Adhesive-Bonded Straw Sandals from Japan
Casual sandals featuring uppers made from woven vegetable fibers like straw or raffia, with outer soles primarily of textile materials (such as woven jute or hemp) in contact with the ground, bonded exclusively with adhesive. Valued under $3/pair, they lack foxing or overlapping soles except at toe/heel, fitting 6404.19.42.90 due to textile-dominant soles (ignored per US note 5) and vegetable fiber uppers.
Duty Rate — Japan → United States
52.5%
Rate breakdown
9903.05.4912.5%Except for products described in headings 9903.05.85–9903.05.92, articles the product of Japan, with an ad valorem (or ad valorem equivalent) rate of duty under column 1 less than 12.5 percent, as provided for in U.S. note 52 to this subchapter
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
Import Tips
• Verify upper is ≥50% vegetable fibers (e.g
• straw, sisal) via lab test; document fiber content for CBP review
• Confirm soles affix exclusively by adhesive—no stitching; photograph construction to avoid reclassification to higher subheadings