Why does the rate differ by country for the same HTS code?

The Column 1 rate is the same for every origin with normal trade relations. Trade-remedy duties under Sections 232, 301 and 338 are imposed by origin, by product, or by both, so two shipments of the same article from different countries can carry very different totals.

Is this the rate I will actually pay?

It is the rate that applies to this classification and origin on the date shown. The duty owed on a specific entry also depends on the 10-digit statistical suffix, declared content where a duty is content-based, preference eligibility, and any AD/CVD order in scope.

HTS 9608

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. Duty is assessed at the 10-digit statistical line; the figures here are resolved for 9608.10.00.00, the first line under this heading. Its Column 1 rate is 0.8¢ each + 5.4%; other lines under 9608 carry different Column 1 rates. On top of that, the ad valorem total depends on origin: China carries 25.40% plus a per-unit component and Italy carries 5.40% plus a per-unit component.

Chapter 96 · Verified 2026-08-31
HTS 2026HTSRev17

13 statistical lines under this heading · 7 distinct Column 1 rates · highest ad valorem total 25.40% from China · lowest 5.40% from Italy

Origin	Ad valorem layers	Layers	Reported under
China CHN	25.40% + per-unit	mfn + s301 + s301	9903.88.15 9903.05.31
Vietnam VNM	17.90% + per-unit	mfn + s301	9903.05.84
Thailand THA	17.90% + per-unit	mfn + s301	9903.05.77
Brazil BRA	17.90% + per-unit	mfn + s301	9903.05.27
Mexico MEX	15.40% + per-unit	mfn + s301	9903.05.55
Canada CAN	15.40% + per-unit	mfn + s301	9903.05.29
India IND	15.40% + per-unit	mfn + s301	9903.05.44
United Kingdom GBR	15.40% + per-unit	mfn + s301	9903.05.81
Germany DEU	5.40% + per-unit	mfn	—
Japan JPN	5.40% + per-unit	mfn	—
South Korea KOR	5.40% + per-unit	mfn	—
Italy ITA	5.40% + per-unit	mfn	—

Table 1Rate by country of origin for 9608.10.00.00, resolved 2026-08-31. The first statistical line under 9608; other lines may carry different Column 1 rates.

Code	Description	Column 1	Special	Units
9608.10.00.00	Ball point pens	0.8¢ each + 5.4%	Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	No.
9608.20.00.00	Felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers	4%	Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,JP,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	gross
9608.30.00.31	India ink drawing pens	inherited	—	No.
9608.30.00.39	Other	inherited	—	No.
9608.40.40.00	With a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead	6.6%	Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) 3.3% (JP)	gross
9608.40.80.00	Other	Free	—	gross
9608.50.00.00	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	Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	No.
9608.60.00.00	Refills for ball point pens, comprising the ball point and ink reservoir	0.4¢ each + 2.7%	Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	No.
9608.91.00.00	Pen nibs and nib points	Free	—	gross
9608.99.20.00	Refill cartridges	0.4¢ each + 2.7%	Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	No.
9608.99.30.00	Balls for ball point pens	20¢/thousand + 3.5%	Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG)	thousands
9608.99.40.00	Parts of articles provided for in subheadings 9608.10 and 9608.30 (other than balls for ball point pens)	Free	—	No.
9608.99.60.00	Other	Free	—	No.

Table 2Statistical suffixes under 9608. Duty is assessed at the 10-digit level; the Column 1 rate is stated at the subheading and inherited below it.

Programme	Rate as published	Contribution	Reported under	In force from
Column 1 General (MFN)	0.8¢ each + 5.4%	5.40% + per unit	—	not established
Source: USITC, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 2026 HTS Revision 17, published 2026-08-01. Verified 2026-08-31.
Section 301	The duty provided in the applicable subheading + 7.5%	7.50%	9903.88.15	2019-09-01
Status unconfirmed. The second statutory four-year review of this action is running. The continuation-request deadlines for the underlying 2018 actions closed on 2026-07-05 and 2026-08-22 and no continuation notice has been published. There is no evidence of termination either, and the duty is almost certainly still collectible; what we cannot do is cite a document saying so. Source: USTR, Notice of Modification of Section 301 Action: China's Acts, Policies and Practices Related to Technology Transfer (List 4A) (84 FR 43304), published 2019-08-20. Verified 2026-08-31.
Section 301	The duty provided in the applicable subheading + 12.5%	12.50%	9903.05.31	2026-07-24
Source: USTR, Notice of Actions in Section 301 Investigations of Various Economies (FR Doc. 2026-15181), published 2026-07-28. Verified 2026-08-31.

Read with care.

At least one applicable rate is charged per unit of quantity. The percentage shown covers only the ad valorem portion of the duty.

Table 3Duty stack for 9608.10.00.00 from China, resolved 2026-08-31.

Common questions

What is the duty rate for HTS 9608?: 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. Duty is assessed at the 10-digit statistical line; the figures here are resolved for 9608.10.00.00, the first line under this heading. Its Column 1 rate is 0.8¢ each + 5.4%; other lines under 9608 carry different Column 1 rates. On top of that, the ad valorem total depends on origin: China carries 25.40% plus a per-unit component and Italy carries 5.40% plus a per-unit component.
Why does the rate differ by country for the same HTS code?: The Column 1 rate is the same for every origin with normal trade relations. Trade-remedy duties under Sections 232, 301 and 338 are imposed by origin, by product, or by both, so two shipments of the same article from different countries can carry very different totals.
Is this the rate I will actually pay?: It is the rate that applies to this classification and origin on the date shown. The duty owed on a specific entry also depends on the 10-digit statistical suffix, declared content where a duty is content-based, preference eligibility, and any AD/CVD order in scope.