Vegetable Fiber Tennis Shoes from Germany
Tennis shoes with uppers of vegetable fibers such as ramie or hemp, paired with outer soles featuring a textile material with the largest ground-contact area. Priced $8-$11 per pair, they fit HTS 6404.11.81.90 as sports footwear (tennis shoes) meeting the precise material and value criteria outlined in the tariff subheading.
Duty Rate — Germany → United States
10%
Rate breakdown
9903.05.3910%Except for products described in headings 9903.05.85–9903.05.92 and 9903.05.97, articles the product of a member state of the European Union, with an ad valorem (or ad valorem equivalent) rate of duty under column 1 less than 10 percent, as provided for in U.S. note 52 to this subchapter
Import Tips
• Conduct surface area measurements for uppers and soles; vegetable fibers must exceed other materials visibly per naked eye test
• Avoid reclassification by ensuring sports design (e.g
• lateral support); prepare for CBP exams on value brackets
• Use detailed invoices specifying fiber types and sole construction to prevent shifts to lower-value subheadings