9606.10 - Press-fasteners, snap-fasteners and press-studs and parts thereof:

This HTS category, 9606.10, specifically covers press-fasteners, snap-fasteners, and press-studs, along with their constituent parts. These items are designed for the purpose of fastening two pieces of material together, typically in clothing, accessories, or other textile articles. They function by the engagement of a stud with a socket or by a similar mechanism that allows for secure closure and easy opening. The classification encompasses both complete fasteners and individual components that are designed to be assembled into such fasteners.

Distinguishing this category from its sibling, 9606.20 (Buttons), is crucial. While both relate to fastening mechanisms, this section focuses exclusively on the "snap" or "press" type of fastener, which operates through a sprung mechanism, rather than the more traditional button that is passed through a buttonhole or attached via a shank or thread. Category 9606.30, concerning button molds and blanks, relates to the components used in the manufacture of traditional buttons, not the press-fastener mechanisms themselves.

Within 9606.10, further subdivision is based on the unit value of the fasteners or their parts. The subcategories, 9606.10.40.00 and 9606.10.80.00, differentiate based on whether the value is not over 20¢ per dozen pieces or parts, or if it exceeds 20¢ per dozen pieces or parts, respectively. This distinction is a common criterion in the HTS for differentiating goods within a chapter, often reflecting varying levels of complexity, material, or manufacturing processes.