About HS Code 6404
Heading 6404 is a widely used classification for 'Footwear; with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of textile materials'. This category captures a significant portion of the global footwear market, particularly for casual, athletic, and fashion-oriented shoes where comfort, breathability, and design flexibility are paramount. The defining characteristic is the 'textile material' upper, which can range from cotton canvas and denim to synthetic meshes, knits, and various other woven or non-woven fabrics. The outer sole, however, offers versatility, allowing for rubber, plastics, leather, or even composition leather, catering to diverse functional and aesthetic requirements. This heading encompasses a vast array of footwear, including popular canvas sneakers, fabric-upper athletic shoes, espadrilles, and textile slippers. It's crucial for trade compliance to accurately identify the primary material of the upper. If the upper is predominantly textile, even with minor leather or plastic accents, it generally falls here. However, strict interpretation often requires the textile material to constitute more than 50% of the external surface area of the upper. Misclassification can occur if textile uppers are mistaken for leather (6403) or entirely rubber/plastic (6402). The rise of synthetic textiles and advanced knitting technologies has made 6404 a dynamic and high-volume category, reflecting innovation in performance and style. This heading is integral to Chapter 64, 'Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles', highlighting its importance in the broader footwear trade.
Products Under This Code
Canvas sneakers, fabric athletic shoes, textile mesh running shoes, espadrilles (with textile uppers), fabric slippers, denim shoes, knitted upper casual shoes, textile fashion boots, textile deck shoes, fabric ballet flats, fabric loafers, fabric tennis shoes, textile casual walking shoes, fabric-upper plimsolls, textile hiking shoes (non-leather), fabric slip-on shoes, textile trainers, fabric court shoes, textile boat shoes, textile golf shoes, fabric children's shoes, textile sandals, fabric moccasins, textile driving shoes, textile safety shoes (with textile uppers).
Real World Examples
A major athletic footwear brand in the United States regularly imports millions of pairs of textile mesh running shoes and canvas sneakers from manufacturing hubs in Vietnam and Indonesia, primarily via ocean freight, distributing them across its extensive retail network. A European fashion retailer sources trendy espadrilles and fabric-upper sandals from suppliers in Spain and Portugal, transported by road, to meet summer fashion demands across the EU. A discount chain in South America imports large volumes of children's fabric shoes and textile slippers from China, utilizing bulk container shipping, providing affordable footwear options to its consumer base.
Common Misclassification
The most frequent misclassification under 6404 occurs with 6403 ('Footwear; with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather'). The key is the upper material: textile vs. leather. Traders often confuse footwear with synthetic leather or very small leather accents with genuine leather uppers, leading to incorrect classification. Another error is confusing it with 6402 (rubber/plastic uppers) if the textile is heavily coated or laminated with plastic. The 'more than 50% by surface area' rule for the upper material is crucial here. Also, very simple textile slippers might sometimes be confused with 'other made-up textile articles' (Chapter 63), but if clearly identifiable as footwear, 6404 is generally correct.
Subheadings 3
Industry
This code belongs to the Footwear & Headgear industry.
Trade Overview
China, Vietnam, and Indonesia are leading exporters of footwear under 6404, leveraging their vast textile manufacturing capabilities and competitive labor costs. Major importers include the USA, EU countries, Japan, and Canada, reflecting high consumer demand for comfortable, fashionable, and often affordable textile-upper footwear. Trade agreements, such as those with ASEAN nations, can offer significant tariff advantages. However, like other footwear categories, these goods are subject to various import regulations, including product safety standards (e.g., restricted chemicals in textiles) and labeling requirements, which vary by importing country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HS code 6404?
HS code 6404 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Footwear; with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of textile materials. Heading 6404 is a widely used classification for 'Footwear; with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of textile materials'. This category captures a significant portion of the global footwear market, particularly for casual, athletic, and fashion-oriented shoes where comfort, breathability, and design flexibility are paramount. The defining characteristic is the 'textile material' upper, which can range from cotton canvas and denim to synthetic meshes, knits, and various other woven or non-woven fabrics. The outer sole, however, offers versatility, allowing for rubber, plastics, leather, or even composition leather, catering to diverse functional and aesthetic requirements. This heading encompasses a vast array of footwear, including popular canvas sneakers, fabric-upper athletic shoes, espadrilles, and textile slippers. It's crucial for trade compliance to accurately identify the primary material of the upper. If the upper is predominantly textile, even with minor leather or plastic accents, it generally falls here. However, strict interpretation often requires the textile material to constitute more than 50% of the external surface area of the upper. Misclassification can occur if textile uppers are mistaken for leather (6403) or entirely rubber/plastic (6402). The rise of synthetic textiles and advanced knitting technologies has made 6404 a dynamic and high-volume category, reflecting innovation in performance and style. This heading is integral to Chapter 64, 'Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles', highlighting its importance in the broader footwear trade.
What products fall under HS code 6404?
Canvas sneakers, fabric athletic shoes, textile mesh running shoes, espadrilles (with textile uppers), fabric slippers, denim shoes, knitted upper casual shoes, textile fashion boots, textile deck shoes, fabric ballet flats, fabric loafers, fabric tennis shoes, textile casual walking shoes, fabric-upper plimsolls, textile hiking shoes (non-leather), fabric slip-on shoes, textile trainers, fabric court shoes, textile boat shoes, textile golf shoes, fabric children's shoes, textile sandals, fabric moccasins, textile driving shoes, textile safety shoes (with textile uppers).
What are common misclassifications for HS code 6404?
The most frequent misclassification under 6404 occurs with 6403 ('Footwear; with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather'). The key is the upper material: textile vs. leather. Traders often confuse footwear with synthetic leather or very small leather accents with genuine leather uppers, leading to incorrect classification. Another error is confusing it with 6402 (rubber/plastic uppers) if the textile is heavily coated or laminated with plastic. The 'more than 50% by surface area' rule for the upper material is crucial here. Also, very simple textile slippers might sometimes be confused with 'other made-up textile articles' (Chapter 63), but if clearly identifiable as footwear, 6404 is generally correct.
Which countries trade the most under HS code 6404?
China, Vietnam, and Indonesia are leading exporters of footwear under 6404, leveraging their vast textile manufacturing capabilities and competitive labor costs. Major importers include the USA, EU countries, Japan, and Canada, reflecting high consumer demand for comfortable, fashionable, and often affordable textile-upper footwear. Trade agreements, such as those with ASEAN nations, can offer significant tariff advantages. However, like other footwear categories, these goods are subject to various import regulations, including product safety standards (e.g., restricted chemicals in textiles) and labeling requirements, which vary by importing country.
How is HS code 6404 structured?
HS code 6404 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 64 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (64) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (04) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.