5208.52.50.20 - Poplin or broadcloth (314)

This HTS category, 5208.52.50.20, specifically covers printed woven fabrics of cotton that contain 85 percent or more by weight of cotton, weigh not more than 200 g/m², are of a plain weave, and have a weight exceeding 100 g/m². The "poplin or broadcloth" designation indicates a specific type of closely woven fabric with a fine, smooth finish, often characterized by a warp of finer yarn than the weft, resulting in a subtly ribbed surface. These fabrics are distinguished by their printed designs, making them suitable for a wide array of apparel, home furnishings, and other textile applications where patterned cotton is desired.

In contrast to its sibling category, 5208.52.50.90, which encompasses cheesecloth, lawns, voiles, and batistes, this classification focuses on the poplin or broadcloth weave. These latter types of fabrics are generally denser and more substantial than lawns or voiles, which are typically lightweight and sheer. Therefore, when classifying printed cotton fabrics within this broad heading, the weave structure and resultant fabric characteristics are key differentiating factors.

As this is a leaf node in the HTS classification, there are no further subcategories. This means that any printed woven cotton fabric meeting all the preceding criteria – 85% or more cotton by weight, not exceeding 200 g/m², plain weave, weighing more than 100 g/m², and specifically of a poplin or broadcloth construction – will be classified under this exact code. The "Of number 69 or higher number" in the parent context suggests it falls within a particular yarn count range for the warp threads, further defining the fineness and structure of the poplin or broadcloth.