Steel Toe Safety Sneakers from Mexico
These low-cut sneakers feature an outer sole and upper made primarily of rubber or plastics, with a protective metal toe-cap for safety in light industrial environments. They fall under HTS 6402.99.16.00 due to their value between $3 and $6.50 per pair and the metal toe-cap distinguishing them from non-safety footwear. The rubber/plastic materials dominate the external surface area of both upper and sole as per Chapter Note 4.
Duty Rate — Mexico → United States
Rate breakdown
Import Tips
• Verify the protective metal toe-cap meets ASTM F2413 standards and provide lab certification to avoid reclassification as non-safety footwear
• Declare exact value per pair accurately with invoices; undervaluation in this $3-$6.50 range often triggers audits
• Ensure fiber content labels if any textile reinforcements are visible, as per Chapter Note 4(a) for upper material determination