HTS tariff line · chapter 96
9608.99.40
Parts of articles provided for in subheadings 9608.10 and 9608.30 (other than balls for ball point pens)
Analysis
HTS 9608.99.40 covers parts of articles provided for in subheadings 9608.10 and 9608.30 (other than balls for ball point pens) under heading 9608 (ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens…).
The normal trade relations rate here is zero, shared by about 25% of the 104 tariff lines in chapter 96, a useful check when a neighbouring dutiable line is a candidate. Free here means free of the base duty only: origin-specific Chapter 99 duties such as Section 301 can still be owed.
The other lines in the same group are 9608.99.20 (other: refill cartridges, 0.4¢ each + 2.7%), 9608.99.30 (balls for ball point pens, 20¢/thousand + 3.5%) and 9608.99.60 (other: other, duty-free).
Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 339940 (Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing), an industry of 368 US establishments employing 9,961 people. That concordance is how imports of this line are compared with US output.
All 3 neighbouring lines carry the same duty-free rate, so a borderline choice between them changes the statistics reported, not the duty paid.
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9608.99.20 | Other: refill cartridges | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% |
| 9608.99.30 | Balls for ball point pens | 20¢/thousand + 3.5% |
| 9608.99.60 | Other: other | Free |