CLA-2-62:RR:NC:TA:360 B84296
Ms. Holly Brown
Nordstrom, Inc.
A/P, Import Office
P.O. Box 870
Seattle, WA 98111
RE: The tariff classification of a woman's blouse from Hong Kong
Dear Ms. Brown:
In your letter dated April 11, 1997, you requested a
classification ruling. The sample submitted with your request will
be returned to you under separate cover.
Style 3WM362 is a blouse composed of knit and woven
components. The back panel and sleeves are constructed from 100
percent knit merino wool fabric. The front panels and the collar
are constructed from 100 percent wool woven fabric. The blouse
features long sleeves, a collar and a full front opening secured by
six buttons. The garment also has two chest pockets secured by
buttoned flaps.
The garment will be classified in accordance with GRI 3(b)
which states that goods consisting of different materials shall be
classified as if they consisted of the component which gives them
their essential character. Headquarters Memorandum 084118 dated
April 13, 1989, provides some guidelines to be used when
determining the essential character of garments. For upper body
garments, if one component exceeds 60 percent of the visible
surface area that component will determine the classification of
the garment unless the other component:
(1) forms the entire front of the garment; or
(2) provides a visual and significant decorative effect; or
(3) is over 50 percent by weight of the garment; or
(4) is valued at more than 10 times the primary component.
You have indicated that the knit segment comprises 60 percent
of the visible surface area, making that the primary component.
The guidelines, however, indicate an unless factor which in this
case falls to the woven component. The entire front of the garment
consists of the woven fabric; therefore, the the essential
character is imparted by the woven fabric. The garment will be
classified under the heading for women's woven blouses, 6206, HTS.
The applicable subheading for style 3WM362 will be
6206.20.3010, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTS), which provides for women's or girls' blouses, shirts and
shirt-blouses: of wool or fine animal hair: other: women's. The
duty rate will be 57.9 cents/kg + 19.8 percent ad valorem.
Style 3WM362 falls within textile category designation 440.
Based upon international textile trade agreements products of Hong
Kong are subject to a visa requirement and quota restraints.
The designated textile and apparel categories may be
subdivided into parts. If so, visa and quota requirements
applicable to the subject merchandise may be affected. 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 Part 177
of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177).
A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above
should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time this
merchandise is imported. If you have any questions regarding the
ruling, contact National Import Specialist Patricia Schiazzano at
(212) 466-5866.
Sincerely,
Paul K. Schwartz
Chief, Textiles & Apparel Branch
National Commodity
Specialist Division