Raffia Basketball Sneakers from Japan
Cheap high-top basketball-style sneakers using raffia (vegetable fiber) for uppers and textile soles with greatest (ignored) ground contact. Valued under $3/pair, fitting HTS 6404.11.51 for non-spiked sports-like footwear. Textile uppers dominate external surface per chapter note 4(a).
Duty Rate — Japan → United States
52.5%
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
9903.05.4912.5%Section 301 (forced labor) — Japan (col1 rate < 12.5 percent): MFN < 12.5% → total duty capped at 12.5%
Import Tips
• Declare exact value per statutory pair; promotional samples may trigger duties
• Ensure no rubber coating on uppers hides vegetable fibers visually