HQ 957910: Classification of a men's sleeveless garment; Federal Register Vol. 56 No.107; features of a shirt; subheading 6211.32.0060

Native CBP ruling rendition. Applicability is fact-specific; modification/revocation relationships and original publisher date are retained. Publisher sentinel year0001 means unknown date, not a historical legal adoption.

                            HQ 957910

                          July 14, 1995

CLA-2   R:C:T   957910   jb

CATEGORY: Classification

TARIFF NO.: 6211.32.0060

Ba-Sang Yeung
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office
1150 18th Street, N.W., Suite 475
Washington, D.C. 20036

RE:  Classification of a men's sleeveless garment; Federal Register Vol. 56 No.107; features of     a shirt; subheading 6211.32.0060                  

Dear Mr. Yeung:

     This is in regard to your letter, dated March 27, 1995, on behalf of D.J. Industries Inc.,
regarding the classification of a men's sleeveless garment.  A sample was received by this office
for examination and will be returned under separate cover.

FACTS:

     The submitted sample, referenced style number 6F314, is a woven cotton men's sleeveless
garment featuring a banded collar, a full frontal opening with button closures, and two chest
pockets with button through flaps.  

     The submitted garment was the subject of Pre-classification ruling (PC) 804327, dated
December 7, 1994, wherein the merchandise was classified in subheading 6211.32.0060,
HTSUSA, with the appropriate textile category 340, as a shirt excluded from heading 6205,
HTSUSA.   Subsequently, upon entry at the port of Atlanta, the entry was rejected because of a
classification/visa mismatch, i.e., the export license stated that the visa for the subject merchandise
was for category 359(2) as a vest, instead of 340.

     In your opinion, the garment has oversized armholes and should be worn over another
garment other than underwear.  Additionally, you state that the Textile Category Guidelines, CIE
13/88 (Guidelines), provide that men's or boy's shirts classified under category 340 must have
sleeves.  As the subject merchandise is sleeveless, you believe the garment should be subject to
visa category 359(2) as an outer vest.
ISSUE:

     Whether the subject merchandise should be classified as an other woven cotton garment or
as a vest?

LAW AND ANALYSIS:

     Classification of merchandise under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
Annotated (HTSUSA) is governed by the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI).  GRI 1 provides
that classification shall be determined according to the rules of the headings and any relative
section or chapter notes, taken in order.  Merchandise that cannot be classified in accordance with
GRI 1 is to be classified in accordance with subsequent GRI.

     The Guidelines describe men's shirts as male outer garments which extend from the neck
and shoulder areas to or below the waist, and featuring a full or partial front opening.  Although
the Guidelines also stated that shirts must have sleeves, in Federal Register Vol. 56, No. 107,
dated June 4, 1991, the Guidelines were amended to include sleeveless shirts. 

     Although it is true that a vest is a garment which is worn over another garment, it is also
true that this requires oversized armholes in order to accommodate the article of clothing that is
to lie underneath the vest.  In the case of the subject garment, when it was placed on a men's
"Medium" size mannequin, the garment fit quite snugly.  When completely buttoned, the garment
fit like a shirt, i.e. there was no additional space for another garment to be worn underneath.  We
also note that although the submitted garment was labeled as a men's size "Large", it fit snugly on
our "Medium" size mannequin.  Additionally, the fabric of the submitted garment is unlike the
denim fabric often used in the manufacture of denim shirts.

     Accordingly, it is the opinion of this office that the submitted merchandise was correctly
classified in PC 804327 with textile category 340 as a shirt excluded from heading 6205,
HTSUSA.  See also New York ruling (NY) 895523, dated April 5, 1994 and NY 889854, dated
September 30, 1993, where similar men's sleeveless woven garments were classified as shirts
excluded from heading 6205, with textile category 340.

HOLDING:

     The submitted merchandise, referenced style number 6F314, is properly classified in
subheading 6211.32.0060, HTSUSA, which provides for, among other things, other garments,
men's or boys': of cotton; shirts excluded from heading 6205.  The applicable rate of duty is 8.6
percent ad valorem and the quota category is 340.




     The designated and apparel category may be subdivided into parts.  If so, visa and quota
requirements applicable to the subject merchandise may be affected.  Since part categories are the
result of international bilateral agreements which are subject to frequent renegotiations and
changes, we suggest you check, close to the time of shipment, the Status Report on Current
Import Quotas (Restraint Levels), an issuance of the Customs Service which is updated weekly
and is available at the local Customs office.

     Due to the changeable nature of the statistical annotation (the ninth and tenth digits of the
classification) and the restraint (quota/visa) categories, you should contact the local Customs
office prior to importing the merchandise to determine the current status of any import restraints
or requirements.



                              Sincerely,




                              John Durant, Director
                              Commercial Rulings Division