Background

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final determination concerning the country of origin of surgical towels that may be offered to the U.S. government. Any party-at-interest may seek judicial review of this determination by Nov. 14.

According to CBP, the item at issue consists of blue surgical towels made from 100 percent cotton huckaback weave fabric. The fabric is woven and dyed blue in Bangladesh and then shipped to Vietnam in rolls, where it is cut to size, sewn, autoclaved, packaged, and shipped to the U.S. The towels are classified under HTSUS 6307.90.89.

In ruling HQ H339826 CBP concludes that, pursuant to the textile and apparel rules of origin in 19 CFR 102.21(c)(2), the country of origin of the towels is Bangladesh because that is where the fabric that comprises the towels is formed by a fabric-making process.

CBP issues country of origin advisory rulings and final determinations as to whether an article is or would be a product of a designated country or instrumentality for the purposes of granting waivers of certain “Buy American” restrictions in U.S. law or practice for products offered for sale to the U.S. government. For more information on BAA requirements or restrictions, please contact Mark SegristMark Tallo, or Josh Rodman.

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