WCO Explanatory Notes reproduced for reference. © World Customs Organization. Verify against official WCO publication.
85.44 - Insulated (including enamelled or anodised) wire, cable (including co-axial cable) and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors. - Winding wire : 8544.1 1 - - Of copper 8544.19 8544.20 8544.30 - - Other - Co-axial cable and other co-axial electric conductors - Ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles, aircraft or ships - Other electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1,000 V : 8544.42 8544.49 8544.60 8544.70 - - Fitted with connectors - - Other - Other electric conductors, for a voltage exceeding 1,000 V - Optical fibre cables Provided they are insulated, this heading covers electric wire, cable and other conductors (e.g., braids, strip,. bars) used as conductors in electrical machinery, a paratus or installations. Subject to this condition, the heading includes wiring for interior wor or for exterior use e.g., underground, submarine or aerial w e s or cables). These goods vary from very fine insu ated wire to thick cables of more complex types. 1: I Non-metal conductors are also covered by this heading. The goods of this heading are made up of the following elements : (A) A conductor - this may be single strand or multiple, and may be wholly of one metal or of different metals. (B) One or more coverings of insulating material - the aim of these coverings is to prevent leakage of electric current from the conductor, and to protect it against damage. The insulating materials mostly used are rubber, paper, plastics, asbestos, mica, micanite, glass fibre yarns, textile yarns (whether or not waxed or impregnated , varnish, enamel, pltch, oil, etc. In certain cases the insulation is obtained by anodismg or y a similar process (e.g., the production of a surface coating of metallic oxides or salts). b (C) In certain cases a metal sheath (e.g., lead, brass, aluminium or steel ; this serves as a protective covering for the insulation, as a channel for an insulation o gas or oil, or as a supplementary conductor in certain co-axial cables. (D) Sometimes a metal armouring (e.g., spiral wound steel or iron wire or strip), used mainly for protecting underground or submarine cable. The insulated wires, cables, etc., of this heading may be in the form of : (i) Single or multiple strand insulated wire. (ii) Two or more such insulated wires twisted together. (iii) Two or more such insulated wires assembled together in a common insulating sheath. The heading covers, inter alia : (1) Lacquered or enamelled wire, usually very thin and mainly used for coil windings. (2) Anodised, etc., wire. (3) Telecommunicationswires and cables (including submarine cables and data transmission wires and cables) are generally made up of a pair, a quad or a cable core, the whole usually covered with a sheath. A air or a quad cons~stsof two or four insulated wires, each wire is ma e u of a single co per conductor insulated with a coloured material o p astics having a thicgess not excee mg 0.5 mrn), twisted together. A cable core consists of a single pair or a quad or multiple stranded pairs or quads. \ $ (4) Insulated aerial cables. (5) Cables for permanent long-distance connections often with channels for filling with insulating gas or oil. (6) Armoured underground cables with anti-corrosive sheathing. (7) Cables for use in mine shafts; these have a longitudinal arrnouring to withstand the effects of tension. In addition the heading covers plaited wire coated with lacquer or inserted in an insulating sheath. It also includes insulated strip generally used in large electrical machinery or control equipment. Wire, cable, etc., remain classified in this heading if cut to len or fitted with connectors (e ., plugs, sockets, lugs, jacks, sleeves or terminals) at one or bo ends. The headii also inclu es wire, etc., of the es described above made up in sets (e.g., multiple cables or connecting motor vehicle spar g plugs to the distributor). 2% 8" f f The heading also covers optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted wth connectors. The sheaths are usual1 of different colours to pennit identification of the fibres at both ends of the cable. Optical ibre cables are used mainly in telecommunications because their capacity for the transmission of data is greater than that of electrical conductors. r The heading excludes electric heating resistors sheathed in insulating material (e.g., s ecial alloy wire wound s irally around a core of glass fibres or asbestos) of heading 85.16; connectors or optlcal fibres, optical bundles or cables of heading 85.36. f?k. F -
1.- This Chapter does not cover : (a) Electrically warmed blankets, bed pads, foot-muffs or the like; electrically warmed clothing, footwear or ear pads or other electrically warmed articles worn on or about the person; (b) Articles of glass of heading 70.11; (c) Machines and apparatus of heading 84.86; (d) Vacuum apparatus of a kind used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences (heading 90.18); or (e) Electrically heated furniture of Chapter 94. 2.- Headings 85.01 to 85.04 do not apply to goods described in heading 85.11, 85.12, 85.40, 85.41 or