Chapter 52 covers the international trade classification of cotton and cotton products, including raw cotton, cotton waste, carded cotton, cotton yarn, and cotton woven fabrics. This chapter is a foundational chapter in the textile category, alongside Chapter 53 for other vegetable textile fibers, Chapter 54 for man-made filaments, and Chapter 55 for man-made staple fibers. As the world's most important natural textile raw material, cotton classification involves multiple dimensions such as fiber length, processing state, yarn fineness, fabric weave, and finishing processes. Goods under this chapter are traded in large volumes and broad scope in international trade, and classification accuracy directly affects tariff treatment and trade control measures. Heading 5212 covers other woven fabrics of cotton, i.e., woven fabrics of cotton not included in headings 5208 to 5211. Specifically, it includes: bleached woven fabrics of cotton weighing more than 200 g/m², other woven fabrics of cotton, unbleached or bleached (including jacquard, terry weave, and other special weaves), and blended woven fabrics of cotton (cotton blended with man-made fibers, containing less than 85% cotton but more than the predominant blended fiber). This heading is a residual heading for the classification of woven fabrics of cotton; any woven fabric of cotton not meeting the specific conditions of headings 5208 to 5211 is classified under this heading. The first 2 digits, 52, represent Chapter 52, Cotton and cotton products, covering the entire industry chain from raw cotton to woven fabrics of cotton. Digits 3-4, 12, represent heading 5212, i.e., other woven fabrics of cotton, referring to woven fabrics of cotton not included in headings 5208 to 5211, including bleached, unbleached, and blended cotton fabrics. Digits 5-6, 22, represent subheading 521222, specifically bleached other woven fabrics of cotton weighing more than 200 g/m². The fifth digit, 2, indicates bleached, as distinguished from unbleached (1), dyed (3), yarn-dyed (4), and printed (5); the sixth digit, 2, indicates weighing more than 200 g/m², as distinguished from not exceeding 200 g/m² (1). This subheading requires both conditions to be met simultaneously: bleached and weighing more than 200 g/m². This product is classified under 521222 rather than adjacent codes for three core reasons: first, the cotton content is less than 85%, so it cannot be classified under 5208 to 5211; second, it weighs more than 200 g/m², excluding 5211 (weighing not more than 200 g/m²) and 5210 (weighing not more than 200 g/m²); third, it has been bleached, excluding subheadings under 5212 for unbleached (521211), dyed (521223), yarn-dyed (521224), and printed (521225). Only when all three conditions are met simultaneously—cotton content less than 85%, bleached, and weighing more than 200 g/m²—is it classified under 521222.

Product Name: The standard name of the declared commodity, which should include material, process, and use, such as 'bleached cotton-polyester blended woven fabric'. Weaving Method: Indicate the weaving method of the fabric, such as woven, knitted, etc. This code applies only to woven fabrics. Fiber Composition and Content: List all fiber components by weight percentage, such as cotton 60%, polyester 40%, accurate to whole numbers. Weight per Square Meter: Declare the weight per unit area of the fabric in grams per square meter, which must be greater than 200 g/m². Bleaching Process: Indicate whether bleaching treatment has been applied and the bleaching method (e.g., oxygen bleaching, chlorine bleaching). Width: Declare the effective width of the fabric in centimeters or inches, which affects classification and tariffs. Brand: Declare the brand of the commodity; if no brand, indicate 'No Brand'. Article Number: The product number assigned by the manufacturer or exporter, used to distinguish different specifications under the same product name. Product Name: Bleached cotton-polyester blended woven fabric; Weaving Method: Woven; Fiber Composition and Content: Cotton 60%, Polyester 40%; Weight per Square Meter: 220 g/m²; Bleaching Process: Oxygen bleaching; Width: 150 cm; Brand: No Brand; Article Number: CT-220B. Specification Model: 52122200. Declared Quantity: 10,000 meters, Packaging: Roll. Remarks: This batch of goods has been bleached, not dyed, not printed, weighs 220 g/m², with 60% cotton content, meeting the requirements of subheading 521222. Inaccurate gram weight declaration: misreporting below 200 g/m² as above 200 g/m², resulting in classification under 5211 instead of 5212. Incorrect fiber composition ratio: actual cotton content below 85% but misreported as above 85%, incorrectly classified under 5208. Confusing bleaching with dyeing: declaring dyed fabric as bleached fabric, resulting in incorrect subheading 521223. Misreporting weaving method: declaring knitted fabric as woven fabric, which should be classified under Chapter 60 rather than Chapter 52. Incorrect width units: misreporting inches as centimeters, resulting in specification description inconsistent with the actual product.

There are three core criteria for classification: First, fiber composition—cotton content must be less than 85%; if equal to or higher than 85%, it should be classified under 5208 to 5211. Second, weight per square meter must exceed 200 g/m²; if not exceeding 200 g/m², it should be classified under 5211 or 5210. Third, it must have been bleached; if unbleached, dyed, yarn-dyed, or printed, it should be classified under other subheadings under 5212. In addition, it must be confirmed that the fabric is woven rather than knitted and does not belong to special woven fabrics (such as terry, pile, etc.). Customs review typically requires composition test reports, gram weight test reports, and bleaching process certification. 521211 Unbleached other woven fabrics of cotton, weighing >200 g/m²: 521211 is unbleached, 521222 is bleached. The core difference is whether bleaching treatment has been applied; bleached fabric is whiter, with whiteness values typically above 80%. 521223 Dyed other woven fabrics of cotton, weighing >200 g/m²: 521223 is dyed fabric, 521222 is bleached fabric. Dyed fabric has been colored with dyes and has a specific color, while bleached fabric only has natural pigments removed and appears white. 521120 Bleached other woven fabrics of cotton, weighing ≤200 g/m²: 521120 weighs not more than 200 g/m², 521222 weighs more than 200 g/m². The core difference is gram weight, requiring precise measurement of weight per unit area. 520821 Bleached woven fabrics of cotton, cotton ≥85%, weighing ≤200 g/m²: 520821 has cotton content ≥85%, 521222 has cotton content <85%. The core difference is the percentage of cotton fiber content, requiring a composition test report. 521225 Printed other woven fabrics of cotton, weighing >200 g/m²: 521225 is printed fabric, 521222 is bleached fabric. Printed fabric has patterns, while bleached fabric has no patterns and is purely white. Is the cotton content less than 85%? Does it weigh more than 200 g/m²? Has it been bleached? Is it a woven fabric rather than a knitted fabric? Does it not belong to special woven fabrics (such as terry, pile)?

How do I check the tariff rate for 521222? You can use the 'Import and Export Commodity Tariff Rate Inquiry' system on the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China, enter HS code 521222, select the import/export direction and country of origin/destination, and query the MFN rate, general rate, agreement rate, etc. You can also use the tariff inquiry function of the 'China International Trade Single Window'. Note that tariff rates are subject to policy adjustments; it is recommended to rely on the rates displayed in the customs system at the time of declaration. What is the difference between 521222 and 521120? Both are bleached other woven fabrics of cotton; the difference lies in weight per square meter. 521222 requires weight exceeding 200 g/m², while 521120 requires weight not exceeding 200 g/m². Accurate gram weight measurement is required for classification, and customs may require a test report. If the gram weight is at a critical value, it is recommended to take multiple measurements and use the average. If cotton content is exactly 85%, which code should it be classified under? If cotton content equals 85%, it should be classified under the corresponding codes in 5208 to 5211, not 5212. This is because 5212 requires cotton content less than 85%. Note that 'less than 85%' does not include 85% itself. It is recommended to provide a composition test report accurate to one decimal place to avoid disputes. Is there a classification difference between bleached fabric and mercerized fabric? Mercerization is an alkali treatment process that enhances the luster of cotton fibers but is not equivalent to bleaching. If the fabric is only mercerized but not bleached, it should still be classified under the unbleached subheading; if mercerized and then bleached, it is classified under the bleached subheading. Classification should be determined based on the actual process; mercerization should not be misreported as bleaching. How is cotton content calculated in blended woven fabrics of cotton? Cotton content is calculated by weight percentage, i.e., the weight of cotton fiber as a proportion of the total weight of the fabric. Note the effect of moisture regain on weight; typically, the weight at the official moisture regain is used. The test report should list all fiber components and their percentages, totaling 100%. If the cotton content is less than the predominant blended fiber, it may be classified under Chapter 54 or 55. What regulatory documents are required for exporting goods under 521222? Generally, exporting woven fabrics of cotton requires no special regulatory documents, but must comply with export declaration form filling specifications. If brand export is involved, a brand authorization letter is required; if shipped to specific countries, a certificate of origin may be required. For specifics, consult the regulatory document catalog published by the General Administration of Customs or contact your local customs office. How do I determine if a fabric is woven? Woven fabric is made by interlacing warp and weft yarns. It can be identified by observing the fabric surface texture: woven fabric has warp and weft directions, has selvages at the edges, and exhibits different extensibility in warp and weft directions when stretched. Knitted fabric is made by interlooping yarns, has wales and courses, and has better elasticity. If uncertain, send it to a professional testing institution for identification. How should 'Bleaching Process' be filled in the declaration elements for 521222? The specific bleaching method should be stated, such as oxygen bleaching, chlorine bleaching, sodium chlorite bleaching, etc., and the degree of bleaching (e.g., semi-bleached, fully bleached) should be noted. If multiple bleaching processes are used, it can be abbreviated as 'bleached'. Avoid vague terms such as 'treated' or 'processed'. Customs may require a process flow chart or bleaching agent usage records.