How to Classify Textile Goods for Import

Textiles are classified in Chapters 50–63 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, where the code turns on fiber content and how the fabric and garment are constructed — the same details that drive country-of-origin and FTC labeling rules. Textile classification is unusually detailed because small differences (knit versus woven, the dominant fiber, men’s versus women’s) change the heading and the duty. Treat the fiber breakdown and construction as the starting point, not an afterthought.

Where Textiles Sit in the HTS

Section XI of the schedule, Chapters 50 through 63, covers textiles and textile articles from raw fiber to finished garment. The chapters are organized roughly by fiber and by stage of manufacture.

The split between Chapter 61 and Chapter 62 — knit versus woven — is one of the most common forks for finished apparel, and it changes both the code and the duty rate. For the general method behind these choices, see how to classify imported goods and our step-by-step classification guide.

Fiber Content and Construction Drive the Code

Two attributes do most of the work in textile classification. First, fiber content: when a fabric blends fibers, the classification generally follows the fiber that predominates by weight, with section and chapter notes specifying how to handle blends and ties. Second, construction: whether the fabric is knit or woven, and how a garment is made and for whom, can move it between headings. Get a precise fiber breakdown by weight and an accurate construction description from the supplier before you classify — guessing here is how textile entries go wrong.

Country of Origin: More Than the Code

Origin is a separate determination from classification, and for textiles it follows special rules. Origin decides duty preference under trade agreements, and it sets the country-of-origin marking the goods must carry. Under 19 U.S.C. § 1304, every imported article (or its container) must be marked conspicuously and permanently with the English name of its country of origin so the ultimate purchaser can read it; CBP’s marking rules sit in 19 CFR Part 134. For wearing apparel, marking requirements are specific about placement and permanence. See our overview of country-of-origin labels.

FTC Labeling Is a Separate Requirement

Beyond customs marking, textiles sold in the U.S. must meet the Federal Trade Commission’s labeling rules under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (TFPIA) (rules at 16 CFR Part 303), with parallel acts for wool and fur. Those labels must disclose the generic fiber names and percentages by weight, the manufacturer or marketer identity, and the country where the product was processed or manufactured. The FTC label and the CBP origin marking are different obligations enforced by different agencies — satisfy both.

A Note on Quotas

Older textile guidance often refers to import quotas under the WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing. Those quotas were phased out and terminated on January 1, 2005, when the Agreement expired, so textile trade now runs under normal tariff rules rather than a special quota regime. Antidumping or countervailing duties and other trade-remedy measures can still apply to specific textile products from specific countries, so check those separately rather than assuming “no quota” means “no extra duty.” For background, see antidumping and countervailing duties.

Frequently Asked Questions

What decides a textile’s HTS code? Mainly fiber content and construction. The dominant fiber by weight, whether the fabric is knit or woven, and how a garment is made all push the product into a particular heading with its own duty rate.

Is the knit-versus-woven distinction really that important? Yes. Knitted or crocheted apparel is classified in Chapter 61 and woven apparel in Chapter 62, with different duty treatment. Misjudging construction is a frequent and costly textile classification error.

Is the FTC label the same as the country-of-origin marking? No. CBP origin marking under 19 U.S.C. § 1304 and FTC fiber-content labeling under the TFPIA are separate requirements from separate agencies. A product needs to comply with both.

Do textile import quotas still exist? The WTO textile quota system ended January 1, 2005. Normal tariffs apply now, but specific products can still face antidumping, countervailing, or other trade-remedy duties.

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