HTS heading 9608 · Chapter 96
HTS 9608: Ball point pens
HTS heading 9608 covers 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. It has 12 tariff lines with a duty rate; the general (MFN) rates are Free (4 lines), 0.4¢ each + 2.7% (3 lines), 0.8¢ each + 5.4% (1 line) and others.
Imports may also owe Chapter 99 tariffs (Section 232, 301 or 201) depending on origin and date, plus the Merchandise Processing Fee and, by sea, the Harbor Maintenance Fee.
Rates from the 2026 HTS Revision 22, effective October 30, 2026. Source: U.S. International Trade Commission.
Tariff lines and duty rates
| HTS code | Description | General | Special | Column 2 | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9608.10.00.00 | Ball point pens[No.] | 0.8¢ each + 5.4% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 6¢ each + 40% | Estimate → |
| 9608.20.00.00 | Felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers[gross] | 4% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,JP,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 40% | Estimate → |
| 9608.30.00 | Fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% | Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E, IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA, PE,S,SG) | 6¢ each + 40% | |
| 9608.30.00.31 | India ink drawing pens[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 9608.30.00.39 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 9608.40 | Propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils): | ||||
| 9608.40.40.00 | With a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead[gross] | 6.6% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) 3.3% (JP) | 41.5% | Estimate → |
| 9608.40.80.00 | Other[gross] | Free | 45% | Estimate → | |
| 9608.50.00.00 | Sets of articles from two or more of the subheadings 9608.10, 9608.20, 9608.30 or 9608.40[No.] | The rate applicable to each article in the absence of this subheading | Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | The rate applicable, to each article in the absence of this subheading | Estimate → |
| 9608.60.00.00 | Refills for ball point pens, comprising the ball point and ink reservoir[No.] | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 6¢ each + 40% | Estimate → |
| Other: | |||||
| 9608.91.00.00 | Pen nibs and nib points[gross] | Free | 20¢/gross | Estimate → | |
| 9608.99 | Other: | ||||
| 9608.99.20.00 | Refill cartridges[No.] | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 6¢ each + 40% | Estimate → |
| 9608.99.30.00 | Balls for ball point pens[thousands] | 20¢/thousand + 3.5% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | $2.50/thou- sand + 40% | Estimate → |
| Other: | |||||
| 9608.99.40.00 | Parts of articles provided for in subheadings 9608.10 and 9608.30 (other than balls for ball point pens)[No.] | Free | 6¢ each + 40% | Estimate → | |
| 9608.99.60.00 | Other[No.] | Free | 45% | Estimate → |
14 lines shown. Statistical suffixes (the last two digits) inherit the rate of the 8-digit subheading above them.
Example: base duty and fees on $10000
For HTS 9608.20.00.00 at the general rate of 4%, shipped by ocean, before any Chapter 99 tariffs:
| Base duty (4%) | $400.00 |
| Merchandise Processing Fee (0.3464%, min $34.58) | $34.64 |
| Harbor Maintenance Fee (0.125%) | $12.50 |
| Duty and fees | $447.14 |
Origin-specific tariffs can multiply this. Run this example from China or from Mexico to see every line.
Special program codes in this heading
- A, A*, A+
- Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
- AU
- U.S.–Australia FTA
- BH
- U.S.–Bahrain FTA
- CL
- U.S.–Chile FTA
- CO
- U.S.–Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement
- D
- African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
- E, E*
- Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
- IL
- U.S.–Israel FTA
- JO
- U.S.–Jordan FTA
- JP
- U.S.–Japan Trade Agreement
- KR
- U.S.–Korea FTA (KORUS)
- MA
- U.S.–Morocco FTA
- OM
- U.S.–Oman FTA
- P, P+
- CAFTA-DR
- PA
- U.S.–Panama Trade Promotion Agreement
- PE
- U.S.–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement
- S, S+
- USMCA (United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement)
- SG
- U.S.–Singapore FTA
A special rate applies only when the goods qualify under that program's rules of origin and the claim is made at entry.