9607 - Slide fasteners and parts thereof:

This HTS category, 9607, encompasses slide fasteners, commonly known as zippers, and their constituent parts. Slide fasteners are mechanical devices used to join two edges of fabric or other flexible material, comprising interlocking teeth, a slider mechanism, and often a pull tab. This category is dedicated to the fasteners themselves and any components specifically designed for their assembly or repair.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings in Chapter 96, which covers a broad range of miscellaneous manufactured articles such as buttons, combs, and writing instruments, is crucial. While other items in Chapter 96 might be used in conjunction with textiles or apparel, HTS 9607 is specifically for the functional fastening mechanism. It does not include the textiles or finished articles that the slide fasteners are attached to.

Within this category, two principal subcategories exist: slide fasteners (9607.10) and parts thereof (9607.20). The former covers complete, functional slide fasteners ready for application, while the latter specifically addresses individual components like the teeth, tapes, sliders, and pull tabs that are intended for the manufacture or repair of slide fasteners. This distinction allows for precise tariff application based on whether the item is a finished fastener or a component part.