HTS Index

HTS heading 9608

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 — 17 codes under this heading, with the duty on each.

CodeDescriptionGeneral rateUnits
9608Ball 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 + Ch. 99not stated
9608.10.00.00Ball point pens + Ch. 990.8¢ each + 5.4%No.
9608.20.00.00Felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers + Ch. 994%gross
9608.30.00Fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens + Ch. 990.4¢ each + 2.7%
9608.30.00.31India ink drawing pens + Ch. 990.4¢ each + 2.7% (inherited from 9608.30.00)No.
9608.30.00.39Other + Ch. 990.4¢ each + 2.7% (inherited from 9608.30.00)No.
9608.40Propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils) + Ch. 99not stated
9608.40.40.00With a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead + Ch. 996.6%gross
9608.40.80.00Other + Ch. 99Freegross
9608.50.00.00Sets of articles from two or more of the subheadings 9608.10, 9608.20, 9608.30 or 9608.40 + Ch. 99The rate applicable to each article in the absence of this subheadingNo.
9608.60.00.00Refills for ball point pens, comprising the ball point and ink reservoir + Ch. 990.4¢ each + 2.7%No.
9608.91.00.00Pen nibs and nib points + Ch. 99Freegross
9608.99Other + Ch. 99not stated
9608.99.20.00Refill cartridges + Ch. 990.4¢ each + 2.7%No.
9608.99.30.00Balls for ball point pens + Ch. 9920¢/thousand + 3.5%thousands
9608.99.40.00Parts of articles provided for in subheadings 9608.10 and 9608.30 (other than balls for ball point pens) + Ch. 99FreeNo.
9608.99.60.00Other + Ch. 99FreeNo.

2 of these lines state no rate of their own and inherit one from the line above, which is how the schedule is read. Each says which line it came from.

Additional duties may apply

17 lines here reference Chapter 99, where Section 301, Section 232 and other additional duties live. Those are charged on top of the general rate and depend on where the goods were made. What those provisions are.

Source: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, U.S. International Trade Commission (public domain). Classification and the duties that finally apply to a shipment are a licensed customs broker's call.