CLA-2-60:S:N:N3H: 351 872566
Mr. Bernard R. Nottling
Rudolph Miles & Sons Inc.
P.O. Box 11057
El Paso, TX 79942
RE: The tariff classification of American-made knitted wiping
cloths cut to size and packaged in Mexico.
Dear Mr. Nottling:
In your letter dated March 16, 1992, on behalf of Wilshire
Foam Products Inc., you requested a tariff classification ruling.
You have submitted two samples of wiping cloths as follows:
item #1 is a 22.9 centimeter (cm) square wiping cloth, and item
#2 is a 22.9 cm wide (in its flattened condition) fabric tube-
shaped wiping cloth. The wipes will be used in the United States
as rags to remove dirt, dust and other contaminants from
electronics and other products in "ultra clean" rooms. Both
wipes are made of 100 percent polyester monofilament fibers, and
the fabrics are of interlock weft knit construction. The cut
edges of both samples have not been made fast with a knitted or
false selvage. The country of origin of the polyester fabric is
the United States, and it is sent to Mexico in bulk rolls. In
Mexico, item #1 is cut to 22.9 cm squares and packaged in plastic
bags and the item #2 tubing will be cut to approximately 50.8 cm
lengths and bulk packaged in plastic bags. We can not rule on
item #1 in other sizes or with "surged" edges without samples of
the wipes and a description of how the edges are made fast. In
your correspondence, and attached to it, you made reference to
two Customs Headquarters rulings: HQ 084681 dated August 10, 1989
and HQ 085384 dated October 20, 1989. Please note that HQ 951027
dated January 28, 1992 revoked HQ 085384. We also cite HQ 555782
dated April 22, 1991.
The applicable subheading for item #1, the square wiping
cloth, will be 6002.93.0040, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTS), which provides for other knitted or
crocheted fabrics, other, of man-made fibers, of double knit or
interlock construction, of polyester. The rate of duty will be
14 percent ad valorem.
Item #2, the knitted tube, will be classifiable under the
provision for other knitted or crocheted fabrics other, of a
width not exceeding 30 cm, other, of man-made fibers, in
subheading 6002.20.6000, HTS. The rate of duty will be 8.6
percent ad valorem.
The wiping cloths fall within textile category designation
222. Based upon international textile trade agreements, products
of Mexico are subject to the requirement of a visa.
The designated textile and apparel category may be
subdivided into parts. If so, 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
suggest that 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 available for
inspection at your local Customs office.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Section
177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177).
A copy of this ruling letter should be attached to the entry
documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If the
documents have been filed without a copy, this ruling should be
brought to the attention of the Customs officer handling the
transaction.
Sincerely,
Jean F. Maguire
Area Director
New York Seaport