Chapter 55 of the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule covers man-made staple fibres. It holds 16 headings with 133 rated lines; pick the heading your goods sit under to see every line beneath it with its general and preferential rates. The general (MFN) rate runs from free to 25% across 133 lines.
| Heading | Goods | General (MFN) rate, before 301/AD/CVD |
|---|---|---|
| 5501 | Synthetic filament tow | General (MFN) rate 7.5% on all 6 lines |
| 5502 | Artificial filament tow | General (MFN) rate 7.5% on all 2 lines |
| 5503 | Synthetic staple fibres, not carded Synthetic staple fibers, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning | General (MFN) rate free to 4.3% on 8 lines |
| 5504 | Artificial staple fibres, not carded Artificial staple fibers, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning | General (MFN) rate 4.3% on all 2 lines |
| 5505 | Man-made fibre waste Waste (including noils, yarn waste and garnetted stock) of man-made fibers | General (MFN) rate free on all 2 lines |
| 5506 | Synthetic staple fibres, carded or combed Synthetic staple fibers, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning | General (MFN) rate 5% to 5.7% on 5 lines |
| 5507 | Artificial staple fibres, carded or combed Artificial staple fibers, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning | General (MFN) rate 5% |
| 5508 | Man-made staple fibre sewing thread Sewing thread of man-made staple fibers, whether or not put up for retail sale | General (MFN) rate 11% to 11.4% on 2 lines |
| 5509 | Synthetic staple fibre yarn Yarn (other than sewing thread) of synthetic staple fibers, not put up for retail sale | General (MFN) rate 7% to 13.2% on 23 lines |
| 5510 | Artificial staple fibre yarn Yarn (other than sewing thread) of artificial staple fibers, not put up for retail sale | General (MFN) rate 7.5% to 13.2% on 7 lines |
| 5511 | Man-made staple fibre yarn, retail packs Yarn (other than sewing thread) of man-made staple fibers, put up for retail sale | General (MFN) rate 7.5% on all 3 lines |
| 5512 | Synthetic staple fibre fabric, 85%+ Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibers, containing 85 percent or more by weight of synthetic staple fibers | General (MFN) rate 12% to 14.9% on 6 lines |
| 5513 | Synthetic-cotton blend fabric, up to 170 g/m² Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibers, containing less than 85 percent by weight of such fibers, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, of a weight not exceeding 170… | General (MFN) rate 8.5% to 14.9% on 13 lines |
| 5514 | Synthetic-cotton blend fabric, over 170 g/m² Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibers, containing less than 85 percent by weight of such fibers, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, of a weight exceeding 170 g/m² | General (MFN) rate free to 14.9% on 16 lines |
| 5515 | Other synthetic staple fibre fabrics Other woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibers | General (MFN) rate free to 25% on 13 lines |
| 5516 | Artificial staple fibre woven fabrics Woven fabrics of artificial staple fibers | General (MFN) rate free to 25% on 24 lines |
This is the schedule, and the schedule is not the whole duty. The rates below are the published United States Harmonized Tariff Schedule for the revision named at the foot of this page. They do not include Section 301 duties, antidumping duties or countervailing duties, and for textiles of some origins those exceed the scheduled rate — a line reading 16.5% can land well above it. Nor is a rate of Free a statement that the goods enter free of charge: it is the general rate only, before any of the above. Which line a particular garment falls under is a classification decision, the difference between two adjacent lines can be several times the duty, and a preferential rate applies only where the goods actually qualify under that agreement’s rules of origin. Check with your broker before quoting a landed price.
133 lines in chapter 55. Source: United States International Trade Commission, HTS 2026 Basic Edition, ingested 2026-10-17.