Two-person dome camping tent, polyester taffeta fly with fiberglass poles and mesh roof panels
Country of origin for this scenario: China.
Recommended HTS code
6306.22.90.30
Other (669)
MEDIUM confidence. Heading 6306.22 is clear and well-supported by multiple on-point CBP rulings for synthetic-fiber camping tents from China. The 10-digit suffix .30 is present in the verified HTS rows and is the residual 'Other' breakout under 6306.22.90 (excluding screen houses). However, the product's physical specifications — weight, carry size, floor area, and whether it is specifically designed and marketed for backpacking — are not supplied, so it cannot be confirmed whether the tent meets T.D. 86-163 criteria for the duty-free 6306.22.10.00 'Backpacking tents' provision. The declared unit value of $18.40 and 'two-person dome' description with fiberglass poles (heavier/less premium than aluminum) suggest a general camping rather than backpacking tent, making 6306.22.90.30 the most defensible recommendation absent full specs. Section 301 overlay 9903.88.15 is flagged and must be verified.
Classification analysis generated on July 20, 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 this two-person dome tent meet ALL criteria of T.D. 86-163 for backpacking tents — i.e., (1) specifically designed and marketed for backpacking, (2) composed of nylon/polyester/man-made fibers, and (3) for a 1–2 person tent, does it satisfy the relevant weight, floor area, and carry-size thresholds? If yes, reclassification to 6306.22.10.00 (duty-free) should be considered; if no, confirm 6306.22.90.30 at 8.8% plus the 9903.88.15 Section 301 additional duty.
How the classification was reached
GRI Reasoning
GRI 1 — Heading Identification
The product is a two-person dome camping tent with a polyester taffeta fly, fiberglass poles, and mesh roof panels. Heading 6306 explicitly covers "tents (including temporary canopies and similar articles)" and is the unambiguous heading under GRI 1. No other heading competes: heading 9620 covers monopods, bipods, tripods and similar articles — the fiberglass poles are mere components of the tent composite and do not redirect classification.
GRI 6 — Subheading Selection
6306.22 covers tents "of synthetic fibers." Polyester taffeta is a synthetic fiber textile; this subheading applies.
Within 6306.22, two statistical breakouts exist at the 8-digit level:
- 6306.22.10.00 — "Backpacking tents" — general duty rate: Free; footnote references 9903.88.15.
- 6306.22.90 — "Other" — general duty rate: 8.8%; footnote references 9903.88.15.
- 6306.22.90.10 — Screen houses
- 6306.22.90.30 — Other (669)
Backpacking vs. General Camping Tent Analysis (T.D. 86-163)
CBP rulings N302567, N239224, N303866, and N091262 all classify synthetic-fiber tents as 6306.22.10.00 (backpacking tents, duty-free) only when the tent satisfies the criteria of T.D. 86-163:
1. Specifically designed for backpacking.
2. Composed of nylon, polyester, or other man-made fiber fabric.
3. For 3–4 person tents: floor area ≤65 sq ft, weight ≤12 lbs, carry size ≤30"L × 10" diameter (or ≤2,350 cubic inches if non-cylindrical).
Ruling R02116 (Trango 4) is the most instructive analog: a 4-person synthetic tent that failed the weight and carry-size criteria of T.D. 86-163 was classified at 6306.22.9030 (8.8%). CBP there explicitly rejected the backpacking classification despite the importer's arguments.
The subject product presents the following risk factors for the backpacking classification:
- Fiberglass poles (vs. aluminum) are heavier and associated with budget/general camping tents, not purpose-built backpacking tents.
- Declared unit value of $18.40 is consistent with a mass-market general camping tent.
- No weight, floor area, or carry-size data is supplied, so conformance with T.D. 86-163 cannot be confirmed.
- The product is described as a "dome camping tent," not marketed as a backpacking tent.
Absent affirmative evidence that the tent meets all T.D. 86-163 criteria and is designed/marketed for backpacking, 6306.22.90.30 (Other, Other) at 8.8% general duty is the appropriate classification.
Section 301 Overlay
Both 6306.22.10.00 and 6306.22.90 carry a footnote referencing 9903.88.15, which imposes an additional duty of "the duty provided in the applicable subheading + 7.5%" for articles of China covered by U.S. note 20(r)/(s). This overlay must be verified at entry — the importer should confirm the specific subheading is enumerated in U.S. note 20(s).
Rejected Candidates
- 6306.29.xx — Would apply only if the fabric were not synthetic fiber (e.g., cotton or other textile material). Polyester taffeta is synthetic; 6306.22 controls.
- 9620.00.xx — Covers monopods/bipods/tripods and similar articles, not tents. The fiberglass poles are components; under GRI 3(b) the essential character is the textile shelter.
Duty Summary (China Origin, if 9903.88.15 applies)
- 6306.22.90.30: 8.8% (general) + 7.5% (9903.88.15 overlay, to verify) = ~16.3% effective rate
- 6306.22.10.00 (if backpacking criteria met): Free (general) + 7.5% (9903.88.15 overlay, to verify)
- Column 2 rate for 6306.22.90: 90% (not applicable; China is not a Column 2 country under normal circumstances)
Annual Duty Exposure Estimate
- 4,000 units × $18.40 = $73,600 dutiable value
- At 8.8% + 7.5% = ~$12,008 annually (if 6306.22.90.30 applies and 9903.88.15 is confirmed)
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: Trango 4 mountaineering/camping tent of synthetic fibers from China, 4-person, 13 lbs minimum weight, two 22"×9" stuff sacks — failed T.D. 86-163 weight and carry-size criteria for backpacking tents.
Why it’s analogous: Directly on point: CBP classified a synthetic-fiber camping tent that did not meet T.D. 86-163 backpacking criteria at 6306.22.9030 (8.8%), the same 'Other' subheading recommended here. The subject dome tent with fiberglass poles and unverified specs presents the same analytical question.
What it classified: 1–2 person outdoor camping waterproof family tent of man-made textile fabric from China, 5.5 lbs, 44.3 sq ft floor area, carry size 18.11"×5.11"×11.02" — met T.D. 86-163 criteria.
Why it’s analogous: Establishes that a 1–2 person synthetic tent CAN qualify as a backpacking tent (6306.22.10.00, duty-free) if it meets T.D. 86-163 criteria including design for backpacking. Used here to identify the threshold question separating the duty-free and 8.8% classifications.
What it classified: Stargazer 2 and Stargazer 3 backpacking tents of ripstop nylon with aluminum poles from China — met T.D. 86-163; 4-person Dome 4 tent could not be ruled on due to conflicting marketing evidence.
Why it’s analogous: Confirms that marketing and design intent (backpacking vs. general camping) are decisive classification criteria alongside physical specs; a tent marketed for general camping will not qualify for the duty-free backpacking provision.
What it classified: Wolverine EBNS shelter system (tent + rain fly) of nylon ripstop fabric with fiberglass rod from China, 4.5 lbs total, 13"L × 6" diameter carry size — met T.D. 86-163.
Why it’s analogous: Confirms that fiberglass poles alone do not disqualify a tent from backpacking classification if all other T.D. 86-163 criteria are met; however, this ruling's tent weighed only 4.5 lbs — far lighter than a typical budget dome tent.
What it classified: Traverse backpacking tent of woven polyester fabric from China, 4-person, 11 lbs 1 oz, 50 sq ft floor, 27"L × 5" diameter carry size — met T.D. 86-163.
Why it’s analogous: Establishes outer bounds of T.D. 86-163 weight/size for multi-person polyester tents classified at 6306.22.10.00; useful benchmark for evaluating whether the subject tent's (unverified) specs would qualify.
What the duty looks like
Duty math shown for illustrative declared values — $18.40 per unit at 4,000 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)
- 8.8%
- Annual declared value at the illustrative numbers
- $73,600
- Base duty per year (illustrative)
- $6,477
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6306.22.10.00 | Backpacking tents | Free | Backpacking tents; general rate Free; 9903.88.15 overlay to verify. Applies only if the tent is specifically designed and marketed for backpacking AND meets all T.D. 86-163 physical criteria (weight, floor area, carry size). If the importer can demonstrate compliance, this duty-free classification should be pursued. CBP rulings N302567, N239224, N303866, and N091262 all support this code for qualifying tents. |
| 6306.29.21.00 | Other | 2.9% | Tents of other textile materials (not cotton, not synthetic fiber); general rate 2.9%. Would apply only if CBP were to determine the polyester taffeta fabric does not qualify as 'synthetic fibers' under 6306.22 (e.g., due to coating or mixed-fiber composition). Not supported by the product description; included for completeness. No verified ruling supports this alternative for polyester taffeta. |
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