CLA-2 CO:R:C:G 088188 CMR
District Director of Customs
111 W. Huron Street
Buffalo, New York 14202-2378
RE: Internal Advice Request 24/90 regarding classification of
vertical blind material
Dear Sir:
This request for internal advice was initiated by A.N.
Deringer, Inc./W.R. Filbin & Co., Inc. on behalf of Tisbek
Vertical Limited, regarding the classification of three styles of
vertical blind fabric. In addition to the merchandise which is
the subject of the internal advice request, this ruling will
address the classification of samples of vertical blind fabric
submitted by C.S. Emery & Co. on behalf of Tisbek Vertical. Two
of the samples are the same as two submitted by A.N. Deringer;
the third sample is different, but was mentioned in the IA
request although no sample was submitted. The vertical blind
fabrics will be imported from Canada.
FACTS:
Four styles of vertical blind fabric are at issue here:
Dara Greige, Trenton Greige, Paysan Greige (Trafalgar) and
Madeline.
All of the imported fabrics are woven, coated and then cut
to widths of between two inches to four inches prior to
importation. They will be imported in 80 yard rolls.
Trafalgar is made of 100 percent acrylic spun yarn of staple
fibers. It is coated with PVA and cut to a width of three and
one-half inches.
Madeline is made of 100 percent acrylic spun yarn of staple
fibers. It is coated with PVC and cut to a width of three and
one-half inches.
-2-
Trenton is made of 100 percent olefin texturized filament
yarn. It is coated with PVA and cut to a width of three and one-
half inches.
Information submitted indicates Dara is made of acrylic and
polypropylene fibers. It is coated with either PVC or PVA and is
cut to a width of three and one-half inches.
ISSUE:
Are the submitted samples classified as coated or
impregnated fabrics of heading 5903, HTSUSA, as narrow fabrics of
heading 5806, HTSUSA, or as woven fabrics of chapters 54 or 55?
LAW AND ANALYSIS:
Classification of products under the HTSUSA is governed by
the General Rules of Interpretation (GRIs). GRI 1 provides that
"classification shall be determined according to the terms of the
headings and any relative section or chapter notes, provided such
headings or notes do no otherwise require, according to [the
remaining GRIs taken in order]."
The General Explanatory Note for Chapter 58 indicates that
narrow woven fabrics of heading 5806, impregnated, coated,
covered or laminated, are excluded from Chapter 58. Note 1,
Chapter 59, provides, among other things, that woven fabrics of
heading 5806 are included in the expression "textile fabrics" for
the purposes of Chapter 59. Therefore, if we find that these
fabrics are coated or impregnated with plastics, they are
classifiable in Chapter 59. If they are not coated or
impregnated with plastics, within the requirements of the HTSUSA,
then classification as narrow woven fabrics of heading 5806 must
be considered.
Heading 5903, HTSUSA, provides for textile fabrics
impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics, other
than those of heading 5902. Note 2, Chapter 59, provides in
pertinent part:
Heading 5903 applies to:
(a) Textile fabrics, impregnated, coated, covered or
laminated with plastics, whatever the weight per square
meter and whatever the nature of the plastic material
(compact or cellular), other than:
(1) Fabrics in which the impregnation, coating or
covering cannot be seen with the naked eye (usually -3-
chapters 50 to 55, 58 or 60); for the purpose of this
provision, no account should be taken of any resulting
change of color
It is our view that the wording of Note 2(a)(1), "visible to
the naked eye", is a clear expression by the drafters of the
Harmonized System that a significant, if not substantial, amount
of material must be added to a fabric for it to be considered
"impregnated, coated or covered."
Therefore, following the strict wording of Note 2(a)(1), for
a fabric to be considered impregnated, coated or covered within
the meaning of the Note, the plastics material added to the
fabric must be visibly distinguishable from the fabric.
The fabric samples have been examined by Customs personnel
at the port, in New York and here at Headquarters. There is
agreement by all that the plastic coating or impregnation is not
visible to the naked eye. Therefore, the fabrics are not
classifiable in heading 5903, HTSUSA.
Note 5, Chapter 58, states, in relevant part:
For the purposes of heading 5806, the expression "narrow
woven fabrics" means:
(a) Woven fabrics of a width not exceeding 30 cm, whether
woven as such or cut from wider pieces, provided with
selvages (woven, gummed or otherwise made) on both edges
The Explanatory Notes, which are the official interpretation
of the HTSUS at the international level, provide further elabora-
tion on which fabrics are included in heading 5806 as narrow
woven fabrics. The Notes for heading 5806 state in pertinent
part:
In accordance with Note 5 to this Chapter, this heading
includes as narrow woven fabrics:
(2) Strips of a width not exceeding 30 cm, cut (or slit)
from wider pieces of warp and weft fabric (whether cut
(or slit) longitudinally or on the cross) and provided
with false selvedges on both edges, or a normal woven
selvedge on one edge and a false selvedge on the other.
False selvedges are designed to prevent unravelling of a
piece of cut (or slit) fabric and may, for example,
consist of a row of gauze stitches woven into the wider
fabric before cutting (or slitting), of a simple hem, or
they may be produced by gumming the edges of strips, or
by fusing the edges in the case of certain ribbons of -4-
man-made fibers. Strips cut (or slit) from fabric but
not provided with a selvedge, either real or false, on
each edge, are excluded from this heading and classified
with ordinary woven fabrics.
The fabrics at issue do not appear to have real or false
selvages. While the fabrics do not unravel, we believe this is
the result of the PVC or PVA coating applied to the entire fabric
and not as the result of some treatment to the edges of the
fabrics to make them fast. No evidence is present in the
materials presented to this office to indicate the edges of the
subject fabrics have been treated to create false selvedges other
than a letter from Pierre Barthe of Tisbek to Maurice DeSlauriers
of John V. Carr and Son Inc. which indicates false selvedges
exist. If the importer can present evidence, to your
satisfaction, that the edges are made fast by gumming or fusing
the fabric edges, then the fabrics are classifiable as narrow
woven fabrics; if not, they are classified as ordinary woven
fabrics.
HOLDING:
If presented with evidence which satisfies you that the
vertical blind fabrics do have false selvedges as defined above,
then the fabrics are classifiable as narrow woven fabrics of
subheading 5806.32.2000, HTSUSA, textile category 229, dutiable
at 5.6 percent ad valorem if satisfying the originating
requirements of the US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (US-Canada
FTA).
If false selvedges are not present, the subject fabrics are
classified as ordinary woven fabrics of Chapters 54 or 55.
Styles Trafalgar and Madeline are classified woven fabrics of
synthetic staple fibers, containing 85 percent or more by weight
of synthetic staple fibers, other under subheading 5512.29.00,
HTSUSA. Style Trenton is classified as a woven fabric of
synthetic filament yarn, dyed under subheading 5407.72.00,
HTSUSA. All three styles are dutiable at 13.6 percent ad valorem
if satisfying the originating requirements of the US-Canada FTA.
Style Dara is classifiable in either subheading 5512.29.00,
HTSUSA, or subheading 5407.72.00, HTSUSA, depending on whether it
is made of staple fibers or filament yarns. We did not have
enough information to determine the classification to the
statistical annotation level.
The designated textile and apparel category may be
subdivided into parts. If so, the visa and quota requirements
applicable to the subject merchandise may be affected. Since
part categories are the result of international bilateral
agreements which are subject to frequent renegotiations and
changes, to obtain the most current information available, we -5-
suggest you check, close to the time of shipment, the Status
Report On Current Import Quotas (Restraint Levels), an internal
issuance of the U.S. Customs Service which is updated weekly and
is available for inspection at your local Customs office.
Due to the changeable nature of the statistical annotation
(the ninth and tenth digits of the classification) and the
restraint (quota/visa) categories, you should contact your local
Customs office prior to importation of this merchandise to
determine the current status of any import restraints or
requirements.
Sincerely,
John Durant, Director