32%, Philippines 17%, Cambodia 49%, Taiwan 32%, India 26%, South Korea 25%, Japan 24%; Singapore 10% (not listed). Ended: the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs (20 Feb 2026), and EO 14389 ended the duties. The date collection stopped is not recorded until the CBP notice is found.

    Applies to all partners except Canada and Mexico.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  18. Event 18 (marked on the chart)

    Computers, smartphones, semiconductors and related goods exempt from reciprocal tariffs only

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · all partners except Canada, Mexico

    Exempt from reciprocal tariffs only, retroactive to 5 Apr 2025; the IEEPA fentanyl duty on China and Section 301 duties still applied. Ended with the reciprocal tariffs.

    Memorandum listing HTSUS 8471, 8473.30, 8486, 8517.13.00, 8517.62.00, 8523.51.00, 8524, 8528.52.00, 8541 (11 subheadings) and 8542. Applies to all partners except Canada and Mexico.

    Partial: the measure covers some products in this heading. 8517.13.00 and 8517.62.00 listed in the memorandum.

  19. Event 19

    Reciprocal tariff on China raised from 34% to 84%

    IEEPA · Superseded · announced , effective · China, Hong Kong

    84%; raised to 125% from 10 Apr 2025.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  20. Event 20

    Reciprocal tariff on China raised to 125%; other country rates paused at 10%

    IEEPA · Superseded · announced , effective · all partners except Canada, Mexico

    China 125%; country rates for others paused until 9 Jul 2025 with 10% applying. China cut to 10% from 14 May 2025.

    Applies to all partners except Canada and Mexico.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  21. Event 21 (marked on the chart)

    Geneva truce: reciprocal tariff on China cut to 10% for 90 days

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · China, Hong Kong

    10% (34% with 24 points suspended for 90 days). Ended: the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs (20 Feb 2026), and EO 14389 ended the duties. The date collection stopped is not recorded until the CBP notice is found.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  22. Event 22

    Court of International Trade rules the IEEPA tariffs unlawful

    Court ruling ·

    V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. United States, Slip Op. 25-66: summary judgment for the plaintiffs and a permanent injunction against the reciprocal and trafficking tariffs.

  23. Event 23

    Federal Circuit grants an administrative stay of the CIT ruling

    Court ruling ·

    Order in No. 25-1812 (Doc. 7): the CIT judgments and injunctions are temporarily stayed while the court considers the stay motions.

  24. Event 24

    Federal Circuit grants a stay pending appeal

    Court ruling ·

    En banc order in No. 25-1812: the motions for a stay pending appeal are granted, so the tariffs continue during the appeal.

  25. Event 25

    IEEPA duty on Canada raised from 25% to 35%

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · Canada

    35%. Ended: the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs (20 Feb 2026), and EO 14389 ended the duties. The date collection stopped is not recorded until the CBP notice is found.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  26. Event 26

    New country-specific reciprocal tariff rates

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, India, South Korea, Japan, Singapore

    Vietnam 20%, Taiwan 20%, Thailand 19%, Malaysia 19%, Indonesia 19%, Philippines 19%, Cambodia 19%, India 25%, South Korea 15%, Japan 15%; Singapore 10% (not listed). Ended: the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs (20 Feb 2026), and EO 14389 ended the duties. The date collection stopped is not recorded until the CBP notice is found.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  27. Event 27

    Penalty rate of 40% set for goods CBP determines were transshipped to evade reciprocal tariffs

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · all partners except Canada, Mexico

    Policy provision in Executive Order 14326, section 3. Ended: the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs (20 Feb 2026), and EO 14389 ended the duties. The date collection stopped is not recorded until the CBP notice is found.

    Describes the policy only. It says nothing about whether any particular trade flow was transshipped.

  28. Event 28

    Suspension of the higher reciprocal rate on China extended to 10 November 2025

    IEEPA · Ended · · China, Hong Kong

    10% continued. Ended: the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs (20 Feb 2026), and EO 14389 ended the duties. The date collection stopped is not recorded until the CBP notice is found.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  29. Event 29

    IEEPA additional duty on imports from India (Russian oil order)

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective , ended · India

    25%; eliminated from 7 Feb 2026 (EO 14384).

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  30. Event 30

    Federal Circuit (en banc) affirms that the IEEPA tariffs exceed the President's authority

    Court ruling ·

    Affirmed in part, vacated in part (the injunction) and remanded.

  31. Event 31

    Suspension of the higher reciprocal rate on China extended to 10 November 2026

    IEEPA · Ended · · China, Hong Kong

    10% continued. Ended: the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs (20 Feb 2026), and EO 14389 ended the duties. The date collection stopped is not recorded until the CBP notice is found.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  32. Event 32

    IEEPA fentanyl duty on China cut from 20% to 10%

    IEEPA · Ended · announced , effective · China, Hong Kong

    10%. Ended: the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs (20 Feb 2026), and EO 14389 ended the duties. The date collection stopped is not recorded until the CBP notice is found.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  33. Event 33 (marked on the chart)

    Supreme Court: IEEPA does not authorize tariffs

    Court ruling ·

    Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, No. 24-1287, decided with Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc.

  34. Event 34

    Executive order ends the IEEPA tariffs

    IEEPA · In force · · all partners

    Orders agencies to stop collecting the IEEPA duties as soon as practicable. Section 232 and Section 301 duties are not affected.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  35. Event 35

    Section 122 temporary import surcharge

    Section 122 · Ended · announced , effective , ended · all partners

    10% for 150 days, with product exceptions (Annexes I and II); end date stated in the proclamation.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

  36. Event 36

    Section 301 tariffs on 60 economies over forced-labor import prohibitions

    Section 301 · In force · announced , effective · China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea

    12.5%: China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore. 10%: Cambodia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico. Taiwan 10% and Japan and South Korea 12.5%, each net of the MFN rate. Product exemptions in Annexes I and II.

    Presidential memorandum of 23 Jul 2026; USTR notice published 28 Jul 2026. Partners listed are the watchlist partners among the 60 economies.

    Applies across imports from the partners named; product exemptions are not mapped.

By partner

US imports by partner, 12 months to Aug 2026
Partner12 months to Aug 2026vs a year earlierShareShare 2017Change (points)
All other origins$49.2 billion+64.7%27.5%18.9%+8.7
Vietnam$43.1 billion+80.9%24.2%4.8%+19.4
India$31.1 billion+69.9%17.4%0.1%+17.3
Thailand$30.4 billion+118.7%17.0%3.2%+13.9
China$25.2 billion−38.2%14.1%64.1%−49.9
Mexico$17.8 billion+47.3%10.0%9.8%+0.2
Taiwan$12.1 billion+58.0%6.8%2.3%+4.5
Malaysia$8.2 billion+29.3%4.6%4.8%−0.2
Indonesia$1.5 billion+55.3%0.8%0.1%+0.8
Philippines$1.2 billion+38.7%0.6%0.1%+0.5
Canada$969.0 million−4.9%0.5%0.7%−0.1
Japan$649.5 million+10.6%0.4%0.6%−0.3
Singapore$538.9 million+43.6%0.3%0.2%+0.1
South Korea$388.2 million−18.2%0.2%5.5%−5.3
Hong Kong$127.1 million−37.6%0.1%0.2%−0.1
Cambodia$25.8 million+36.8%0.0%no datano data
All countries (World)$178.5 billion+34.7%100.0%100.0%

12-month totals. “vs a year earlier” compares with the 12 months to Aug 2025. Changes in points are computed from unrounded shares.

Data

Data through August 2026. Next scheduled release: (Census, Sep 2026 data). Release dates can move.

Freshness

Update frequency
Monthly
Last observation
Last checked
Last retrieved
Reporting lag
42 days after period end

“Last checked” is when the pipeline last fetched this series from the source, whether or not anything changed. “Last retrieved” is when it last stored a new or revised value.

Cite this

Capisaga, “Trade Shifts: Telephones and telecom equipment (HS 8517).” Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API, US general imports by country of origin. Data through August 2026, retrieved 12 Oct 2026. https://capisaga.com/trade/8517?measure=value&freq=monthly&range=5y

The link reproduces this exact view (measure, period, range and display).

Source

U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: US general imports (customs value, by country of origin), monthly, HS 8517.

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

These are US-side figures: what the US Census Bureau records as imported into the US from each partner (general imports, by country of origin). A change in where the US buys a product shows a change in recorded origin. On its own it is not evidence that goods were transshipped or rerouted through another country, and it does not show where the goods were made.