Import Duty on Injection Molds
US general (MFN) import duty rates for Injection Molds range from Free–3.1% across 3 HTS lines (e.g. HTS 8480.71.10.00 at Free), per USITC HTS release 2026HTSRev22. This is a planning estimate: Section 301, Section 232, AD/CVD, quotas and MPF/HMF are excluded and must be added separately.
A mold is a capital tool, not a consumer product, and its duty treatment reflects that.
HTS lines and general duty rates
Read from the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule, release 2026HTSRev22. USITC HTS, verify line 8480.71.10.00.
| HTS code | Description | General rate | Special rate (FTA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8480.71.10.00 | For shoe machinery | Free | |
| 8480.71.40.00 | For the manufacture of semiconductor devices | Free | |
| 8480.71.80 | Other | 3.1% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,JP,KR,MA,OM,P, |
What changes by country of origin
The MFN rate is the same regardless of where the goods are made. Everything below it is not.
| Origin | Base rate | US preference | What else attaches |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | Section 301 lists 1-4A apply to most consumer goods on top of MFN; the 2026 forced-labor 301 action adds a further layer. |
| Vietnam | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty. The 2026 forced-labor 301 action applies. No US FTA, so MFN is the base. |
| India | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty and no US FTA. Forced-labor 301 applies. GSP expired, so MFN is the base. |
| Thailand | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty and no US FTA. Forced-labor 301 applies. |
| Indonesia | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty and no US FTA. Forced-labor 301 applies. |
| Mexico | MFN rate above | No USMCA line on these codes | USMCA: duty-free when the goods meet the rules of origin and the preference is claimed. MFN applies otherwise. |
Free-trade programs named on the lines in this group: GSP (developing countries) (1 lines), Australia (AUSFTA) (1 lines), Bahrain (BHFTA) (1 lines), Chile (CLFTA) (1 lines), Colombia (CTPA) (1 lines), Agoa (1 lines). A preference only applies when the goods meet that program's rules of origin and the claim is made on entry. This page does not estimate Section 301 list rates or anti-dumping duty; enter the applicable Section 301 rate in the calculator yourself and verify current list coverage and exclusions at the USTR exclusion notices.
What decides the rate
8480.71 covers injection or compression molds for rubber or plastics. Molds are frequently imported by the same company that will use them, and their value is often challenged because the invoice can split design, steel and machining across several suppliers. The customs value has to include the assists.
Where this goes wrong
Mold design fees paid to a third country, and steel bought by the buyer and shipped to the molder, are assists that belong in the customs value. Leaving them out understates duty.
Inputs and assumptions
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Duty rate source | USITC HTS, release 2026HTSRev22 | Read at build time from the official schedule export. The general rate column. |
| Rate range in this category | Free–3.1% across 3 lines | The spread within one product category is the reason a category average is not usable. |
| MPF | 0.3464% of entered value, min $34.58, max $670.86 | CBP User Fee Table, FY2027. The ad valorem rate is statutory; the floor and cap are adjusted each October. |
| HMF | 0.125% of entered value, ocean cargo only | CBP User Fee Table. Not charged on air freight. |
| Customs value | Transaction value, normally the price paid for the goods | Freight and insurance are not part of US customs value, unlike CIF jurisdictions. |
Questions this page answers
What is the duty on an injection mold?
8480.71 covers injection or compression molds for rubber or plastics, at up to 3.1%. The rate is small; the valuation question is the larger risk.
What is an assist, and why does it matter for molds?
Mold design paid to a third country, and steel bought by the buyer and shipped to the molder, are assists that belong in the customs value. Leaving them out understates the declared value and the duty.
Does this estimate include anti-dumping duty?
No. Anti-dumping and countervailing duty are case-specific and can exceed every other layer combined, so they are outside the estimate by design. The calculator covers base duty, the Section 301 and 232 layers you enter, the merchandise processing fee and the harbor maintenance fee.
Data release: 2026HTSRev22. Content as of November 10, 2026. Found an error? Tell us and it gets corrected.