1404.90.20.00 - Broomcorn (Sorghum vulgare var. technicum)

This HTS category, 1404.90.20.00, specifically classifies broomcorn, scientifically known as *Sorghum vulgare var. technicum*. Broomcorn is a variety of sorghum cultivated for its stiff, brush-like panicles, which are utilized as a primary material in the manufacture of brooms and brushes. The classification applies to broomcorn in its raw or processed form, including when it is cut, bundled, or prepared for its intended use in brush-making.

Within the broader "Vegetable materials of a kind used primarily in brooms or in brushes" heading, this code distinguishes broomcorn from other similar natural fibers. For example, sibling category 1404.90.30.00 covers "Istle," which refers to a group of fibrous plants from Mexico and Central America used for similar purposes but possessing distinct physical characteristics and botanical origins. Category 1404.90.40.00, "Other," encompasses any other vegetable materials meeting the broom or brush material criteria that are not specifically listed elsewhere.

As a leaf node in the HTS, 1404.90.20.00 does not have further subdivisions. Therefore, classification within this code relies on the definitive identification of the imported material as broomcorn. The key determinant is the botanical origin and the characteristic stiff, brush-like structure of the sorghum variety, intended for direct use in the production of brooms or brushes, differentiating it from other raw vegetable fibers or plaiting materials.