ITC Issues Preliminary Edition of 2017 HTS: Part 4 (Textiles, Ceramics and Base Metal Products)

(NOTE: Summaries of changes to other chapters will appear in upcoming issues of International Trade Today. See the Change Record (here) for a full list of changes, including modifications to Schedule B numbers in the “Notice to Exporters” and changes that were already reflected in previous editions of the HTS. The effective date of all of the changes listed below is Jan. 1, 2017, unless otherwise noted. See 1701030032 for part one covering the general notes through Chapter 3, 1701040046 for part two covering changes to chapters 4-29, and 1701050035 for part three covering changes to chapters 30-48.)

Yarns, Textiles and Apparel

Sections of the HTS covering textiles and apparel are amended to implement provisions in the WCO Harmonized System for new materials of yarn, including polypropylene, and add subheadings for mosquito-repellant bed nets and mesh.

High-tenacity yarn. The description above subheadings 5402.11 through 5402.19 for “high tenacity yarn of nylon or other polyamides,” as well as the description of subheading 5402.20 for “high tenacity yarn of polyesters,” are amended to clarify that they include yarns “whether or not textured.”

Polypropylene yarns and fibers. New provisions are added for polypropylene yarns and fibers. New subheading 5402.53.00 covers twisted polypropylene single filament yarn not put up for retail sale and not high tenacity or textured. New subheading 5402.63.00 covers polypropylene multiple (folded) or carded filament yarn not put up for retail sale. Residual “other” categories for twisted single filament yarn and multiple filament yarn, not high tenacity or textured, are renumbered from 5402.59.00 to 5402.59.01 and from 5402.69.00 to 5402.69.01, respectively.

In Chapter 55, new subheading 5506.40.00 is added for polypropylene staple fibers, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning. The residual subheading for “other” synthetic staple fibers processed for spinning is renumbered from 5506.90.00 to 5506.90.01.

Artificial filament tow. Provisions for artificial filament tow are broken out into subheadings 5502.10.00 for artificial filament tow of cellulose acetate, and 5502.90.00 for other artificial filament tow. These provisions were previously statistical suffixes under the now eliminated subheading 5502.00.00.

Wadding. Text describing subheadings 5601.21.00, 5601.22.00 and 5601.29.00 for wadding is reworded to say the subheadings cover “wadding of textile materials and articles thereof.” The text had previously said “wadding; other articles of wadding.”

Carpet tiles. New duty-free subheading 5704.20.00 is added for felt carpet tiles, not tufted or flocked, with a surface area of 0.3-1 square meter. The subheading is divided into statistical suffixes for tiles of wool or fine animal hair (5704.20.0010) and other textiles (5704.20.0090). The subheading for “other” carpets and textile floor coverings of felt not tufted or flocked is renumbered from 5704.90.00 to 5704.90.01.

Mosquito-repellant mesh and nets. New subheading 6005.35.00 is added for warp knit fabrics specified in new subheading note 1 to Chapter 60, which covers: “fabrics of polyethylene monofilament or of polyester multifilament, weighing not less than 30g/m2 and not more than 55 g/m2, having a mesh size of not less than 20 holes/cm2 and not more than 100 holes/cm2, and impregnated or coated with alpha-cythpermethrin (ISO), chlorfenpyr (ISO), deltamethrin (INN, ISO), lambda-cyhalothrin (ISO), permethrin (ISO), or pirimiphos-methyl (ISO).” The new subheading is dutiable at 10%.

Former subheadings for warp knit fabrics of synthetic fibers (other than those of headings 6001 to 6004) are renumbered, with subheading 6005.36.00 for “other, unbleached or bleached” fabrics replacing 6005.31.00; subheading 6005.37.00 for “other, dyed” fabrics replacing 6005.32.00; subheading 6005.38.00 for “other, of yearns of different colors” replacing 6005.33.00; and subheading 6005.39.00 for “other, printed” replacing 6005.34.00. Statistical suffixes within each subheading remain the same. For example, subheading 6005.32.0010 for dyed open-knit warp knit fabrics becomes subheading 6005.37.0010.

Recreational performance outerwear. Statistical note 4 to Chapter 62 is modified so the subheadings listed in the note, which defines ski and snowboard pants, conform to changes made to the classification of recreational performance outwear in August (see 1609090036).

Ceramic Tiles, Flags and Mosaic Cubes and Finishing Ceramics

Provisions for classification of some ceramic tiles and mosaic cubes and finishing ceramics are overhauled in the HTS to implement the new classification scheme in the 2017 WCO Harmonized System. Heading 6908 for “[g]lazed ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles; glazed ceramic mosaic cubes and the like, whether or not on a backing” is eliminated entirely, with all such products, glazed or unglazed, now classifiable in a heavily modified heading 6907.

Heading 6907, previously divided into only two subheadings, gets new subheadings providing additional detail. New 6907.2X covers flags and paving, hearth or wall tires, other than mosaic cubes or finishing ceramics. New 6907.21 is for such products with a water absorption coefficient not exceeding 0.5%, new 6907.22 covers such products with a water absorption coefficient of between 0.5 and 10%, and 6907.23 is for products with a water absorption coefficient of more than 10%. New 6907.30 covers mosaic cubes, other than finishing ceramics. New 6907.40 covers finishing ceramics.

Each of these categories is divided identically at the 8-digit and 10-digit subheading levels. Subheadings 6907.XX.10 are for unglazed ceramics. Subheadings 6907.XX.20 through 6907.XX.90 are for glazed ceramics. Taking provisions for mosaic cubes in 6907.30 as an example, new subheading 6907.30.10 covers unglazed mosaic cubes. HTS number 6907.30.1005 covers unglazed mosaic cubes capable of being enclosed in a square with sides smaller than 7 cm. HTS number 6907.30.1011 covers unglazed mosaic cubes capable of being enclosed in a square with sides between 7 cm and 30 cm. HTS number 6907.30.1051 covers larger unglazed mosaic cubes.

New subheading 6907.30.20 covers glazed mosaic cubes capable of being enclosed in a square with sides smaller than 7 centimeters, with fewer than 3,229 per square meter. New subheading 6907.30.30 covers glazed mosaic cubes capable of being enclosed in a square with sides smaller than 7cm, with over 3,229 cubes per square meter, with a surface area less than 38.7 square cm. New subheading 6907.30.40 covers glazed mosaic tiles capable of being enclosed in a square with sides smaller than 7 cm, with over 3,229 cubes per square meter, with a surface area of more than 38.7 square cm. New subheading 6907.30.90 covers glazed mosaic cubes that can’t be enclosed in a square with sides smaller than 7 cm.

Additional U.S. Note 3 to Chapter 69, which sets thickness criteria for what can be considered “tiles,” is modified to no longer refer to the now-defunct heading 6908.

Jadeite and Rubies From Myanmar

Additional U.S note 4 to Chapter 71, which outlined the prohibition on importation of jadeite and rubies from Myanmar, is eliminated to reflect the end of the ban. President Barack Obama issued an executive order ending the prohibition in October (see 1610120021).

Residual Subheadings Renumbered for Iron and Steel, Aluminum Products

A new subheading for monopods, bipods and tripods added to Chapter 96 requires several changes to residual classification provisions for iron and steel products in Chapter 73 and aluminum products of Chapter 76. Paragraph (m) of Note 1 to Chapter 72, which lists articles excluded from classification in the chapter, is modified so that it also excludes monopods, bipods and tripods. Subheading 7326.90.85 for “other” articles of iron and steel is renumbered as new subheading 7326.90.86, but otherwise retains the same 10-digit statistical suffixes. Likewise, subheading 7616.99.50 for other articles of aluminum is renumbered as new subheading 7616.99.51, also retaining the same statistical suffixes. Other changes to base metals and articles of base metals are as follows:

Aluminum cookware. New statistical suffix 7615.10.7125 is also added for aluminum containers (not cast, not enameled or glazed and not with nonstick interior finishes) suitable for food preparation, baking, reheating or storage, from 0.04 mm to 0.22 mm thick. The statistical suffix within that subheading for bakeware, 7615.10.7135, is renumbered 7615.10.7130.

Metal clasps, buckles and hooks. The text of heading 8308, which covers “[c]lasps, frames with clasps, buckles, buckle-clasps, hooks, eyes, eyelets and the like, of base metal,” is amended so that it no longer refers to “parts thereof.” Wrist watches, books and saddlery are added to the list of exemplars in the heading text, and a reference to “handbags” as an exemplar is replaced with “leather goods.”