Starch-Stiffened Buckram for Hats from Japan
Heavyweight cotton buckram impregnated with starch to create a rigid structure, used as foundations for millinery hats and headwear. Classified under HTS 5901.90.40.00 for stiffened textile fabrics of a kind used for hat foundations. The amylaceous coating provides the necessary rigidity without embedding the fabric.
Duty Rate — Japan → United States
12.5%
Rate breakdown
9903.05.4912.5%Section 301 (forced labor) — Japan (col1 rate < 12.5 percent): MFN < 12.5% → total duty capped at 12.5%
Import Tips
• Include millinery end-use certificates to confirm hat foundation classification
• Test for amylaceous content to distinguish from rubberized or plastic-coated alternatives
• Avoid bulk packaging that could imply industrial rather than hat-specific use