Men's running shorts, woven 100% polyester with knit liner, elastic waistband and zip pocket
Country of origin for this scenario: Vietnam.
Recommended HTS code
6210.40.55
Other
LOW confidence. The woven shell is 100% polyester plain woven fabric. Heading 6210 applies only if the fabric qualifies under headings 5903, 5906, or 5907 (coated/laminated/rubberized fabrics) or 5602/5603 (felt/nonwovens). Plain woven polyester does not meet those criteria, making 6210 inapplicable. The correct heading for men's woven polyester athletic shorts ('other garments') is 6211, subheading 6211.33, but no 10-digit code under 6211.33 appears in the supplied verified HTS rows, preventing a fully grounded recommendation at that level. Additionally, the rulings supplied focus on the swimwear-vs-shorts distinction (Hampco three-factor test) rather than directly classifying men's woven polyester running shorts as 'other garments' under 6211.33. The absence of a verified 6211.33 rate row and the fabric-qualification question for 6210 both create ambiguity.
Classification analysis generated on July 14, 2026 from the current Harmonized Tariff Schedule and published CBP rulings, for the product description shown — our analysis, not legal advice.
The question to put to a licensed broker
Does the woven 100% polyester shell fabric qualify under HTS headings 5903, 5906, or 5907 (coated, laminated, or rubberized fabric), and if not, can you confirm the applicable 10-digit statistical suffix and general duty rate under subheading 6211.33 for men's woven polyester running shorts so the correct code and rate can be verified against the current HTS schedule?
How the classification was reached
GRI Reasoning
Step 1 — GRI 1: Heading determination
Heading 6210 covers garments made up of fabrics of headings 5602 (felt), 5603 (nonwovens), 5903 (textile fabrics impregnated/coated/covered with plastics), 5906 (rubberized textile fabrics), or 5907 (other impregnated/coated textile fabrics). The shell of these running shorts is described as plain woven 100% polyester. Plain woven polyester is classified in Chapter 54 (woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn) or Chapter 55 (staple), not in 5903/5906/5907. Therefore, 6210 does not apply unless the fabric is verified as coated/laminated — which is not indicated in the product description.
Heading 6211 covers 'Track suits, ski-suits and swimwear; other garments.' CBP rulings (HQ 952751, HQ 966759, HQ 966760, HQ 966228) confirm that men's woven shorts with a knit liner that are not designed and constructed for swimming are classified as shorts — either under 6203 or under 6211 as 'other garments.' CIE 13/88 guidelines, cited in all four rulings, state: 'Multiple-use sports or athletic shorts that bear a close resemblance to swim trunks and are designed for running, team sports etc. are not considered swimwear.' The subject garment is a men's running short; it has an elastic waistband (no drawstring noted) and a knit liner. Absent a drawstring and absent marketing/design indicators of swimwear, the Hampco three-factor test is not fully met, and CBP would classify this as shorts — not swimwear — under 6211 as 'other garments' for men of man-made fibers (subheading 6211.33).
Heading 6114 ('other garments, knitted or crocheted') was considered under GRI 3(b) essential character if the knit liner dominated. However, the outer shell is woven and constitutes the visible, defining component of the garment. Per GRI 3(b), essential character is imparted by the woven shell, not the knit liner. Heading 6114 is not appropriate.
Step 2 — GRI 1/6: Subheading determination
Within 6211, the correct subheading for men's woven garments of man-made fibers (other garments, not swimwear, not ski-suits, not track suits) is 6211.33. However, no verified HTS row for 6211.33 or any 10-digit code thereunder was supplied in the verified HTS rows. The supplied rows for 6211 cover only swimwear (6211.11, 6211.12) and ski-suits (6211.20).
Step 3 — Fallback to deepest verified code
The only verified HTS rows supplied for 'other men's or boys' garments' of man-made fibers appear under 6210.40 (which requires the fabric to be of headings 5602/5603/5903/5906/5907). Under 6210.40, the branch for 'Other men's or boys' garments — Other — of man-made fibers — Other' leads to 6210.40.55 (general rate: 7.1%; other: 65%; footnote references 9903.88.15 overlay — to be verified). The 10-digit statistical breakout for trousers, breeches and shorts is referenced under that indent in the supplied rows, but no complete 10-digit code was provided in the supplied data beyond the 8-digit level 6210.40.55.
Because the fabric eligibility for 6210 is unresolved and the correct heading 6211.33 has no verified rate row in the supplied data, confidence is LOW.
Step 4 — Swimwear exclusion confirmed
HQ 952751 (men's woven nylon ACG cross-training shorts with knit liner → classified as shorts, not swimwear), HQ 966759 (men's woven nylon shorts with knit liner and drawstring → swimwear only because all three Hampco factors met), HQ 966760 (same analysis), and HQ 966228 (boys' woven polyester shorts with knit mesh liner and drawstring → swimwear). These rulings confirm that a running short with an elastic waistband but no drawstring and marketed/designed for running fails the Hampco test and is classified as shorts, not swimwear.
Step 5 — Additional duty overlay
The footnote on 6210.40.55 references 9903.88.15 as an additional-overlay flag. This must be verified with a licensed broker to determine current applicability (Section 301 or other overlay).
Summary
| Factor | Finding |
|---|---|
| Heading | 6211 (other garments, woven, men's, man-made fibers) preferred; 6210 requires coated fabric verification |
| Swimwear exclusion | Confirmed by HQ 952751, 966759, 966760, 966228 — running shorts not swimwear |
| Deepest verified code available | 6210.40.55 (contingent on fabric qualification) |
| General rate (6210.40.55) | 7.1% |
| 9903 overlay | 9903.88.15 flagged — verify |
| Broker question required | Yes — fabric qualification for 6210 and verified 6211.33 rate/code |
Cited CBP rulings
Every ruling below was fetched from CBP’s public CROSS database and verified to exist before this page was published. Links go to the official ruling text.
What it classified: Men's woven nylon ACG cross-training shorts with knit liner, elastic waistband, and drawstring
Why it’s analogous: Confirms that men's woven athletic/running shorts with a knit liner that are marketed for cross-training/running (not swimming) are classified as shorts, not swimwear, under heading 6211 as 'other garments'; establishes that the Hampco third factor (designed and constructed for swimming) controls the swimwear vs. shorts distinction
What it classified: Men's woven nylon shorts with knit polyester lining, elasticized waistband with drawstring — classified as swimwear under 6211.11.1010
Why it’s analogous: Illustrates the flip side: when all three Hampco factors are present (drawstring + liner + swimming design/marketing), the garment is swimwear; absence of drawstring and running-sport marketing in the subject goods distinguishes them as shorts
What it classified: Men's woven nylon shorts with knit mesh lining, elasticized waistband, rubberized drawstring, drainage holes — classified as swimwear under 6211.11.1010
Why it’s analogous: Same Hampco analysis; drainage holes and drawstring confirmed swimwear character; subject running shorts lack these swimwear indicators, supporting shorts classification
What it classified: Boys' woven 100% polyester shorts with knit mesh liner, elasticized waistband with drawstring, drainage grommets — classified as swimwear under 6211.11.1020
Why it’s analogous: Confirms that woven polyester with knit mesh liner can be swimwear only when all Hampco factors (including drawstring and swimming design) are met; subject goods are 100% polyester woven with knit liner but designed for running, placing them outside swimwear
What the duty looks like
Duty math shown for illustrative declared values — $4.80 per unit at 12,000 units per year is our assumption for this explainer, not a measurement of anyone's imports. Your numbers will differ.
- Base duty rate (column 1, general)
- 7.1%
- Annual declared value at the illustrative numbers
- $57,600
- Base duty per year (illustrative)
- $4,090
Chapter-99 overlay headings flagged on this code
- 9903.88.15 — The duty provided in the applicable subheading + 7.5%. Except as provided in headings 9903.88.39, 9903.88.42, 9903.88.44, 9903.88.47, 9903.88.49, 9903.88.51, 9903.88.53, 9903.88.55, 9903.88.57, 9903.88.65, 9903.88.66, 9903.88.67, 9903.88.68, or 9903.88.69, articles the product of China, as provided for in U.S. note 20(r) to this subchapter and as provided for in the subheadings enumerated in U.S. note 20(s)
Overlay applicability depends on origin, entry date, and any active exclusions — verify at entry.
Alternatives considered
The full candidate set from the fetched tariff rows — including rows that would carry a higher duty. Shown so the reasoning is checkable, not to offer a rate menu.
| Code | Description | General rate | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6210.40.55 | Other | 7.1% | Applicable ONLY if the woven polyester shell fabric is confirmed to be impregnated, coated, covered, or laminated within the scope of HTS heading 5903, 5906, or 5907; general rate 7.1% per supplied HTS rows; 9903.88.15 additional-overlay flag must be verified; 10-digit statistical suffix for trousers/breeches/shorts not fully supplied in evidence |
| 6114.30.30 | Other | 14.9% | Only if knit liner is determined under GRI 3(b) to provide essential character — not supported by evidence; woven outer shell dominates; ruled out |
Importing this — or something like it?
Get this dossier for your own product: the same analysis on your exact description, origin, and declared values — recommended code, cited rulings, duty math, and the question to hand your broker when it matters.
Classify your product →