Men's Waterproof Hiking-Style PVC Boots from Japan
Men's mid-calf PVC boots with rubber soles, designed for casual outdoor use but lacking sports features like spikes (per subheading note). Valued over $12/pair, they classify in 6402.91.90.35 as other men's ankle-covering footwear with rubber/plastics materials. Protective coating is plastic, not qualifying as 'protective active footwear' over $24/pair.
Duty Rate — Japan → United States
60%
Rate breakdown
9903.41.1040%Footwear with outer soles of leather and uppers wholly or in part of leather, and footwear with outer soles of rubber or plastics and uppers having an exterior surface area predominantly of leather, the foregoing provided for in chapter 64, except (a) slip-on footwear of a type not suitable for outdoor use, without backs or backstraps, having outer soles with a thickness of less than 5 mm and with less than 20 mm difference between the thickness of the bottom at the ball of the foot and at the heel, and (b) footwear which is designed for a sporting activity and has, or has provision for, attached spikes, sprigs, stops, clips, bars or the like, and skating boots, ski-boots and cross-country ski footwear, wrestling boots, boxing boots and cycling shoes
9903.05.480%Section 301 (forced labor) — Japan (col1 rate ≥ 12.5 percent): MFN >= 12.5% → no additional duty
Import Tips
• Confirm no spikes/cleats to avoid sports footwear misclassification (subheading note)
• Test outer sole ground contact area for rubber dominance (Chapter Note 4(b))
• Include lab tests for plastic/rubber composition if challenged on material notes