Quick answer
Classify household electric kettles under HTSUS 8516.79.0000 and review duty, Chapter 99, product safety, FCC, food-contact and marking requirements.
Classification and duty conclusion
A complete household electric kettle that boils water by an internal electric heating element and automatically switches off is generally entered under HTSUS 8516.79.0000, other domestic electrothermic appliances. The 2026 Column 1 General rate is 2.7%, Column 2 is 40%, and the Special column is free for qualifying listed preference programs. This conclusion does not cover an instantaneous or storage water heater, immersion heater, coffee or tea maker, hot-and-cold water dispenser, commercial boiler, non-electric kettle or separately imported part.
Why HTSUS 8516.79.0000 applies
GRI 1 places the appliance in heading 8516; GRI 6 leads to subheading 8516.79 because its objective function is simply heating and boiling water rather than preparing coffee or tea. The entry record should show capacity, rated voltage and wattage, heating-element construction, automatic shutoff, boil-dry protection, thermostat, detachable base, keep-warm mode, filter, wireless module and all accessories. Vietnam's national code 8516.79.10 is not a U.S. ten-digit code and must not be copied into the CBP entry.
China duties and origin
The base rate is not a substitute for a Chapter 99 review. In the current 2026 HTS revision, 8516.79.00 appears in the list historically associated with 9903.88.16, but the compiler note states that the heading and corresponding subdivisions are suspended; the former additional 15% should therefore not be added mechanically. Recheck the live Chapter 99, effective date, origin and any exclusion when the entry is filed. Country of origin follows substantial transformation, and repacking or minor assembly in a third country does not erase Chinese origin. UFLPA screening remains relevant where steel, electronics or other inputs present forced-labor risk. MPF and, for vessel cargo, HMF may also apply.
Federal and state product compliance
There is no general federal pre-import approval solely because the article is an electric kettle. The importer nevertheless remains responsible under the Consumer Product Safety Act for a non-defective consumer product and for statutory hazard reporting. Product evaluation commonly uses UL 1082 or the applicable household electric appliance standard, while retailers, insurers and local electrical codes may require an NRTL listing. Digital controls can trigger FCC Part 15 unintentional-radiator duties; Wi-Fi or Bluetooth requires the appropriate intentional-radiator equipment authorization. Smart models also need a cybersecurity and privacy review appropriate to the connected service.
Food-contact parts and labeling
The vessel interior, lid, spout, filter, gasket, adhesives and plastics that contact hot water should be supported by composition and FDA food-contact evidence for the intended time and temperature. Country-of-origin marking must satisfy 19 U.S.C. 1304 and 19 CFR part 134. The rating label and instructions should identify voltage, wattage, capacity, model, manufacturer or importer, burn and steam warnings, maximum fill level, boil-dry precautions and cleaning limits. California Proposition 65 requires a substance-and-exposure assessment, not a generic warning placed on every kettle.
Entry file and commercial description
Keep the contract, invoice, packing list, transport record, bill of materials, manufacturing flow, origin evidence, specification, circuit and heater information, thermostat and fuse details, food-contact declarations, safety and FCC reports, final label and instructions. Suggested description: “Household electric kettle, resistance heated, ... L, ... V, ... W, automatic shutoff and boil-dry protection, detachable base, no coffee/tea preparation function, model ..., country of origin ..., HTSUS 8516.79.0000.” Replace every blank and disclose keep-warm or wireless functions.
Facts that change the answer
Seek a CBP ruling or reclassify when the shipment is a plumbed water heater, storage hot-water unit, beverage maker, dispenser, commercial urn, multifunction cooker, unassembled kit or separate kettle body, base, heater, thermostat or control board. Tariff classification, Chapter 99, origin, FCC authorization, product safety and food-contact compliance are separate determinations.
Official sources
Sources reviewed September 21, 2026: USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule; HTS Chapter 99; CPSC business guidance; FCC equipment authorization; FDA food-contact substances; CBP country-of-origin marking.
Editorial note
Prepared by the Global HS Code Checker Editorial Team for customs-classification, tariff and import-policy research. The correct code and applicable measures may change with the merchandise's actual characteristics, jurisdiction, entry date and supporting record. Verify the current tariff, governing measures and competent customs authority before filing an entry. A reviewer is identified only after a named expert has completed the review.