BETA - International Trade Administration

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Administrative Review

Preliminary Results Announcement: 9/3/2026

Extension Days Remaining: 120

Period Covered: 12/1/2024 – 11/30/2025

HTS Numbers

Scope of the Order

The products covered by this investigation are certain cased pencils of any shape or dimension which are writing and/or drawing instruments that feature cores of graphite or other materials, encased in wood and/or man-made mateials, whether or not decorated and whether or not tipped (e.g. , with erasers, etc.) in any fashion, and either sharpened or unsharpened. The pencils subject to this investigation are classified under subheading 9609.10.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States (“HTSUS”). Specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation are mechanical pencils, cosmetic pencils, pens, non-cased crayons (wax), pastels, charcoals, and chalks. Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes; our written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

Final Scope Rulings, Circumvention Determinations, and Changed Circumstance Determinations

Record Type	Final Signature Date	Product Description	Decision	In Scope?	Scope Determination
Scope Inquiry Post AB10	05/06/2024	School Specialty	View Document	Yes	In accordance with 19 CFR 351.225(h), 351.225(j), and 351.225(k)(1), and based on our analysis of the scope request, we find that #2 pencils, drawing pencils, and colored pencils manufactured by School Specialty, LLC (School Specialty) in the Philippines using Chinese inputs and exported from the Philippines to the United States are within the scope of the antidumping duty (AD) order on certain cased pencils (cased pencils) from the People’s Republic of China (China).
Scope Inquiry	10/27/2014	Flexible Pencils	View Document	No	We recommend finding that the outside sheath of the flexible pencils covered by this inquiry is not rigid, and, therefore, these flexible pencils are not covered by the Order.
Changed Circumstances Review	08/27/2012	ThinkGeek, Inc.	View Document	No	Commerce published a notice of initiation and preliminary results of a changed circumstance review and intent to revoke, in part, the antidumping duty (‘‘AD’’) order of certain cased pencils from the People’s Republic of China (‘‘PRC’’). The final results do not differ from the preliminary results of review, and we are revoking the order, in part, with respect to novelty drumstick pencils. This partial revocation is effective June 1, 2011.
Scope Inquiry	07/09/2010	Pedestal Pets Sets	View Document	Yes	We recommend that the Department determine that the pencils in Inspired Design's Pedestal Pets Sets are within the scope of the PRC Pencils Order.
Scope Inquiry	06/23/2009	Compasses with Pencils	View Document	No	We recommend that the Department determine that the compasses in question are not within the scope of the PRC Pencils Order.
Scope Inquiry	03/12/2009	Valentine Card Sets with Pencils	View Document	No	We recommend that the Department determine that the children's Valentine's cards sets with pencils described in PMG's scope ruling request are outside the scope of the PRC Pencils Order
Scope Inquiry	03/10/2009	Artskills Draw & Sketch Kit	View Document	Yes	We recommend that the Department issue a final ruling and continue to find that the three graphite pencils and the three cased charcoal drawing pencils contained in ArtSkills Draw & Sketch are within the scope of the PRC Pencils Order, and the remaining components, including one pencil sharpener, one sanding pad, one black eraser, one kneaded eraser, and one tortillon, are outside the scope of the PRC Pencils Order.
Scope Inquiry	10/08/2008	ArtSkills Stencil Kit	View Document	No	We recommend that the Department determine that the Stencil Kit classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States ("HTSUS") subheading 9017.20.8080 and described in the Walgreens' Stencil Kit Scope Ruling Request is outside the scope of the PRC Pencils Order.
Scope Inquiry	08/21/2008	Smencils Home Kit and Mini Kit	View Document	Yes	We recommend finding that the “Home Kit” and “Mini Kit” pencils are covered by the scope of the order on certain cased pencils from the PRC.
Changed Circumstances Review	03/10/2006			No	The Department published the preliminary results of this review on January 3, 2006. See Notice of Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review and Intent to Revoke Order in Part: Certain Cased Pencils from the People’s Republic of China, 71 FR 92 (January 3, 2006) (Preliminary Results). We are now revoking this order, in part, with respect to pencils meeting the specifications described below, based on the fact that domestic interested parties 1 have expressed no objection to exclusion of these pencils from the order.
Scope Inquiry	06/03/2005	Certain Compasses	View Document	No	We determine that the merchandise in question is not within the scope of the Order.
Scope Inquiry	03/04/2005	RoseArt Clip N' Color	View Document	No	We determine that the merchandise in question is not within the scope of the Order.
Scope Inquiry	02/18/2005	Decorated Wooden Gift Pencils	View Document	Yes	We determine that the merchandise in question is within the scope of the Order.
Scope Inquiry	09/29/2004	Hello Kitty Fashion Totes	View Document	No	We determine that the merchandise in question is not within the scope of the Order.
Scope Inquiry	09/29/2004	Hello Kitty Memory Maker	View Document	No	We determine that the merchandise in question is not within the scope of the Order.
Scope Inquiry	09/29/2004	Crayola the Wave	View Document	No	We determine that the merchandise in question is not within the scope of the Order.
Changed Circumstances Review	10/27/2003			No	The Department of Commerce (the Department) published a notice of initiation and preliminary results of an antidumping duty (AD) changed circumstances review with the intent to revoke, in part, the antidumping duty order on certain cased pencils (pencils) from the People’s Republic of China We are now revoking this order, in part, with respect to pencils meeting the specifications described below, based on the fact that domestic parties have expressed no interest in the continuation of the order with respect to these particular pencils In addition, the Department will order the suspension of liquidation ended for the merchandise covered by this partial revocation, effective on the date of publication of this notice.
Scope Inquiry	05/22/2003	Twist Crayons	View Document	No	We determine that the merchandise in question is not within the scope of the Order.
Changed Circumstances Review	03/20/2003			No	Department of Commerce (the Department) published a notice of initiation and preliminary results of an antidumping duty changed circumstances review with the intent to revoke, in part, the antidumping duty order on certain cased pencils (pencils) from the People’s Republic of China In addition, the Department will order the suspension of liquidation ended for the merchandise covered by this partial revocation, effective on the date of publication of this notice.
Scope Inquiry	02/09/1998	Naturally Pretty	View Document	No	We determine that the merchandise in question is not within the scope of the Order.
Scope Inquiry	09/15/1997	Bensia Pencil	View Document	No	We determine that the merchandise in question is not within the scope of the Order.