N358577

N358577 March 5, 2026 CLA-2-59-OT:RR:NC:N2:352 CATEGORY: Classification, Origin, Trade Programs TARIFF NO.: 5911.90.0080; 7019.90.1100 William Dyer W.L. Gore & Associates 100 Airport Road Elkton, MD 21921 RE: The tariff classification, country of origin determination and status under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) laminated filter bags made of woven fiberglass and felted polyester from Costa Rica Dear Mr. Dyer: This is in reply to your letter dated February 5, 2026, requesting the classification, country of origin and status under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) determination for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) laminated filter bags made of woven fiberglass and felted polyester, which will be imported into the United States. Samples and photos were provided to this office and will be retained for training purposes. FACTS: Item #4427, described as “Gore® High Durability Filter Bag,” is a tubular filtration component with an ultrasonically welded seam constructed of felted polyester fabric and laminated with a polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane. The “Gore® High Durability Filter Bag” is designed for use in jet-style dust collectors in chemicals, minerals, metals, power generation and incineration (waste-to-energy) processing applications. The filter bag features a sewn end-cap disc cover at the bottom and an open top featuring a sewn cuff finished edge composed of laminated polyester felt fabric. The cuff is encased with a stainless-steel ring, ensuring structural integrity and a leak-proof, gasket-like seal against the metal cell plate. The filter bag weighs 543 g/m2 (16 oz/yd2) with a maximum operating temperature of 135-degree Celsius and has a bursting strength of 4654 kPa (675psi). The sample filter bag measures approximately 99 inches in length by 5 inches in diameter and is imported finished, ready to use. Item #3650, described as a “Gore® High Durability Filter Bag,” is a tubular filtration component with a sewn seam constructed of woven fiberglass fabric and laminated with a polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane. The “Gore® High Durability Filter Bag” is designed for use in jet-style dust collectors in chemicals, minerals, metals, power generation and incineration (waste-to-energy) processing applications. The filter bag features a sewn end-cap disc cover at the bottom and an open top featuring a sewn cuff finished edge composed of a laminated woven fiberglass fabric. The cuff is encased with a stainless-steel ring, ensuring structural integrity and a leak-proof, gasket-like seal against the metal cell plate. The filter bag weighs 746 g/m2 (22 oz/yd2) with a maximum operating temperature of 260-degree Celsius and has a bursting strength of 6205 kPa (900psi). The sample filter bag measures approximately 234 inches in length by 7 inches in diameter and is imported finished, ready to use. The manufacturing operations for Item #4427, described as a “Gore® High Durability Filter Bag” (felted polyester) are as follows: United States Polyester filament is extruded and cut into staple fibers. Polyester felted fabric is formed by needle punching. Polyester scrim fabric is formed. ePTFE membrane film is formed. Polyester thread is formed. Polyester scrim fabric is inserted between the two layers of polyester felted fabric and all three layers are needle punched together. The ePTFE membrane is thermally laminated to the three-layer fabric. The finished combined laminated felt fabric is shipped in rolls under subheading 5602.11, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) and sewing thread is shipped in spools under subheading 5404.19, HTSUS, to Costa Rica. China Stainless steel metal rings are manufactured. Stainless steel metal rings are shipped to Costa Rica. Costa Rica The completed fabric is cut into panels and shapes forming the end cap and cuff fabrics. The panels are shaped tubularly and ultrasonically welded at the seam. The end cap fabric is sewn on one end, and a metal ring is encased into the cuff sewn on the other end. The finished filter bags are packaged and shipped to United States. The manufacturing operations for Item #3650, described as a “Gore® High Durability Filter Bag” (fiberglass) are as follows: Taiwan Raw material for glass fibers are produced. Glass fibers/yarn are manufactured. Glass fiber yarns are spooled and shipped to United States. United States Fiberglass yarn is woven into fabric. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane film (ePTFE) is manufactured. 100 percent polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) sewing thread is manufactured. Finished woven fiberglass fabric and (ePTFE) membrane film are rolled and shipped to Germany. 100 percent ePTFE sewing thread is shipped to Costa Rica under subheading 5404.19, HTSUS. Germany Woven fiberglass fabric and (ePTFE) membrane film are heat bonded together. Finished laminated woven fiberglass fabric are rolled and shipped to Costa Rica. China Stainless steel metal rings are manufactured. Stainless steel metal rings are shipped to Costa Rica. Costa Rica Laminated woven fiberglass fabric is cut into panels and sewn in tubular shapes. Laminated woven fiberglass fabric is cut into shapes forming end cap and cuffs. Laminated woven fiberglass fabric end cap is sewn on one end and a metal ring is encased into cuff sewn on the other end. Finished laminated woven fiberglass filter bags are packaged and shipped to United States. ISSUE: What is the classification, country of origin and status under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) of the subject merchandise? CLASSIFICATION: Based on the provided information, the applicable subheading for Item #4427, Gore® High Durability Filter Bag, a felted polyester with a laminated ePTFE membrane filter bag, will be 5911.90.0080 (HTSUS), which provides for “Textile products and articles, for technical uses, specified in note 8 to this chapter: Textile fabrics and felts, endless or fitted with linking devices, of a kind used in papermaking or similar machines(for example, for pulp or asbestos-cement): Other: Other.” The general rate of duty will be 3.8 percent ad valorem. Based on the provided information, the applicable subheading for Item #3650, Gore® High Durability Filter Bag, a woven fiberglass with a laminated ePTFE membrane filter bag, will be 7019.90.1100 (HTSUS), which provides for “Glass fibers (including glass wool) and articles thereof (for example, yarn, rovings, woven fabrics): Other: Woven.” The general rate of duty will be 4.8 percent ad valorem. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - LAW AND ANALYSIS: Section 334 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (“URAA”) (codified at 19 U.S.C. 3592), enacted on December 8, 1994, provides the rules of origin for textiles and apparel products for purposes of the customs laws and the administration of quantitative restrictions, unless otherwise provided by the statute, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after July 1, 1996. Section 3592 has been described as Congress’s expression of substantial transformation as it relates to textile and apparel products. Section 102.21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (19 CFR 102.21), implements the URAA. The country of origin of a textile or apparel product shall be determined by the sequential application of the general rules set forth in paragraphs (c)(1) through (5) of section 102.21. See 19 CFR 102.21(c). Paragraph (c)(1) states, “The country of origin of a textile or apparel product is the single country, territory, or insular possession in which the good was wholly obtained or produced.” As the subject merchandise is not wholly obtained or produced in a single country, territory or insular possession, paragraph (c)(1) of Section 102.21 is inapplicable. Paragraph (c)(2) states, “Where the country of origin of a textile or apparel product cannot be determined

Section 334 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (“URAA”) (codified at 19 U.S.C. 3592), enacted on December 8, 1994, provides the rules of origin for textiles and apparel products for purposes of the customs laws and the administration of quantitative restrictions, unless otherwise provided by the statute, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after July 1, 1996. Section 3592 has been described as Congress’s expression of substantial transformation as it relates to textile and apparel products. Section 102.21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (19 CFR 102.21), implements the URAA. The country of origin of a textile or apparel product shall be determined by the sequential application of the general rules set forth in paragraphs (c)(1) through (5) of section 102.21. See 19 CFR 102.21(c). Paragraph (c)(1) states, “The country of origin of a textile or apparel product is the single country, territory, or insular possession in which the good was wholly obtained or produced.” As the subject merchandise is not wholly obtained or produced in a single country, territory or insular possession, paragraph (c)(1) of Section 102.21 is inapplicable. 

Paragraph (c)(2) states, “Where the country of origin of a textile or apparel product cannot be determined under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the country of origin of the good is the single country, territory, or insular possession in which each of the foreign materials incorporated in that good underwent an applicable change in tariff classification, and/or met any other requirement, specified for the good in paragraph (e) of this section:” Paragraph (e) in pertinent part states, The following rules shall apply for purposes of determining the country of origin of a textile or apparel product under paragraph (c)(2) of this section: HTSUS Tariff shift and/or other requirements 5911.90 (3) If the good is a made up article other than a good of yarn, rope, cord, or braid, a change to subheading 5911.90 from any