Analysis
HTS 9606.10.40 covers valued not over 20¢ per dozen pieces or parts under heading 9606 (buttons, press-fasteners, snap-fasteners and press-studs, button molds and other parts of…).
Rates on the nearby lines range from duty-free to 6%. The costliest confusion would be with 9606.30.40 (button blanks of casein) at duty-free, a difference of 3.5 points on the customs value.
The column 2 rate, for countries without normal trade relations, is 60%, 17.1 times the general rate.
Goods that qualify under GSP, the Australia FTA, the Automotive Products Trade Act, the Bahrain FTA, the Chile FTA, and 13 others can enter duty-free instead of paying 3.5%. 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.
The general duty rate is 3.5% of the customs value, which is in the middle of the rates in chapter 96 (42nd percentile of 104 lines with an ad valorem rate). On a shipment valued at $10,000 that is $350 in duty before any Chapter 99 additions or preference claims.
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9606.10.80 | Valued over 20¢ per dozen pieces or parts | 2.7% |
| 9606.21.20 | Of plastics, not covered with textile material: of casein | Free |
| 9606.21.40 | Of acrylic resin, of polyester resin or of both such resins | 0.3¢/line/ gross + 4.6% |
| 9606.21.60 | Of plastics, not covered with textile material: other | 4.7% |
| 9606.22.00 | Of base metal, not covered with textile material | Free |
| 9606.29.20 | Of acrylic resin, of polyester resin or of both such resins, covered with textile material | 0.3¢/line/ gross + 4.5% |
| 9606.29.40 | Other: of pearl or shell | 0.18¢/line/ gross + 2.5% |
| 9606.29.60 | Other: other | 2.9% |
| 9606.30.40 | Button blanks of casein | Free |
| 9606.30.80 | Button molds and other parts of buttons; button blanks: other | 6% |