5516.31.05.20 - Combed (410)

This HTS category, 5516.31.05.20, specifically classifies woven fabrics manufactured from artificial staple fibers that contain less than 85% by weight of these fibers, and are primarily or solely mixed with wool or fine animal hair. Crucially, these fabrics must be "Combed," indicating a specific processing step applied to the artificial staple fibers prior to weaving, which aligns with the descriptor "(410)". This means the fibers have undergone a combing process to remove short fibers and parallelize the longer ones, resulting in a smoother, finer, and stronger yarn compared to uncombed fibers.

This classification distinguishes itself from its sibling category, 5516.31.05.10 ("Not combed"), by the specific treatment of the artificial staple fibers. While both categories fall under woven fabrics of artificial staple fibers, mixed mainly or solely with wool or fine animal hair, and are unbleached or bleached and contain 36% or more by weight of wool or fine animal hair, the "combed" nature of the fibers is the defining characteristic for this specific code. This difference in fiber preparation directly impacts the fabric's texture, drape, and end-use potential.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, the classification is final, and the focus remains on the precise definition of "combed" artificial staple fibers within the described fabric composition and processing. Classification at this level relies heavily on verifying the presence and nature of the artificial staple fibers, the proportion of wool or fine animal hair, and confirmation of the combing process applied to the artificial staple fibers.