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NY K88628




October 15, 2004

CLA2-RR:NC:TA:N3:358 K88628

CATEGORY: CLASSIFICATION

TARIFF NO. 6106.10.0030

Ms. Rosemary Cali
Makalot Group USA, Inc.
110 West 40th Street Suite 603
New York, NY 10018

RE: Classification and country of origin determination for girl’s knit shirt; 19 CFR 102.21(c)(4)

Dear Ms. Cali:

This is in reply to your letter dated October 5, 2004, requesting a tariff classification and country of origin determination for a girl’s knit shirt, Style GL15115, which will be imported into the United States.

FACTS:

The polo style garment has short sleeves and is made from 97% cotton, 3% elastomeric pique knit fabric. It has a four button placket opening at the neck which fastens right over left, a round collar, hemmed fabric at the puff sleeve openings, a hemmed bottom and side slits. The shirt will be imported in girls’ sizes 4-6X.

Samples of the completed item together with cut component parts representing the proposed production plan have been submitted with the request. Production will be in China and El Salvador.

You describe the manufacturing scenario for the shirt as follows:

China

Fabric is cut into component parts
Sewing collar
Sew placket opening
Shirring sleeve cap
Join sleeve trim and topstitch
Shirring center back
Join yoke and topstitch
Sew bottom hem (with coverstitch)
Overlock vents (front and back)
Buttonholes and button

El Salvador

Join shoulder (with stretch tape in shoulder) Attach collar (with taping)
Join sleeve
Join side seam
Sew vents and vents top bartack (with taping) Tacking (sleeve opening)

ISSUE:

What is the classification and country of origin of the subject merchandise?

CLASSIFICATION:

The applicable subheading for the girls’ knit shirt, Style GL15115 will be 6106.10.0030, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUSA), which provides for, among other articles, women’s or girls’ blouses and shirts, knitted or crocheted, of cotton, girls’, other. The rate of duty will be 19.7 percent ad valorem.

Girls’ cotton knit shirts fall within textile category designation 339. The designated textile and apparel categories and their quota and visa status are the result of international agreements that are subject to frequent renegotiations and changes. To obtain the most current information, we suggest that you check, close to the time of shipment, the U.S. Customs Service Textile Status Report, an internal issuance of the U.S. Customs Service, which is available at the Customs Web Site at WWW.CUSTOMS.GOV. In addition, the designated textile and apparel categories may be subdivided into parts. If so, visa and quota requirements applicable to the subject merchandise may be affected and should also be verified at the time of shipment.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - LAW AND ANALYSIS:

On December 8, 1994, the President signed into law the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. Section 334 of that Act (codified at 19 U.S.C. 3592) provides new rules of origin for textiles and apparel entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption, on and after July 1, 1996. On September 5, 1995, Customs published Section 102.21, Customs Regulations, in the Federal Register, implementing Section 334 (60 FR 46188). Thus, effective July 1, 1996, the country of origin of a textile or apparel product shall be determined by sequential application of the general rules set forth in paragraphs (c)(1) through (5) of Section 102.21.

Paragraph (c)(1) states that "The country of origin of a textile or apparel product is the single country, territory, or insular possession in which the good was wholly obtained or produced." As the subject merchandise is not wholly obtained or produced in a single country, territory or insular possession, paragraph (c)(1) of Section 102.21 is inapplicable.

Paragraph (c)(2) states that "Where the country of origin of a textile or apparel product cannot be determined under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the country of origin of the good is the single country, territory, or insular possession in which each of the foreign materials incorporated in that good underwent an applicable change in tariff classification, and/or met any other requirement, specified for the good in paragraph (e) of this section:"

Paragraph (e) in pertinent part states that "The following rules shall apply for purposes of determining the country of origin of a textile or apparel product under paragraph (c)(2) of this section":

HTSUS Tariff shift and/or other requirements

If the good is not knit to shape and consists of two or more component parts, a change to an assembled good of heading 6101 through 6117 from unassembled components, provided that the change is the result of the good being wholly assembled in a single country, territory, or insular possession.

Section 102.21(e) states that the country of origin for the dresses, is the country where the unassembled components are wholly assembled. Accordingly, as the dresses are not assembled in a single country, Section 102.21(c)(2) is inapplicable.

Section 102.21(c)(3) states that, "Where the country of origin of a textile or apparel product cannot be determined under paragraph (c)(1) or (2) of this section":

(i) If the good was knit to shape, the country of origin of the good is the single country, territory, or insular possession in which the good was knit; or

(ii) Except for goods of heading 5609, 5807, 5811, 6213, 6214, 6301 through 6306, and 6308, and subheadings 6209.20.5040, 6307.10, 6307.90, and 9404.90, if the good was not knit to shape and the good was wholly assembled in a single country, territory, or insular possession, the country of origin of the good is the country, territory, or insular possession in which the good was wholly assembled.

As the subject merchandise is neither knit to shape, nor wholly assembled in a single country, Section 102.21 (c)(3) is inapplicable.

Section 102.21 (c)(4) states, "Where the country of origin of a textile or apparel product cannot be determined under paragraph (c)(1), (2) or (3) of this section, the country of origin of the good is the single country, territory or insular possession in which the most important assembly or manufacturing process occurred".

In this case, the assembly of the garment, under the proposed production plan, occurs in both China and El Salvador.

Under the proposed production plan, the assembly in El Salvador, where, among other activities, the shoulders, the collar, the sleeves and the side seams are joined and completed, constitute the most important assembly processes. Accordingly, under the proposed production plan, the country of origin of the girl’s shirt, Style GL15115, is El Salvador.

HOLDING:

The country of origin of the girl’s shirt, Style GL15115, is El Salvador. .
Based upon international textile trade agreements products of El Salvador are not currently subject to quota or the requirement of a visa.

The holding set forth above applies only to the specific factual situation and merchandise identified in the ruling request. This position is clearly set forth in section 19 CFR 177.9(b)(1). This section states that a ruling letter, either directly, by reference, or by implication, is accurate and complete in every material respect.

This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177). Should it be subsequently determined that the information furnished is not complete and does not comply with 19 CFR 177.9(b)(1), the ruling will be subject to modification or revocation. In the event there is a change in the facts previously furnished, this may affect the determination of country of origin. Accordingly, if there is any change in the facts submitted to Customs, it is recommended that a new ruling request be submitted in accordance with 19 CFR 177.2.

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 Bruce Kirschner at 646-733-3048.

Sincerely,

Robert B. Swierupski
Director,

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