Synthetic Mesh Basketball Shoes from Japan
Low-cost basketball shoes with uppers of synthetic mesh textiles (non-vegetable fibers) and outer soles featuring textile as the primary ground-contact material. Classified in 6404.11.75 as sports footwear valued $3-$6.50/pair, meeting criteria for gym/training shoes with textile-dominant soles.
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
9903.05.480%Section 301 (forced labor) — Japan (col1 rate ≥ 12.5 percent): MFN >= 12.5% → no additional duty
Import Tips
• Conduct surface area measurements on uppers and soles per chapter note 4 to substantiate textile dominance
• Label products clearly as sports footwear and retain design specs showing athletic purpose to prevent misclassification
• Avoid common pitfalls like undervaluation; use commercial invoices with exact per-pair pricing