HTS tariff line · chapter 96
9608.40.80
Propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils): other
Analysis
HTS 9608.40.80 covers propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils): other under heading 9608 (ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens…).
Neighbouring lines carry rates from duty-free to 6.6%, so the exact line matters. The widest gap is with 9608.40.40 (with a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and…), at 6.6%: a product that belongs there but is entered here, or the reverse, changes the duty by 6.6 percentage points.
Goods from countries without normal trade relations pay the column 2 rate of 45% instead of nothing, so origin decides between free entry and a 45% duty.
Goods classified here enter the United States duty-free at the general (normal trade relations) rate, as do about 25% of the 104 tariff lines in chapter 96. Free here means free of the base duty only: origin-specific Chapter 99 duties such as Section 301 can still be owed.
Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 339940 (Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing), an industry of 368 US establishments employing 9,961 people. That is the industry code a US manufacturer of the same product would normally use.
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9608.10.00 | Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609: ball point pens | 0.8¢ each + 5.4% |
| 9608.20.00 | Felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers | 4% |
| 9608.30.00 | Fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% |
| 9608.40.40 | With a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead | 6.6% |
| 9608.50.00 | Sets of articles from two or more of the subheadings 9608.10, 9608.20, 9608.30 or 9608.40 | The rate applicable to each article in the absence of this subheading |
| 9608.60.00 | Refills for ball point pens, comprising the ball point and ink reservoir | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% |
| 9608.91.00 | Pen nibs and nib points | Free |
| 9608.99.20 | Other: refill cartridges | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% |
| 9608.99.30 | Balls for ball point pens | 20¢/thousand + 3.5% |
| 9608.99.40 | Parts of articles provided for in subheadings 9608.10 and 9608.30 (other than balls for ball point pens) | Free |
| 9608.99.60 | Other: other | Free |