Harmonized System
U.S. imports of Letter Cards, Plain Postcards, and Correspondence Cards of Paper or Paperboard (HS 481720) totaled $705K in August 2026, imported from 23 countries.
Importers of Letter Cards, Plain Postcards, and Correspondence Cards of Paper or Paperboard paid $171K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 24.28% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPlain postcards, letter cards, and correspondence cards — distinguished from printed greeting cards by their unprinted or minimally decorated character — serve both consumer stationery and business correspondence markets. China and Vietnam lead US import supply under this heading, with Italy and the United Kingdom also significant sources for premium design-oriented products. The US schedule subdivides this heading into combination sheet/envelope sets (4817202000), other letter cards and correspondence cards (4817204000), and a general line (4817200000), so the specific presentation format at importation determines the correct 10-digit line.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
72 import shipments a month
Plain postcards and correspondence cards under heading 481720 are characterized by their unprinted or minimally decorated nature — they are blank writing surfaces intended for personal correspondence. Printed greeting cards with pictorial or decorative content are classified under heading 4909, which covers printed postcards and greeting cards. The degree of pre-printing and the commercial purpose of the card are the key distinguishing factors.
A combination sheet/envelope is a single sheet of writing paper that folds and seals to form its own envelope, eliminating the need for a separate envelope. Under the US HTS, this format is specifically captured at 4817202000, distinct from plain postcards and correspondence cards at 4817204000. Importers should confirm the product's construction on the commercial invoice to ensure the correct line is declared.
Subheading 2 of 3 in heading 4817
Subheading 481720 · $705K of $16.5M
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 481720 — Letter Cards, Plain Postcards, and Correspondence Cards of Paper or Paperboard, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4817204000 | Ppr/Pbrd Lttr Card/Plain Postcard/Corrs Card NESOI | $662K | 24.78% | 79.30% | $164K |
| 4817202000 | Writing Ppr Sheets Prep As Combination Shts/Envelp | $43K | 16.45% | 100.00% | $7K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 4817200000 | Ppr/Pbrd Lttr Card/Plain Postcard/Corrs Card NESOI | $482K |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Imports · August 2026
origin
China and United Kingdom together supply 75% of it. China pays 37.0% duty; Canada 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
18.4% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 24.28% of imports for consumption.
ImportsExports
Imports
$705KYoY · free account
Exports
$482KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $7.9M of Letter Cards, Plain Postcards, and Correspondence Cards of Paper or Paperboard and exported $6.6M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.