Sisal Fiber Gym Shoes from Japan
Gym shoes designed for training with uppers predominantly sisal (vegetable fiber) textile, greatest external surface, and soles with textile materials dominating ground contact—not disregarded by U.S. note 5 durability rules. HTS 6404.11.81 applies to these sports footwear valued $6.50-$12/pair. Adheres to material primacy in chapter notes 4(a)/(b).
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
• Provide fiber analysis reports; sisal blends must show vegetable dominance visually per naked eye rule
• Avoid sole mismeasurement—focus on actual ground contact, ignoring spikes/protectors
• Comply with country-of-origin marking; vegetable fibers from non-standard sources may need extra docs