5516.91.00 - Unbleached or bleached

HTS Code 5516.91.00 classifies woven fabrics of artificial staple fibers that are unbleached or bleached. This category encompasses a broad range of artificial staple fiber fabrics that have not undergone dyeing, printing, or the use of yarns of different colors. Essentially, these are the base fabrics in their natural or chemically treated-to-be-white states, prior to further decorative or color-based finishing.

This classification is distinguished from its sibling categories by the absence of color treatments. HTS 5516.91.00 specifically excludes fabrics that are dyed (5516.92.00), woven from yarns of different colors (5516.93.00), or printed (5516.94.00). The key differentiator is the fabric's visual appearance and manufacturing process at the point of classification.

Within HTS 5516.91.00, further subdivisions exist to refine the classification based on specific weave structures and fabric types. These subcategories, such as poplin/broadcloth, sheeting, printcloth, cheesecloth/lawns/voiles/batistes, duck, satin weave/twill weave, and Oxford cloth, along with a residual "other" category, allow for more precise identification of the fabric's construction and end-use potential. These distinctions are crucial for accurate duty assessment and trade statistics.