What is the U.S. tariff rate on molds and die sets?

USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 13.22% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–3.8%; 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 molds and die sets?

The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–3.8% across the family's 12 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 8480). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.

Which countries supply the most molds and die sets to the U.S.?

Top retained sources in 2025: Canada ($847.9M at 0.91%), China ($348.1M at 54.17%), Germany ($189.6M at 11.84%). Canada holds 37.2% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 85.8%; their HHI is 1790, a lower bound whose floor falls in the moderately concentrated range without classifying the omitted tail.

How much molds and die sets does the U.S. import?

$2.3B of customs value in 2025, with $321.0M in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 14.1%.

Is the U.S. a net importer of molds and die sets?

Yes — a net importer in 2025: $2.3B imported vs $600.5M exported (exports are 26% of imports).

What is the customs unit value of molds and die sets?

$69.7/unit in 2025, derived as customs value ÷ reported quantity from USITC DataWeb. It is an aggregate across the family's product and origin mix, not a transaction price or supplier quote.

Tariff monitor · Machinery & Equipment

Molds and Die Sets: Statutory & Effective Tariff Rates

USITC Column 1 General rates for 12 molds and die sets HTS lines (parseable range 0%–3.8%). Effective rate Jun 2026: 13.22%; monthly history since 2014.

The short answer

The observed effective calculated-duty rate on U.S. imports of molds and die sets was 13.22% in Jun 2026, down from 13.3% a year earlier — USITC Calculated Duties divided by covered customs value. The Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–3.8% across 12 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. Canada is the largest source, holding 37.2% of 2025 imports.

Statutory rates from the schedule

Injection molds, die-casting dies, compression molds, and die sets — the tooling behind every molded and stamped part. This family covers HTS heading 8480: 12 eight-digit rate lines with a parseable Column 1 General range of 0%–3.8% in the 2026 schedule. “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for that line; it does not determine final entry liability.

Observed calculated-duty data

Latest month on record (2026-06): 13.22% effective on $175.9M of imports, versus 13.3% 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 $2.3B in customs value, with $321.0M in USITC reported calculated duty on $2.3B of covered customs value: an effective calculated-duty rate of 14.1%. 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 4.97%, so the observed rate rose 9.1 points.
Top source countries in 2025: Canada ($847.9M at 0.91%), China ($348.1M at 54.17%), Germany ($189.6M at 11.84%), Japan ($133.0M at 10.04%), South Korea ($128.9M at 9.72%).
Reported freight and insurance equaled 3.49% of covered customs value in 2025 ($68.2M total); charge coverage was 85.8% 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.
Customs unit value: 69.7364 per unit in 2025, aggregate declared customs value divided by reported quantity across eligible single-unit lines (USITC DataWeb); not a transaction price.

Representative rate lines

8480.10.00.00: Molding boxes for metal foundry · MFN 3.8%
8480.20.00.00: Mold bases · MFN 3.4%
8480.30.00.00: Molding patterns · MFN 2.8%
8480.41.00.00: Injection or compression types · MFN 3.1%
8480.49.00: Other types · MFN 3.1%
8480.50.00: Molds for glass · MFN Free
8480.60.00: Molds for mineral materials · MFN Free
8480.71.10.00: For shoe machinery · MFN Free

Frequently asked questions

What is the U.S. tariff rate on molds and die sets? USITC calculated duties imply an effective rate of 13.22% in Jun 2026 (calculated duties ÷ covered customs value, USITC DataWeb). The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–3.8%; 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 molds and die sets? The parseable Column 1 General line-rate range is 0%–3.8% across the family's 12 eight-digit HTS lines in the 2026 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (headings 8480). “Free” means the official General field is literally Free for a line; it does not determine final entry liability.
Which countries supply the most molds and die sets to the U.S.? Top retained sources in 2025: Canada ($847.9M at 0.91%), China ($348.1M at 54.17%), Germany ($189.6M at 11.84%). Canada holds 37.2% of total family import customs value. Retained sources cover 85.8%; their HHI is 1790, a lower bound whose floor falls in the moderately concentrated range without classifying the omitted tail.
How much molds and die sets does the U.S. import? $2.3B of customs value in 2025, with $321.0M in USITC Calculated Duties — an effective calculated-duty rate of 14.1%.
Is the U.S. a net importer of molds and die sets? Yes — a net importer in 2025: $2.3B imported vs $600.5M exported (exports are 26% of imports).
What is the customs unit value of molds and die sets? $69.7/unit in 2025, derived as customs value ÷ reported quantity from USITC DataWeb. It is an aggregate across the family's product and origin mix, not a transaction price or supplier quote.

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.