6406.10.85.00 - Uppers of which less than 50 percent of the external surface area (including any leather, rubber or plastics accessories or reinforcements such as those mentioned in note 4(a) to this chapter) is textile materials

This HTS classification, 6406.10.85.00, specifically covers uppers for footwear where the external surface area, including any attached leather, rubber, or plastic accessories or reinforcements, is predominantly composed of materials *other than* textiles. This means that less than 50 percent of the visible external surface of the upper is made up of textile materials. Examples include uppers where the primary external components are solid plastic, molded rubber, or leather, even if some textile lining or subtle textile accents are present.

It is crucial to distinguish this category from its sibling, 6406.10.90, which covers "Other" uppers and parts thereof not meeting the specific criteria of 6406.10.85.00. If an upper's external surface area is 50 percent or more textile material, it would fall under that other category. The determining factor is the percentage of textile material on the *external* surface.

As this is a leaf node in the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories under 6406.10.85.00. Classification decisions within this code are therefore made by meticulously assessing the external surface area composition of the footwear upper according to the stated percentage rule.