Analysis
HTS 9209.30.00 covers musical instrument strings under heading 9209 (parts (for example, mechanisms for music boxes) and accessories (for example, cards…).
Neighbouring lines carry rates from duty-free to 5.7%, so the exact line matters. The widest gap is with 9209.99.10 (mutes for musical instruments; pedals, dampers and spurs for drums…), at 5.7%: a product that belongs there but is entered here, or the reverse, changes the duty by 5.7 percentage points.
Goods from countries without normal trade relations pay the column 2 rate of 40% instead of nothing, so origin decides between free entry and a 40% duty.
Goods classified here enter the United States duty-free at the general (normal trade relations) rate, as do about 38% of the 40 tariff lines in chapter 92. Chapter 99 measures such as Section 301 or 232 can still apply on top, depending on where the goods come from.
Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 339992 (Musical Instrument Manufacturing), an industry of 609 US establishments employing 11,633 people. That is the industry code a US manufacturer of the same product would normally use.
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9209.91.40 | Parts and accessories for pianos: tuning pins | Free |
| 9209.91.80 | Parts and accessories for pianos: other | 4.2% |
| 9209.92.20 | Mutes, collapsible musical instrument stands and music holders for attachment to musical instruments | 3.9% |
| 9209.92.40 | Parts and accessories for the musical instruments of heading 9202: tuning pins | 10¢/1,000 pins + 3.5% |
| 9209.92.60 | Bows, parts of bows, bow hair, chin rests and other parts and accessories for string instruments played with a bow | Free |
| 9209.92.80 | Parts and accessories for the musical instruments of heading 9202: other | 4.6% |
| 9209.94.40 | Collapsible musical instrument stands | 5.7% |
| 9209.94.80 | Parts and accessories for the musical instruments of heading 9207: other | 2.7% |
| 9209.99.05 | Metronomes, tuning forks and pitch pipes | Free |
| 9209.99.10 | Mutes for musical instruments; pedals, dampers and spurs for drums; pedals and holders for cymbals; lyres and other music holders for attachment to musical instruments; and collapsible stands for holding music or for holding musical instruments | 5.7% |
| 9209.99.16 | For pipe organs of subheading 9205.90.12 | Free |
| 9209.99.18 | For instruments of subheading 9205.90.14 | 2.7% |
| 9209.99.20 | Other: for bagpipes | Free |
| 9209.99.40 | For other woodwind and brass wind musical instruments | Free |
| 9209.99.61 | Other: for music boxes | Free |
| 9209.99.80 | Other: other | 5.3% |