5515.11.00

Analysis

HTS 5515.11.00 covers mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple fibers under heading 5515 (other woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibers). US Customs collects import statistics for it under 10 ten-digit suffixes, reported in square metres and kilograms.

Neighbouring lines carry rates from duty-free to 25%, so the exact line matters. The widest gap is with 5515.29.00 (of acrylic or modacrylic staple fibers: other), 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.

The ten-digit suffixes separate of yarns of different colors, except…, blue denim, poplin or broadcloth, sheeting, printcloth and cheesecloth; lawns, voiles or batistes and 3 more. The duty is the same across them; the suffix matters for statistics, licensing and some quotas, and an entry needs all ten digits.