The tariff classification of footwear from China

N047880 January 12, 2009 CLA-2-64:OT:RR:NC:SP:247 CATEGORY: Classification TARIFF NO.: 6403.99.9065 Ms. Khem Lall Macy’s Merchandising Group Customs Department, 9th Floor 11 Penn Plaza New York, NY 10001 RE: The tariff classification of footwear from China Dear Ms. Lall: In your letter dated December 23, 2008 you requested a tariff classification ruling. The submitted half pair sample, identified as style # FARRAH, is a women’s open-toe, open-heel slip-on sandal that as you state has a V-shaped leather strap upper with a toe-thong. The external surface of the upper also has numerous stitched-on metal encased glass bead accessories or reinforcements that partially cover, but do not completely obscure the underlying leather upper straps. The sandal has a rubber/plastic outsole and we presume that the sandal will be valued over $2.50 per pair. The applicable subheading for the women’s sandal, style # FARRAH, will be 6403.99.9065, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which provides for footwear with upper’s predominately of leather (excluding accessories or reinforcements) and outer soles of rubber, plastics or composition leather; which is not “sports footwear”; which does not cover the ankle; for other persons; valued over $2.50 per pair…for women. The rate of duty will be 10% ad valorem. Duty rates are provided for your convenience and are subject to change. The text of the most recent HTSUS and the accompanying duty rates are provided on World Wide Web at http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/. The submitted sample is not marked with the country of origin. Therefore, if imported as is, the footwear will not meet the country of origin marking requirements of 19 U.S.C. 1304. Accordingly, the footwear would be considered not legally marked under the provisions of 19 C.F.R. 134.11 which states, "every article of foreign origin (or its container) imported into the U.S. shall be marked in a conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the nature of the article (or container) will permit, in such manner as to indicate to the ultimate purchaser in the U.S. the English name of the country of origin of the article." We are returning the sample as you requested. This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177). A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions regarding the ruling, contact National Import Specialist Richard Foley at (646) 733-3042. Sincerely, Robert B. Swierupski Director National Commodity Specialist Division