Importers of HS 8481.90 (of copper) from Korea, South actually paid 11.87% on the taxed portion of the value in 2026-06 — 10.73% across everything shipped, taxed or not. Measured from official duty receipts, not the rulebook: the statutory MFN base rate on this code is 3%. Over the window the rate on the taxed portion moved 4.73% → 11.87%, with the largest single step +15pp in 2025-03. Measured from official US duty receipts · as-of 2026-06 · confidence: measured, not modelled. The HTS base rate is 3% — importers actually paid 11.87%, so the trade-war overlay added 8.9 pts, measured at the border (not a summed rulebook estimate). Reproduce exactly: tariff_story(hs: "8481.90", origin: "Korea, South") · see it at trimtabist.com/tariffs
HS 8481.90. The schedule base rate is 3%; importers from South Korea actually paid 11.87% on the dutiable value in 2026-06 — the trade-war overlay added 8.9 points, measured at the border. Measured, not modelled.
Over the window the collected rate moved 4.73% (2023-07) → 11.87% (2026-06), largest single step +15pp in 2025-03.
Korea, South's lower duty (10.73% vs 26.98%) lets it price up to 14.7% above China at the factory and still match on duty-inclusive customs cost. But on the LATEST measured prices, China actually lands cheaper — $7.43/kg vs $14.27/kg (duty in, freight out).
All goods from South Korea · the whole tariff ledger · 4 CBP rulings cite this code · reproduce: tariff_story(hs: "8481.90", origin: "South Korea") via /connect. Not customs or legal advice.