TDK is a leading Japanese passive component manufacturer producing MLCCs, inductors, and sensors. High-end TDK passives are made in Japan; commodity products increasingly in China. Japan-origin TDK parts face only the 10% Section 122 surcharge.
TDK Corporation is headquartered in Japan, but most components are manufactured in Japan, China, Thailand. For US customs purposes, the COO is where the component is manufactured — not where the company is based. Declaring Japan as COO when parts ship from Japan is a customs violation.
| Country | Sec 122 | Sec 301 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 10% | — | 10% |
| China | 10% | 50% | 60% |
| Thailand | 10% | — | 10% |
* Section 301 rates shown for electronics HTS chapters (8541–8542). Rates vary by product.
| HTS Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 8532.22.0020 | MLCCs |
| 8504.50.4000 | Power inductors (SPM, SLF series) |
| 8533.21.0000 | Chip resistors |
TDK Corporation is a Japanese passive component and sensor conglomerate headquartered in Tokyo. Manufacturing is divided between Japan (Akita and Yamagata, producing ferrite cores, high-specification MLCCs, and sensors), China (Xiamen, Wuxi, and Shenzhen for commodity MLCCs, power inductors, and NTC thermistors), and Thailand (Pathumthani, primarily for HDD components and sensor assembly). TDK's InvenSense MEMS division (acquired 2017) manufactures gyroscopes and accelerometers at TSMC in Taiwan with assembly in multiple locations. For US customs purposes, the COO of TDK parts depends on the specific product line and site qualification: Japan (10% Section 122), China (approximately 35% for commodity passives), or Thailand (10%). Japan is the primary COO for TDK premium products; China for commodity lines.
TDK product lines cover HTS 8532.22.0020 (MLCCs — C1005, C1608, C2012 series), HTS 8504.50.4000 (power inductors — SPM, SLF, MLF series), HTS 8533.21.0000 (chip resistors), HTS 8533.40.0000 (NTC thermistors — B57 series), HTS 9025.19.0000 (temperature sensors and thermistors for industrial), and HTS 8542.39.0000 (InvenSense MEMS ICs). Japan-origin TDK parts: 10% Section 122. China-origin TDK parts (commodity MLCCs and inductors from Xiamen/Wuxi): approximately 35% (10% Section 122 + 25% Section 301). Thailand-origin TDK parts: 10%. The tariff differential creates meaningful landed cost differences for commodity passive buyers sourcing from multiple TDK distribution channels.
TDK's CGA series MLCCs (automotive, AEC-Q200 qualified) are manufactured in Japan at the Akita and Yamagata facilities — confirming Japan COO and the 10% rate. The standard C series MLCCs for consumer and industrial applications are increasingly produced in China (Xiamen). For buyers sourcing TDK MLCCs through distribution, lot-level COO is not always visible in catalog systems. Distributor reels may commingle Japan-origin and China-origin stock. Buyers with tariff sensitivity should specify Japan COO on purchase orders and request TDK's Statement of Origin with each shipment. High-voltage MLCCs (50V+), AEC-Q200 automotive parts, and X8R high-temperature MLCCs are more reliably Japan COO.
TDK's InvenSense division produces IMUs, gyroscopes, and pressure sensors widely used in smartphones, IoT devices, and industrial motion sensing. InvenSense devices are fabless, with wafer fabrication at TSMC in Taiwan and assembly in Malaysia and the Philippines. Taiwan and Malaysia-origin InvenSense parts both face the 10% Section 122 rate. The ICM-42688-P 6-axis IMU and ICP-10111 pressure sensor are among the most widely used InvenSense parts in US product development. At typical prices of $1.50–$5.00, the 10% duty adds $0.15–$0.50 per unit — a relatively modest impact for most embedded designs but worth noting in high-volume IoT BOM optimization.
TDK is a leading supplier of power inductors (SPM, SLF, VLS series) for DC-DC converters in computing, automotive, and industrial applications. High-current inductors for server power delivery (SPM series, rated 5–200A) are manufactured in Japan. Commodity power inductors (VLF, NR series) are produced in China. Japan-origin TDK power inductors face 10%; China-origin face approximately 35%. For power supply designers specifying TDK inductors, the choice between Japanese and Chinese production site can have significant cost implications at high volume. TDK's ferrite materials — the enabling technology for their inductor performance — are manufactured exclusively in Japan, giving Japan-site inductors a technology differentiation beyond the COO cost difference.
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