CLA-2 CO:R:C:G 088092 PR

Ms. Ellen Rosenberg
Siegel, Mandel & Davidson, P.C.
One Whitehall Street
New York, New York 10004

RE: Houston Ruling 854610 Modified; Sweater Reaching Area of Midthigh Not a Coat; Textile Guidelines

Dear Ms. Rosenberg:

On August 10, 1990, our Houston office issued a ruling, HO 854610, to you classifying a certain women's upper body garment as a coat in Subheading 6102.10.0000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUSA). We have reviewed that ruling and found it in error. Therefore, pursuant to Section 177.9, Customs Regulations (19 CFR 177.9), HO 854610 is hereby revoked and the following ruling is substituted in its stead.

FACTS:

The submitted sample, Style 211370, is an unlined lightweight knit woman's upper body garment. It is stated to be 57 percent lamb's wool, 25 percent nylon, and 18 percent angora. It has long sleeves without cuffs, a full front opening without a closure, shoulder pads, two patch pockets below the waist, and a shawl collar that extends to the hem. When worn by one of our staff members, the garment came to the area of her midthigh. The fabric from which the garment is constructed has less than nine stitches per two centimeters in the horizontal direction.

ISSUE:

The issue presented is whether the subject garment is classifiable as a coat in accordance with the referenced ruling or as a women's sweater in subheading 6110.10.2030. The determining factor is whether the garment is too long to be a sweater.

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LAW AND ANALYSIS:

The subject garment is in all outward respects a sweater. However, Customs Textile and Apparel Category Guidelines, C.I.E. 13/88, state that sweaters extend "from the neck or shoulders to the waist or below (as far as the mid-thigh)." It was determined by our Houston office that the garment extended below the midthigh. Therefore, following the guidelines, the garment was not classified as a sweater.

It should be borne in mind that the guidelines are just that, guides to ascertaining the common or commercial designation of a textile article. C.I.E. 13/88 is not an immutable document. It must be applied in a reasonably prudent manner in order for the results obtained from its application to be meaningful.

While the description of sweaters in C.I.E. 13/88 may generally reflect commercial reality where a garment is not clearly identifiable as being either a sweater or a coat, we are concerned that the midthigh rule may, at times be utilized without regard to the character of the garment and/or the intended wearer of the garment. We believe that there may be garments which exceed the midthigh-length criteria and which are still, because of their fabric, construction, and styling, commercially and commonly known as sweaters.

In addition, the length of a garment in relation to the wearer is dependent on the individual's measurements (dimensions). Accordingly, where it is necessary because of the nature of the garment to determine whether that garment reaches to, or below, the midthigh area, some degree of consideration should be given to reasonable variations in the measurements of an intended wearer.

We realize that the above liberalizes to a small degree the description of sweaters contained in C.I.E. 13/88. However, while adhering rigidly to a description in C.I.E. 13/88 may promote uniformity of classification, which is extremely desirable, it may also, on occasion, result in a garment being misclassified. As stated above, C.I.E. 13/88 is merely a guide to enable Customs to determine the common and commercial identity of a garment and to classify it accordingly.

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HOLDING:

When the submitted sample is worn by an individual who normally wears the submitted size, the bottom hem of the garment reaches the midthigh area. Accordingly, that garment complies with Customs' description of a sweater. However, even if the garment were slightly longer, the sample, in our view, belongs to a class of garments commonly and commercially known as sweaters. Accordingly, it is classifiable under the provision for women's wool sweaters, in Subheading 6110.10.2030. Textile and apparel category 446 is applicable to merchandise classifiable in that provision.

This revocation and new ruling is effective as of the date of this ruling. It will not be applied retroactively to merchandise imported by you prior to this date. However, we recognize that pending transactions and current contracts may be adversely affected by this modification. If such a situation arises, you may notify this office and apply for relief.

Sincerely,

John Durant, Director
Commercial Rulings Division