What is the U.S. tariff rate on cutting tools and inserts?

USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 14.26% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–8.4%; individual lines are called “Free” only when the official General field is literally Free, and product, origin, preference and tariff mix can contribute to the observed-rate difference.

What are the statutory MFN line rates for cutting tools and inserts?

The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–8.4% across the family's 30 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 8207, 8208, 8209). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.

Which countries supply the most cutting tools and inserts to the U.S.?

Top retained sources in 2025: Germany ($762.3M at 11.76%), Japan ($616.5M at 9.81%), China ($529.5M at 50.7%). Germany holds 17% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 76.2%; their HHI is 790, a lower bound whose floor falls in the diversified range without classifying the omitted tail.

How much cutting tools and inserts does the U.S. import?

$4.5B of customs value in 2025, with $701.7M in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 15.67%.

Is the U.S. a net importer of cutting tools and inserts?

Yes — a net importer in 2025: $4.5B imported vs $1.4B exported (exports are 30% of imports).

Tariff monitor · Tooling & Hand Tools

Cutting Tools and Inserts: Statutory & Effective Tariff Rates

USITC Column 1 General rates for 30 cutting tools and inserts HTS lines (parseable range 0%–8.4%). Effective rate Jun 2026: 14.26%; monthly history since 2014.

The short answer

The observed effective calculated-duty rate on U.S. imports of cutting tools and inserts was 14.26% in Jun 2026, down from 15.17% a year earlier — USITC Calculated Duties divided by covered customs value. The Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–8.4% across 30 HTS lines in the 2026 schedule; individual lines are called “Free” only when the official General field is literally Free, which still does not determine a shipment’s final duty. Germany is the largest source, holding 17% of 2025 imports.

Statutory rates from the schedule

Interchangeable tooling — drills, end mills, taps, dies, machine knives, and carbide inserts. This family covers HTS headings 8207, 8208, 8209: 30 eight-digit rate lines with a parseable Column 1 General range of 0%–8.4% in the 2026 schedule. “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for that line; it does not determine final entry liability.
Chapter 99 references on individual lines (for example, 9903.90.08) identify provisions to review; applicability and any additional duty depend on the entry facts.

Observed calculated-duty data

Latest month on record (2026-06): 14.26% effective on $479.5M of imports, versus 15.17% in the same month a year earlier. The monthly archive holds 150 observations from 2014-01 through 2026-06.
In 2025, U.S. imports for consumption in this family totaled $4.5B in customs value, with $701.7M in USITC reported calculated duty on $4.5B of covered customs value: an effective calculated-duty rate of 15.67%. The aggregate reflects the recorded entry mix but does not attribute the result to a specific legal provision.
A year earlier the effective calculated-duty rate was 6.17%, so the observed rate rose 9.5 points.
Top source countries in 2025: Germany ($762.3M at 11.76%), Japan ($616.5M at 9.81%), China ($529.5M at 50.7%), South Korea ($311.4M at 9.73%), Canada ($272.4M at 2.42%).
Reported freight and insurance equaled 3.33% of covered customs value in 2025 ($113.8M total); charge coverage was 76.2% of customs value, from USITC DataWeb. It is shown alongside the effective calculated-duty rate and is not part of the customs-value duty base.

Representative rate lines

8207.13.00.00: With working part of cermets · MFN 3.6%
8207.19.30: With cutting part containing by weight over 0.2 percent of chromium, molybdenum, or tungst · MFN 5%
8207.19.60: Other · MFN 2.9%
8207.20.00: Dies for drawing or extruding metal, and parts thereof · MFN 3.9%
8207.30.30: Suitable for cutting metal, and parts thereof · MFN 5.7%
8207.30.60: Not suitable for cutting metal, and parts thereof · MFN 2.9%
8207.40.30.00: With cutting part containing by weight over 0.2 percent of chromium, molybdenum, or tungst · MFN 5.7%
8207.40.60.00: Other · MFN 4.8%

Frequently asked questions

What is the U.S. tariff rate on cutting tools and inserts? USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 14.26% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–8.4%; individual lines are called “Free” only when the official General field is literally Free, and product, origin, preference and tariff mix can contribute to the observed-rate difference.
What are the statutory MFN line rates for cutting tools and inserts? The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–8.4% across the family's 30 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 8207, 8208, 8209). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.
Which countries supply the most cutting tools and inserts to the U.S.? Top retained sources in 2025: Germany ($762.3M at 11.76%), Japan ($616.5M at 9.81%), China ($529.5M at 50.7%). Germany holds 17% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 76.2%; their HHI is 790, a lower bound whose floor falls in the diversified range without classifying the omitted tail.
How much cutting tools and inserts does the U.S. import? $4.5B of customs value in 2025, with $701.7M in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 15.67%.
Is the U.S. a net importer of cutting tools and inserts? Yes — a net importer in 2025: $4.5B imported vs $1.4B exported (exports are 30% of imports).

About this data

Reference statistics derived from USITC published data. Not a customs ruling. MFN-Free and Special-rate fields describe statutory line coverage only; final entry liability requires origin, date, eligibility, exclusions and other transaction facts. Calculated Duties are statistical estimates, not a cash-collections ledger. Confirm classification, origin, program eligibility, and final entry liability with a licensed customs broker.

Last reviewed 2026-08-31.