Importers of HS 8481.80 (of copper) from Korea, South actually paid 10.44% on the taxed portion of the value in 2026-06 — 9.83% across everything shipped, taxed or not. Measured from official duty receipts, not the rulebook: the statutory MFN base rate on this code is 4%. Over the window the rate on the taxed portion moved 2.95% → 10.44%, with the largest single step -3.9pp in 2026-03. Measured from official US duty receipts · as-of 2026-06 · confidence: measured, not modelled. The HTS base rate is 4% — importers actually paid 10.44%, so the trade-war overlay added 6.4 pts, measured at the border (not a summed rulebook estimate). Reproduce exactly: tariff_story(hs: "8481.80", origin: "Korea, South") · see it at trimtabist.com/tariffs
HS 8481.80. The schedule base rate is 4%; importers from South Korea actually paid 10.44% on the dutiable value in 2026-06 — the trade-war overlay added 6.4 points, measured at the border. Measured, not modelled.
Over the window the collected rate moved 2.95% (2023-07) → 10.44% (2026-06), largest single step -3.9pp in 2026-03.
Korea, South's lower duty (9.83% vs 38.66%) lets it price up to 26.2% above China at the factory and still match on duty-inclusive customs cost. But on the LATEST measured prices, China actually lands cheaper — $9.64/kg vs $16.25/kg (duty in, freight out).
All goods from South Korea · the whole tariff ledger · 15 CBP rulings cite this code · reproduce: tariff_story(hs: "8481.80", origin: "South Korea") via /connect. Not customs or legal advice.