5514.42.00

Analysis

HTS 5514.42.00 covers 3-thread or 4-thread twill, including cross twill, of polyester staple fibers under heading 5514 (woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibers, containing less than 85 percent by weight of…). US Customs collects import statistics for it under 2 ten-digit suffixes, reported in square metres and kilograms.

Neighbouring lines carry rates from duty-free to 14.9%, so the exact line matters. The widest gap is with 5514.43.00 (printed: other woven fabrics of polyester staple fibers), at duty-free: a product that belongs there but is entered here, or the reverse, changes the duty by 14.9 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 55 (84th percentile of 133 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.

For statistics it divides in two: 5514.42.00.20 for not napped (617) and 5514.42.00.40 for napped (617). Both pay the same duty; the suffix records which kind was imported.