# United States tariff line 9608.40.40.00: With a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead

> In the United States tariff, line 9608.40.40.00 covers propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils), with a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead. The general (MFN) duty rate is 6.6%. It falls under HS subheading 9608.40 in heading 96.08 (chapter 96).

Source: https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/9608404000
Last updated: 9 October 2026

[Countries](https://border.bot/countries) / [United States](https://border.bot/countries/united-states) / [Chapter 96](https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/96) / [9608.40](https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/960840) / [9608.40.40.00](https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/9608404000)

## Key facts

- Tariff line: 9608.40.40.00
- Covers: Propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils), with a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead
- Duty (MFN): 6.6%
- Preferential rates: From free (18 programmes or origins)
- Additional duties: None recorded
- Restrictions: None recorded
- Tariff: [United States](https://border.bot/countries/united-states)
- HS subheading: [9608.40](https://border.bot/hs-codes/960840)

## What this line covers

In the United States tariff, line 9608.40.40.00 covers propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils), with a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead.

Its legal text is “With a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead”, read under “Propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils)”.

## How it is structured

It falls under HS subheading 9608.40 in heading 96.08 (chapter 96). The first six digits are the Harmonized System code; the 4 digits after them are added by the United States tariff.

- Chapter 96: Miscellaneous manufactured articles
- Heading 96.08: 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
- Subheading 9608.40: Propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils)
- Line 9608.40.40.00: With a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead

## Duty

The general (MFN) duty rate is 6.6%.

Duty-free entry applies to goods that qualify under 16 programmes, and to goods from a group of origins (origin group A).

A preferential rate of 3.3% applies to goods that qualify under Trade Agreement Between the United States and Japan.

- Free: a group of origins (origin group A) (A)
- Free: United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement (AU)
- Free: United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (BH)
- Free: United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CL)
- Free: United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (CO)
- Free: African Growth and Opportunity Act (D)
- Free: Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (E)
- Free: United States-Israel Free Trade Area (IL)
- Free: United States-Jordan Free Trade Area Implementation Act (JO)
- Free: United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (KR)
- Free: United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (MA)
- Free: United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (OM)
- Free: Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (P)
- Free: United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (PA)
- Free: United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (PE)
- Free: United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (S)
- Free: United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SG)
- 3.3%: Trade Agreement Between the United States and Japan (JP)

## In other countries

No other national tariff on border.bot has live lines under 9608.40 yet.

- [The Harmonized System text for 9608.40](https://border.bot/hs-codes/960840)

## Other lines under 9608.40

- [9608.40.80.00](https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/9608408000) Other

- Previous line: [9608.30.00.39](https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/9608300039) Other
- Next line: [9608.40.80.00](https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/9608408000) Other

## Frequently asked questions

### What does tariff line 9608.40.40.00 cover in the United States tariff?

In the United States tariff, line 9608.40.40.00 covers propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils), with a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead.

### What is the general (MFN) duty on 9608.40.40.00 in the United States?

The general (MFN) duty rate is 6.6%.

### Which preferential rates apply to 9608.40.40.00?

Duty-free entry applies to goods that qualify under 16 programmes: the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement, the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement, the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, African Growth and Opportunity Act, Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, the United States-Israel Free Trade Area, the United States-Jordan Free Trade Area Implementation Act, the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, and to goods from a group of origins (origin group A). A preferential rate of 3.3% applies to goods that qualify under Trade Agreement Between the United States and Japan.

## Sources and updates

The tariff lines for the United States come from border.bot release 1 (edition 2026HTSRev21), read from the publisher’s files, and have been live since 9 October 2026.

The duty rates for the United States come from border.bot release 1 (edition 2026HTSRev21), read from the publisher’s files, and have been live since 9 October 2026.

The trade programmes for the United States come from border.bot release 1 (edition 2026HTSRev21), read from the publisher’s files, and have been live since 9 October 2026.

This page was last updated on 9 October 2026.

Guidance from published tariff data, not a binding ruling. For a decision customs must follow, apply to the destination’s customs authority for a binding tariff ruling.

Official source files:

- https://hts.usitc.gov/reststop/exportList?from=0000000000&to=9999999999&format=CSV&styles=false

Machine-readable: https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/9608404000.json