Analysis
HTS 8211.91.50 covers knives with rubber or plastic handles under heading 8211 (knives with cutting blades, serrated or not (including pruning knives), other than knives…). US Customs collects import statistics for it under 2 ten-digit suffixes, reported in number of items.
The general rate is 0.7¢ each + 3.7%, a specific or compound duty rather than a simple percentage, so the effective burden depends on the unit value of the goods: cheap goods pay proportionally more than expensive ones. Importers usually convert it to an ad valorem equivalent to compare it with other lines.
Goods that qualify under GSP, the Australia FTA, the Bahrain FTA, the Chile FTA, the Colombia TPA, and 12 others can enter duty-free instead of paying 0.7¢ each + 3.7%. It is also eligible under GSP, the developing-country programme, which Congress has to renew; check whether GSP is in force on the entry date.
For statistics it divides in two: 8211.91.50.30 for steak knives and 8211.91.50.60 for other. Both pay the same duty; the suffix records which kind was imported.
Statistical suffixes
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 8211.91.10 | Knives with silver-plated handles | Free |
| 8211.91.20 | Valued under 25¢ each, not over 25.9 cm in overall length | 0.4¢ each + 6.4% |
| 8211.91.25 | With handles containing nickel or containing over 10 percent by weight of manganese: other | 0.4¢ each + 6.8% |
| 8211.91.30 | Valued under 25¢ each, not over 25.9 cm in overall length | 0.9¢ each + 10.6% |
| 8211.91.40 | Other: other | 0.3¢ each + 3.7% |
| 8211.91.80 | Table knives having fixed blades: other | 0.3¢ each + 4.9% |