9902.14.60 - Hats and headgear of vegetable fibers, of unspun fibrous vegetable materials, of paper yarn or of any combination thereof, plaited, but not of plaited strips and not sewed (provided for in subheading 6504.00.60)

This HTS category, 9902.14.60, encompasses specific types of headgear crafted from vegetable fibers, unspun fibrous vegetable materials, or paper yarn. The key defining characteristic for classification under this provision is that these items must be *plaited*. Crucially, this plaited construction must *not* involve plaited strips as a primary component, nor can the headgear be sewed. This classification provision is a temporary measure, referencing its provision for goods that would otherwise fall under subheading 6504.00.60, indicating a potential modification or special treatment for these particular items.

Given that this is a leaf node, the primary distinction lies not with subcategories but with understanding its precise limitations. Unlike other classifications for hats and headgear which may allow for sewn construction or incorporate plaited strips as the primary material, 9902.14.60 is highly specific. For instance, headgear made from woven vegetable fibers where the weaving is a more complex interlacing of strands, or items that are primarily constructed through sewing, would be classified elsewhere. The focus here is on a more direct plaiting of the raw or minimally processed fibrous materials.

The items classified here are generally intended for personal wear as head coverings. Examples might include certain types of straw hats where the straw has been directly plaited and not cut into strips and then sewn, or similarly constructed headbands and other forms of head adornment made from paper yarn that has been plaited. The "not of plaited strips" qualifier is critical; it differentiates from woven goods or items assembled from pre-formed, narrow strips of plaited material.