Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States · HTS code · HS 9609.90
9609.90.80: Pencils (other than those pencils of heading 9608): other
Not declarable on its own: use one of its 1 subdivisions Data: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States · checked on 24 October 2026
- 9609 Pencils (other than those pencils of heading 9608), crayons, pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks and tailors' chalks:
- 9609.90 Other:
- 9609.90.80 Other
What you pay
Importing into USA
US additional duties of HTS chapter 99 in force on 22 October 2026 are included (Section 301, 232, 338 and 201). IEEPA duties are no longer collected after the Supreme Court ruling of February 2026. Conditional exemptions (US content, end use, metal share) are not computed: check the provision.
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Additional duties and charges 1
- Additional dutySection 301 — China — technology transfer, IP and innovation (2018 actions and 2024 four-year review) 7.5%
- Applies to goods from
- China
- In force
- from 1 September 2019
- Legal act
- HTSUS 9903.88.15
Same subheading in other tariffs
9609.90 Pencils (other than pencils of heading 9608), crayons: other
UK Free – 2% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 1% 
EU 1.7% – 2.7% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 2.2% 
Türkiye 1.7% – 2.7% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 2.2% 
Canada 7% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico 10% – 15% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 12.5% 
Brazil 16.2% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 18% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Peru 6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free – 5% General (MFN) 9 tariff lines · average 2.2% 
Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 2.5% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia 12% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Nigeria 20% General (MFN) 1 tariff line USA lines: 9609.90
Binding rulings for similar goods
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
- N356868 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of school supply kits from China
- N335600 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of crayons from China
- N334305 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of the Disney “Fun Pack” from China
- N325222 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of “Play Chalk” from China.
- N324875 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of a child’s activity kit from China
- N323798 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of a chalk and bubble wand from China.
- N320733 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of a metal alloy tipped pencil from China.
- N306901 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of a kids’ coloring pack from France and Tunisia
Legal notes
In the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 9609.90.80 is one of 2 lines under subheading 9609.90, pencils (other than pencils of heading 9608), crayons: other.
The general duty is free, and quantities are declared in gross.
For the same subheading, the UK duty is 0%–2%, the EU duty is 1.7%–2.7%, the Türkiye duty is 1.7%–2.7%, the Canada duty is 7%, the Mexico duty is 10%–15%, the Brazil duty is 16.2%, the Argentina duty is 18%, the Peru duty is 6%, the New Zealand duty is 0%–5%, the Japan duty is free, the Taiwan duty is 2.5%, the GCC duty is 5%, the Switzerland duty is free, the Norway duty is free, the North Macedonia duty is 12% and the Nigeria duty is 20%.
The United States imported goods of subheading 9609.90 worth US$93m in 2024; the largest supplier was China.
Questions and answers
What is the USA import duty for HTS code 9609.90.80?
The general duty in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is free; the supplementary unit is gross. Preferential rates for goods from agreement countries, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Where does the United States import these goods from?
For subheading 9609.90 as a whole, the largest supplier in 2024 was China (US$60m), followed by Mexico.
Typical products
Everyday names, not part of the legal text.