5516.41.00 - Unbleached or bleached

This HTS category, 5516.41.00, specifically classifies woven fabrics of artificial staple fibers that are unbleached or bleached. These fabrics must contain less than 85 percent by weight of artificial staple fibers, with the remaining material being cotton, and the blend must be mainly or solely with cotton. This means the primary fiber content driving the classification is artificial staple fiber, but cotton is a significant component, and the fabric has not undergone dyeing or printing processes.

It is crucial to distinguish this category from its siblings. Unlike 5516.42.00 (Dyed) and 5516.43.00 (Of yarns of different colors), fabrics under 5516.41.00 are either in their natural, unbleached state or have been bleached to remove natural colorants. Furthermore, 5516.44.00 covers printed fabrics, a treatment not applied to goods classified here. The defining characteristic for 5516.41.00 is the absence of added color through dyeing, yarn differentiation, or printing.

Within 5516.41.00, further subdivisions exist to provide more granular classification based on fabric construction and weave. These subcategories, such as Poplin or broadcloth, Printcloth, Cheesecloth, lawns, voiles or batistes, Duck, Satin weave or twill weave, Oxford cloth, and "Other," allow for precise identification of the fabric type by its specific weaving pattern and common trade names. This detailed breakdown aids in accurately determining the precise nature of the unbleached or bleached woven fabric for import and export purposes.