Vegetable Fiber Tennis Shoes from Japan
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 — Japan → United States
12.5%
Rate breakdown
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
• 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