Analysis
HTS 5516.91.00 covers unbleached or bleached under heading 5516 (woven fabrics of artificial staple fibers). US Customs collects import statistics for it under 8 ten-digit suffixes, reported in square metres and kilograms.
Rates on the nearby lines range from duty-free to 25%. The costliest confusion would be with 5516.33.05 (containing 36 percent or more by weight of wool or fine animal hair) at 25%, a difference of 13 points on the customs value.
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 12%. 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 column 2 rate, for countries without normal trade relations, is 81%, 6.8 times the general rate.
The general duty rate is 12% of the customs value, which is in the middle of the rates in chapter 55 (58th percentile of 133 lines with an ad valorem rate). On a shipment valued at $10,000 that is $1,200 in duty before any Chapter 99 additions or preference claims.
The ten-digit suffixes separate poplin or broadcloth, sheeting, printcloth, cheesecloth; lawns, voiles or batistes, duck and satin weave or twill weave and 1 more. The duty is the same across them; the suffix matters for statistics, licensing and some quotas, and an entry needs all ten digits.
Statistical suffixes
| Code | Description | Units | NAICS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5516.91.00.10 | Poplin or broadcloth (614) | m², kg | 313210 |
| 5516.91.00.20 | Sheeting (613) | m², kg | 313210 |
| 5516.91.00.30 | Printcloth (615) | m², kg | 313210 |
| 5516.91.00.40 | Cheesecloth; lawns, voiles or batistes (226) | m², kg | 313210 |
| 5516.91.00.50 | Duck (219) | m², kg | 313210 |
| 5516.91.00.60 | Satin weave or twill weave (617) | m², kg | 313210 |
| 5516.91.00.70 | Oxford cloth (227) | m², kg | 313210 |
| 5516.91.00.90 | Other (220) | m², kg | 313210 |
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 5516.11.00 | Unbleached or bleached | 14.9% |
| 5516.12.00 | Containing 85 percent or more by weight of artificial staple fibers: dyed | 14.9% |
| 5516.13.00 | Of yarns of different colors (611) | 14.9% |
| 5516.14.00 | Containing 85 percent or more by weight of artificial staple fibers: printed | 10% |
| 5516.21.00 | Unbleached or bleached | 14.9% |
| 5516.22.00 | Containing less than 85 percent by weight of artificial staple fibers, mixed mainly or solely with man-made filaments: dyed | 14.9% |
| 5516.23.00 | Of yarns of different colors | 8.5% |
| 5516.24.00 | Containing less than 85 percent by weight of artificial staple fibers, mixed mainly or solely with man-made filaments: printed | 14.9% |
| 5516.31.05 | Containing 36 percent or more by weight of wool or fine animal hair | 19.8% |
| 5516.31.10 | Unbleached or bleached: other (624) | 12% |
| 5516.32.05 | Containing 36 percent or more by weight of wool or fine animal hair | 25% |
| 5516.32.10 | Dyed: other (624) | 12% |
| 5516.33.05 | Containing 36 percent or more by weight of wool or fine animal hair | 25% |
| 5516.33.10 | Of yarns of different colors: other (624) | 12% |
| 5516.34.05 | Containing 36 percent or more by weight of wool or fine animal hair | 19.7% |
| 5516.34.10 | Printed: other (624) | 12% |
| 5516.41.00 | Unbleached or bleached | 14.9% |
| 5516.42.00 | Containing less than 85 percent by weight of artificial staple fibers, mixed mainly or solely with cotton: dyed | 12% |
| 5516.43.00 | Of yarns of different colors | Free |
| 5516.44.00 | Containing less than 85 percent by weight of artificial staple fibers, mixed mainly or solely with cotton: printed | 8.5% |
| 5516.92.00 | Other: dyed | 12% |
| 5516.93.00 | Of yarns of different colors | 8.5% |
| 5516.94.00 | Other: printed | 12% |