5408.31.20

Analysis

HTS 5408.31.20 covers unbleached or bleached: other under heading 5408 (woven fabrics of artificial filament yarn, including woven fabrics obtained from…). US Customs collects import statistics for it under 6 ten-digit suffixes, reported in square metres and kilograms.

Neighbouring lines carry rates from 12% to 25%, so the exact line matters. The widest gap is with 5408.31.05 (containing 36 percent or more by weight of wool or fine animal hair), at 25%: a product that belongs there but is entered here, or the reverse, changes the duty by 10.1 percentage points.

Goods that qualify under the Australia FTA, the Bahrain FTA, the Chile FTA, the Colombia TPA, the Israel FTA, and 9 others can enter duty-free instead of paying 14.9%. It is also eligible under GSP, the developing-country programme, which Congress has to renew; check whether GSP is in force on the entry date.

The general duty rate is 14.9% of the customs value, which is above most the rates in chapter 54 (85th percentile of 123 lines with an ad valorem rate). On a shipment valued at $10,000 that is $1,490 in duty before any Chapter 99 additions or preference claims.

The column 2 rate, for countries without normal trade relations, is 81%, 5.4 times the general rate.

The ten-digit suffixes separate mixed mainly or solely with synthetic…, poplin or broadcloth, sheeting, printcloth and satin weave or twill weave. The duty is the same across them; the suffix matters for statistics, licensing and some quotas, and an entry needs all ten digits.