The tariff classification of footwear from Brazil.

NY M81093 March 23, 2006 CLA-2-64:RR:NC:SP:247 M81093 CATEGORY: Classification TARIFF NO.: 6404.11.90; 6404.19.90 Ms. Leslie Araki SST International Inc. 10415 S. La Cienega Blvd. P.O. Box 45347 Los Angeles, CA 90045 RE: The tariff classification of footwear from Brazil. Dear Ms. Araki: In your letter dated March 2, 2006, on behalf of Keep Company, you requested a tariff classification ruling for three half pair samples of women’s shoes with textile material uppers and rubber/plastic soles. Style #KP002 “Duke” is an athletic-type shoe with a textile canvas upper that does not cover the ankle. This low-top sneaker/gym shoe has a six-eyelet lace closure, a textile tongue and a sewn and cemented on, unit molded rubber/plastic bottom with a ¾-inch high foxing-like band. You state in your letter that this shoe will be valued at $17.00 per pair. Style #KP001 “Ramos” is described as a mid top canvas shoe. This women’s casual wear shoe, which does not cover the ankle, has a three-eyelet lace closure, a tongue and an upper with a mostly canvas textile material front, side quarters and vamp. The upper also features a large sewn-in, 1½-inch high, seersucker stripe soft fabric back portion, which surrounds the ankle and heel and which is padded for the wearer’s comfort. The shoe has a sewn and cemented on, unit molded rubber/plastic bottom with a ¾-inch high foxing-like band. You state in your letter that this shoe will be valued at $17.30 per pair. Style #KP003 “Benten” is described as a canvas deck shoe that does not cover the ankle. This women’s casual shoe has a stitched moccasin type textile material upper with several metal eyelets situated around the topline opening. A textile shoelace is laced round the topline eyelets and then through two pairs of eyelet over the instep, where it is tied in a bow. The shoe also has a sewn and cemented on, unit molded rubber/plastic bottom with a ¾-inch high foxing-like band. You state in your letter that this shoe will be valued at $18.00 per pair. The applicable subheading for the shoe, identified as Style #KP002 “Duke,” will be 6404.11.90, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which provides for footwear, in which the upper’s external surface is predominately textile materials (excluding accessories and reinforcements); in which the outer sole’s external surface is predominately rubber and/or plastics; which is “athletic” footwear; and which is valued over $12.00 per pair. The rate of duty will be 20% ad valorem. The applicable subheading for the two shoes, identified as Style #KP001 “Ramos” and Style #KP003 “Benten,” will be 6404.19.90, HTSUS, which provides for footwear, in which the upper’s external surface is predominately textile materials; in which the outer soles external surface is predominately rubber and/or plastics; which is not “athletic footwear”; which is not designed to be a protection against water, oil, or cold or inclement weather; which does not have open-toes or open heels; which is not a slip-on or which has a rubber/plastics foxing-like band; and which is valued over $12 per pair. The rate of duty will be 9% 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/. We note that the three submitted sample shoes are not marked with the country of origin. Therefore, if imported as is, the shoes will not meet the country of origin marking requirement of 19 U.S.C. 1304. Accordingly, the shoes will 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.” We are returning the samples 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