CLA CO:R:C:T 957011 jb

Priscilla Choy
F. Zimmern & Co.
Central Building, 7th Floor
I-3 Pedder Street
Central, Hong Kong

RE: Country of Origin determination for women's knit wearing apparel; 19 CFR 12.130(b),(d),(e); cutting constitutes substantial transformation

Dear Ms. Choy:

This letter is in response to your inquiry of September 9, 1994, on behalf of your client, requesting a country of origin determination for certain women's knit wearing apparel. A sample of the garments' constituent parts, before assembly into the completed garment, were submitted to this office for examination.

FACTS:

The merchandise consists of a woman's knit pullover, referenced style number WMP 2044/94, and will be constructed of a wide range of materials including cotton, polyester, and cotton and polyester mixtures.

You state in your letter that the garment may be processed in either of the following scenarios:

Case I fabric is sourced in China fabric is cut in China linking, washing, finishing and packaging in Cape Verde

Case II fabric is sourced in South Korea fabric is cut in China linking, washing, finishing and packaging in Cape Verde

Case III

fabric sourced in Taiwan fabric cut in China linking, washing, finishing and packaging in Cape Verde

Case IV

fabric sourced in China fabric is cut in Indonesia linking, washing, finishing and packaging in Cape Verde

Case V

fabric sourced in China fabric is cut in Macau linking, washing, finishing and packaging in Cape Verde

Case VI

fabric is sourced in Macau fabric is cut in Macau linking, washing, finishing and packaging in Cape Verde

Case VII

fabric is sourced in Taiwan fabric is cut in Taiwan linking, washing, finishing and packaging in Cape Verde

Case VIII

fabric is sourced in Taiwan fabric is cut in Indonesia linking, washing, finishing and packaging in Cape Verde

Case IX

fabric is sourced in South Korea fabric is cut in Indonesia liking, washing, finishing and packaging in Cape Verde

Case X

fabric is sourced in South Korea fabric is cut in South Korea linking, washing, finishing and packaging in Cape Verde

ISSUE:

What is the country of origin of the merchandise at issue?

LAW AND ANALYSIS:

Section 12.130 of the Customs Regulations (19 CFR 12.130) sets forth the principles of country of origin for textiles and textile products subject to Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854).

Pursuant to 19 CFR 12.130(b), the standard of substantial transformation governs the country of origin determination where textiles and textile products are processed in more than one country. The country of origin of textile products is deemed to be that foreign territory or country where the article last underwent a substantial transformation. Substantial transformation is said to occur when the article has been transformed into a new and different article of commerce by means of substantial manufacturing or processing. The factors to be applied in determining whether or not a manufacturing operation is substantial are set forth in 19 CFR 12.130(d)(2). The following are considered:

(i) The physical change in the material or article;

(ii) The time involved in the manufacturing or processing;

(iii) The complexity of the manufacturing or processing;

(iv) The level or degree of skill and/or technology required in the manufacturing or processing operations;

(v) The value added to the article or material;

Section 12.130(e)(1) describes manufacturing or processing operations from which an article will usually be considered a product of the country in which those operations occurred:

(i) Dyeing of fabric and printing when accompanied by two or more of the following finishing operations: bleaching, shrinking, fulling, napping, decating, permanent stiffening, weighting, permanent embossing, or moireing; (ii) Spinning fibers into yarn;

(iii) Weaving, knitting or otherwise forming fabric; (iv) Cutting of fabric into parts and the assembly of those parts into the completed article; or

(v) Substantial assembly by sewing and/or tailoring of all cut pieces of apparel articles which have been cut from fabric in another foreign territory or country, or insular possession, into a completed garment (e.g., the complete assembly of all cut pieces of suit-type jackets, suits and shirts).

We have previously held that cutting of fabric into pattern pieces constitutes a substantial transformation of the fabric, resulting in the apparel pieces becoming a product of the country where the fabric is cut (See Headquarters Ruling Letter (HRL) 952531, dated November 25, 1992, HRL 953697, dated July 26, 1993, and HRL 955125, dated January 27, 1994).

As was stated by Customs in Treasury Decision (T.D.) 85-38 (19 Cust. Bull. 58, 70; 50 FR 8714), the final document rule establishing 19 CFR 12.130, in pertinent part:

[T]he assembly of all cut pieces of a garment usually is a substantial manufacturing process that results in an article with a different name, character or use than the cut pieces. It should be noted that not all assembly operations of cut garment pieces will amount to a substantial transformation of those pieces. Where either less than complete assembly of all the cut pieces of a garment is performed in one country, or the assembly is a relatively simple one, then Customs will rule on the particular factual situations as they arise, utilizing the criteria in section 12.130(d). Customs has consistently held that the mere assembly of goods by linking and looping, or simple sewing, is not enough to substantially transform the components of an article into a new and different article of commerce (See HRL 082747, dated February 23, 1989; HRL 086665, dated March 23, 1990; HRL 951169, dated April 1, 1992; HRL 951437, dated July 17, 1992; HRL 952647, dated January 27, 1993). In the case of the subject garment, the assembly operation is a minor combining and sewing operation and does not possess the requisite degree of complexity to be deemed a substantial

manufacturing process for purposes of conferring country of origin status. No great degree of skill or technology is required, nor is tailoring involved.

Additional operations such as washing, and packaging are considered minor finishing operations and are not sufficient to affect country of origin. As is stated in section 12.130(e)(2)(i), an article usually will not be considered to be a product of a particular country by virtue of merely having undergone:

Simple combining operations, labeling, pressing, cleaning or drycleaning, or packaging operations, or any combination thereof;

The cutting operation materially changes the fabric into designated garment pieces. This constitutes a substantial transformation of the fabric and confers country of origin.

HOLDING:

The country of origin of the submitted merchandise is the country in which cutting takes place:

Case I Case II Case III Case IV Case V China China China Indonesia Macau

Case VI Case VII Case VIII Case IX Case X Macau Taiwan Indonesia Indonesia South Korea

It is at the cutting process that the fabric last undergoes a substantial transformation and is transformed into a new and different article of commerce. 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 177.9(b)(1), Customs Regulations (19 CFR 177.9(b)(1)). This section states that a ruling letter is issued on the assumption that all of the information furnished in the ruling letter, either directly, by reference, or by implication, is accurate and complete in every material respect.

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, it is recommended that a new ruling request be submitted in accordance with Section 177.2, Customs Regulations (19 CFR 177.2).

Sincerely,

John Durant, Director
Commercial Rulings Division