CLA-2-55:S:N:N3H:351 869879
Mr. Ron Sia
J.W. Hampton, Jr. & Co., Inc.
15 Park Row
New York, N.Y. 10038
RE: The tariff classification of a sewing thread kit from
Taiwan.
Dear Mr. Sia:
In your letter dated December 12, 1991, on behalf of F.W.
Woolworth Co., you requested a tariff classification ruling.
You have submitted a sample of a sewing thread kit known a
"Sewing Box", item no. 703945. This item is put up for retail
sale in a cardboard box, and it will be used by the US consumer
in the household for minor sewing repairs of clothing. The
sewing kit is not considered to be a travel set. The primary
portion of the kit is the 100% spun polyester sewing thread put
up on 18 plastic spools. Each spool contains 30 feet of thread
and weighs approximately 1.8 gram. The thread is a two-ply yarn
with a final "Z" twist, and we assume that the thread is dressed.
In addition to the 18 spools of thread, the inner plastic sewing
box has a bottom drawer containing various items, as follows: a
miniature scissors, a plastic thimble, a metal threader, a tape
measure, a sewing needle set, a seam ripper, and a plastic box
with hooks, pins, fasteners and buttons. As requested in your
letter, the sample will be returned to you.
The applicable subheading for the complete sewing kit will
be 5508.10.0000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTS), which provides for sewing thread of man-made staple
fibers, whether or not put up for retail sale, of synthetic
staple fibers. The rate of duty will be 13 percent ad valorem.
The 18 spools of sewing thread fall within textile category
designation 200. Based upon international textile trade
agreements, products of Taiwan are subject to the requirement of
a visa and quota restraints.
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 (Restraints Levels), an
internal issuance of the U.S. Customs Service, which is available
for inspection at your local Customs office.
In your letter, you inquired about country of origin marking
requirements for the kit. The kit's cardboard box is legibly
marked "Made in Taiwan". This is sufficient country of origin
marking for the kit, including the scissors. In addition, the
Federal Trade Commission
requires that textile fiber products be marked conspicuously with
the fiber content and the RN or the name of the company.
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