1404.90.30.00 - Istle

This category, HTS 1404.90.30.00, specifically classifies "Istle." Istle is a coarse fiber derived from certain plants, notably *Agave lechuguilla* and *Hesperaloe funifera*, indigenous to Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. It is characterized by its strength and resilience, making it suitable for various industrial and craft applications, particularly where a stiff, durable fiber is required.

This classification is distinguished from its sibling category, 1404.90.20.00, which is exclusively for Broomcorn. While both are vegetable materials used in brooms and brushes, broomcorn is a specific variety of sorghum with elongated, flexible stalks, whereas istle refers to the fibrous material extracted from the leaves of agave-like plants, offering a stiffer and more abrasive quality. The sibling category 1404.90.40.00 covers all other remaining vegetable materials within this group that do not fall under the specific definitions for broomcorn or istle.

As a leaf node, HTS 1404.90.30.00 has no further subcategories. Classification within this code relies on the identification of the material as istle, recognizing its primary use in the manufacture of brooms or brushes due to its inherent physical properties. This ensures a precise and consistent tariff treatment for this specific type of vegetable fiber.