CLA-2 CO:R:C:T 956956 SK
William J. Maloney
Rode & Qualey
295 Madison Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10017
RE: Classification of cladding fabric; metalized textile fabric
for making electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding gaskets;
classification in heading 5911, HTSUSA, mandates that the fabric
be for "technical use"; the fabric must also be one of the
fabrics enumerated in Note 7(a)(i)-(vi) to Chapter 59; Note 7
(a)(i) does not require that coating be visible to the naked eye;
HRL 952421 (5/14/93).
Dear Mr. Maloney:
This is in response to your letter of October 25, 1993, on
behalf of Schlegel Corporation, requesting a binding
classification ruling for cladding fabric. Representative
samples were submitted to Customs for examination.
FACTS:
The subject merchandise consists of textile fabrics
(cladding fabric) that have been plated with metal, either silver
or a silver/copper combination. The plated fabrics are used to
make gasket material by covering or encapsulating urethane foam
that has been continuously molded into various cross-sectional
shapes. These conductive shielding gaskets are used to prevent
leakage of electromagnetic waves from electrical machinery and
apparatus.
Four sets of sample swatches were submitted to this office
and labeled Exhibits A, B, C and D. "A" is a woven ripstop nylon
plated with silver. "B" and "C" are both of nonwoven nylon
plated with silver. "D" is a nonwoven nylon plated with silver
and subsequently plated with copper. All materials will be
imported in the piece. These materials have been
electrolytically plated with metal. The metal was deposited
through chemical means. These samples were submitted to the New
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York Customs laboratory for analysis. The lab report confirmed
that the samples were only plated with metal, and no plastic
matrix or additional coating substances were involved.
LAW AND ANALYSIS:
Classification of merchandise under the HTSUSA is governed
by the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI's), taken in order.
GRI 1 provides that classification will be determined by the
terms of the headings, and any relative section or chapter notes.
Chapter 5911, HTSUSA, provides for textile products and
articles for technical uses so long as they are specified in Note
7 to Chapter 59. Note 7 to Chapter 59 reads:
"Heading 5911 applies to the following goods, which do not
fall in any other heading of Section XI:
(a) Textile products in the piece, cut to length or
simply cut to rectangular (including square) shape
(other than those having the character of the products
of headings 5908 to 5910), the following only:
(i) Textile fabrics, felt and felt-lined woven
fabrics, coated, covered or laminated with
rubber, leather or other material, of a kind
used for other technical purposes;
(ii) Bolting cloth;
(iii) Straining cloth of a kind used in oil presses
or the like, of textile material or human hair;
(iv) Flat woven textile fabric with multiple warp or
weft, whether or not felted, impregnated or coated,
of a kind used in machinery or other technical purposes;
(v) Textile fabric reinforced with metal, of a kind
used for technical purposes;
(vi) Cords, braids and the like, whether or not coated, impregnated or reinforced with metal, of
a kind used in industry as packing or lubricating
materials.
(b) Textile articles (other than those of headings 5908 to
5910) of a kind used for technical purposes (for example,
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textile fabrics and felts, endless or fitted with linking
devices), of a kind used in paper-making or similar
machines (for example, for pulp or asbestos-cement), gaskets, polishing discs and other machinery parts)."
In order for a fabric to be classified in heading 5911,
HTSUSA, two prerequisites need be met: 1) the fabric must be for
technical use; and 2) the fabric must be one of the fabrics
enumerated in Note 7(a) (i) through (vi). In the instant case,
the subject fabrics satisfy both requirements. The fabrics are
used in the manufacture of EMI shielding gaskets and panels which
are incorporated into electrical machinery and apparatus so as to
prevent electromagnetic radiation from escaping into the
environment. This office has previously determined that similar
fabric, also used in the manufacture of EMI and glare shields for
video display terminals, is deemed "for technical use." See
Headquarters Ruling Letter (HRL) 952421, dated May 14, 1993.
Secondly, the subject fabrics are described by Note 7 (a) (i) to
Chapter 59 which requires that the textile fabric be "coated,
covered or laminated with rubber, leather or other material"
[emphasis added]. The subject fabric consists of woven and
nonwoven nylon covered with silver or silver and copper. Based
on the foregoing, the subject fabrics are classifiable under
subheading 5911.10.2000, HTSUSA, which provides for, inter alia,
other textile fabrics for technical use, covered with metal
plating.
While Note 7(a)(i) to Chapter 59 requires that fabric
classifiable in heading 5911 be "coated, covered or laminated"
with rubber, leather or other materials, there is no requirement
that such coating be visible to the naked eye. The visibility
requirement is explicitly set forth in Note 2(a)(1) and Note 5(a)
to Chapter 59, which states that heading 5903 and 5907 provide
for textile fabrics in which coating can be "seen with the naked
eye." This language is absent from Note 7(a)(i). The visibility
language is similarly omitted from the Explanatory Notes to
heading 5911. It is this office's opinion, based on an analysis
of the Legal Notes to Chapter 59 taken in their entirety, that
the visibility requirement was intentionally omitted from the
language of Note 7(a)(i) and no such requirement shall be
imputed.
HOLDING:
The subject textile fabrics (cladding fabric), plated with
either silver or a silver/copper combination, are classifiable
under subheading 5911.10.2000, HTSUSA which provides for
"[T]extile products and articles, for technical uses, specified
in note 7 to this chapter: textile fabrics, felt and felt-lined
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woven fabrics, coated covered or laminated with rubber, leather
or other material, of a kind used for card clothing, and similar
fabrics of a kind used for other technical purposes: other... ,"
dutiable at a rate of 7.5 percent ad valorem.
Due to the nature of the statistical annotation (the ninth
and tenth digits of the classification), your client should
contact the local Customs office prior to importation of this
merchandise to determine the current status of any import
restraints or requirements.
Sincerely,
John Durant, Director
Commercial Rulings Division