9609

Analysis

Heading 9609 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule covers pencils (other than those pencils of heading 9608), crayons, pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks and tailors' chalks. It divides into 3 six-digit subheadings and 5 eight-digit tariff lines, with 5 ten-digit statistical suffixes below them.

Every one of its 5 tariff lines is duty-free at the general rate, so classification within the heading affects statistics and Chapter 99 measures rather than the base duty.

Its median rate of duty-free sits at the 13th percentile of the headings in chapter 96.

1 of the lines carry specific or compound rates (per kilogram, per dozen and so on) rather than a percentage, so their burden depends on the unit value of the goods.

The largest subheadings are 9609.20 (pencil leads, black or colored, 2 lines), 9609.90 (other, 2 lines) and 9609.10 (unnamed, 1 line).

By Census's concordance, most of its statistical lines are made by Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing (339940). Those are the NAICS industries a US producer of these goods would report under.