Ballpoint Pens — HS Code
Ball point pens — with liquid ink (rollerball pens)
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HS Code
9608 — Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers
Classification Context
Chapter
Chapter 96 — Miscellaneous manufactured articles
Heading
9608 — Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers
Applicable Rule
GRI 1 — ballpoint pens are classified under 9608.10
Prior Rulings
EU — EBTI (Binding Tariff Information)
Search EU EBTI databaseUS — CBP CROSS Ruling Database
Search US CBP CROSS rulingsUK — HMRC Trade Tariff
View UK Trade Tariff commodityClassification Notes
Ballpoint pens with oil-based ink are classified under 9608.10.90. Rollerball pens with liquid ink are 9608.10.10. Felt-tip pens and markers are 9608.20. Fountain pens are 9608.30. Sets of pens sold together are classified under GRI 3 by the heading that gives the most specific description — usually 9608. Pen refills/cartridges are 9608.60. The distinction between ballpoint and rollerball matters for the EU subheading (different rates apply): oil-based ballpoint vs. liquid ink rollerball. Promotional pens with company logos are classified identically to standard pens.
MFN Duty Rates by Market
European Union
9608.10.10
EU Combined Nomenclature (CN) rate — applies to all 27 EU member states
United States
9608.10.10
US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) MFN rate — Section 301 tariffs may add to China-origin goods
United Kingdom
9608.10.10
UK Global Tariff (UKGT) — post-Brexit tariff schedule, independent of EU CN
Official Sources & References
WCO HS Nomenclature
World Customs Organisation — the international standard behind all HS codes
wcoomd.org
EU TARIC Database
European Commission integrated tariff — EU Combined Nomenclature (CN) rates
ec.europa.eu
US HTS Schedule (USITC)
United States International Trade Commission — official US Harmonized Tariff Schedule
hts.usitc.gov
UK Global Tariff (HMRC)
His Majesty's Revenue and Customs — UK Trade Tariff post-Brexit
trade-tariff.service.gov.uk
Disclaimer: Duty rates shown are MFN (Most-Favoured-Nation) base rates sourced from live tariff database and verified April 2026. Actual duties may differ based on country of origin, applicable trade agreements (e.g. GSP, CETA, UK-EU TCA), anti-dumping measures, or changes to tariff schedules. Always verify with the official tariff database of the importing country before making customs declarations.
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