Chapter 64 covers footwear, gaiters and the like, and parts thereof, including footwear of various materials (leather, rubber, plastics, textiles, etc.). This chapter further divides headings based on the material of the upper and sole, use, height, etc., and is the core chapter for the classification of footwear commodities in international trade. Heading 6402 covers other footwear, namely footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics (excluding waterproof footwear, sports footwear, and other specific headings). This heading includes rubber or plastic footwear for daily wear, such as sandals, slippers, ordinary casual shoes, etc., but excludes specialized sports footwear (such as tennis shoes, basketball shoes, etc.). Code 640240 is a six-digit subheading: the first two digits 64 represent Chapter 64, "Footwear, gaiters and the like, and parts thereof"; digits 3-4, 02, represent the heading "Other footwear," namely footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics; digits 5-6, 40, represent the subheading "Tennis shoes," specifically referring to tennis shoes with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics. Therefore, the complete code 640240 refers to tennis shoes of rubber or plastics. This commodity is classified under 640240 rather than other subheadings of 6402 because it is specially designed for tennis and both the outer soles and uppers are of rubber or plastics. If the upper were of textile materials, it would be classified under 6404; if it were specialized sports footwear but with an upper of leather, it would be classified under 6403. Therefore, material and use are the key distinguishing factors.
Chapter
Chapter 64 covers footwear, gaiters and the like, and parts thereof, including footwear of various materials (leather, rubber, plastics, textiles, etc.). This chapter further divides headings based on the material of the upper and sole, use, height, etc., and is the core chapter for the classification of footwear commodities in international trade.
Heading
Heading 6402 covers other footwear, namely footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics (excluding waterproof footwear, sports footwear, and other specific headings). This heading includes rubber or plastic footwear for daily wear, such as sandals, slippers, ordinary casual shoes, etc., but excludes specialized sports footwear (such as tennis shoes, basketball shoes, etc.).
Digit Breakdown
Code 640240 is a six-digit subheading: the first two digits 64 represent Chapter 64, "Footwear, gaiters and the like, and parts thereof"; digits 3-4, 02, represent the heading "Other footwear," namely footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics; digits 5-6, 40, represent the subheading "Tennis shoes," specifically referring to tennis shoes with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics. Therefore, the complete code 640240 refers to tennis shoes of rubber or plastics.
Classification Basis
This commodity is classified under 640240 rather than other subheadings of 6402 because it is specially designed for tennis and both the outer soles and uppers are of rubber or plastics. If the upper were of textile materials, it would be classified under 6404; if it were specialized sports footwear but with an upper of leather, it would be classified under 6403. Therefore, material and use are the key distinguishing factors.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product name: The Chinese and foreign-language names of the declared commodity should accurately reflect the product's attributes, such as "rubber tennis shoes." Brand: Fill in the brand name of the commodity (such as Nike, Adidas); if there is no brand, fill in "none." Model: Fill in the model or article number of the commodity to facilitate customs identification of the specific style. Upper material: Declare the main material of the upper, such as "rubber" or "plastics," with specific description required. Sole material: Declare the main material of the sole, such as "rubber" or "plastics." Use: Declare the use of the commodity, such as "for tennis." Size: Declare the size range or specific size of the commodity. Packaging specifications: Declare the packaging method of the commodity, such as "boxed, 1 pair per box." Product name: Rubber tennis shoes; Brand: ABC; Model: TN-2024; Upper material: Rubber; Sole material: Rubber; Use: For tennis; Size: 39-44; Packaging specifications: Boxed, 1 pair per box. Misclassifying tennis shoes under other subheadings of 6402, ignoring the "tennis" specificity. Declaring the upper material as textile when it is actually rubber, resulting in incorrect classification. Declaring the use as "sports" rather than "tennis," which may lead to classification under other sports footwear subheadings.
Product name
The Chinese and foreign-language names of the declared commodity should accurately reflect the product's attributes, such as "rubber tennis shoes."
⚠️ Misreporting as "sports shoes" or "casual shoes" without specifying the "tennis" use.
Brand
Fill in the brand name of the commodity (such as Nike, Adidas); if there is no brand, fill in "none."
⚠️ Confusing brand with trademark, or omitting the brand, which may lead to customs questioning.
Model
Fill in the model or article number of the commodity to facilitate customs identification of the specific style.
⚠️ Incomplete model entry or inconsistency with the actual goods.
Upper material
Declare the main material of the upper, such as "rubber" or "plastics," with specific description required.
⚠️ Vaguely filling in "synthetic materials" without distinguishing between rubber and plastics.
Sole material
Declare the main material of the sole, such as "rubber" or "plastics."
⚠️ Omitting the declaration of sole material, or confusing it with the upper material.
Use
Declare the use of the commodity, such as "for tennis."
⚠️ Filling in "sports" is too broad and does not specify tennis.
Size
Declare the size range or specific size of the commodity.
⚠️ Non-standard size entry, such as writing only "one size."
Packaging specifications
Declare the packaging method of the commodity, such as "boxed, 1 pair per box."
⚠️ Packaging specifications inconsistent with the actual goods, affecting inspection.
Example： Product name: Rubber tennis shoes; Brand: ABC; Model: TN-2024; Upper material: Rubber; Sole material: Rubber; Use: For tennis; Size: 39-44; Packaging specifications: Boxed, 1 pair per box.
Common Mistakes：
Misclassifying tennis shoes under other subheadings of 6402, ignoring the "tennis" specificity.
Declaring the upper material as textile when it is actually rubber, resulting in incorrect classification.
Declaring the use as "sports" rather than "tennis," which may lead to classification under other sports footwear subheadings.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core criteria for classification are: 1. Both the outer soles and uppers are of rubber or plastics; 2. Specially designed for tennis. If the upper is of textile materials, it is classified under 6404; if of leather, under 6403; if it is other sports footwear (such as basketball shoes), it is classified under other subheadings of 6402 or the corresponding subheadings of 6403/6404. 640219 Other sports footwear: 640219 covers other sports footwear of rubber or plastics, not specifically tennis shoes, and has a broader scope of application. 6403 Leather footwear: 6403 covers footwear with uppers of leather; if tennis shoes have leather uppers, they should be classified under 6403. 6404 Textile upper footwear: 6404 covers footwear with uppers of textile materials; if tennis shoes have textile uppers, they are classified under 6404. 6401 Waterproof footwear: 6401 covers waterproof footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics, but with a waterproof function, and its use differs from that of tennis shoes. Are both the outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics? Is the commodity specially designed for tennis? Is it confused with waterproof footwear or other sports footwear? Are the brand and model completely declared? Is the use clearly specified as tennis?
Basis
The core criteria for classification are: 1. Both the outer soles and uppers are of rubber or plastics; 2. Specially designed for tennis. If the upper is of textile materials, it is classified under 6404; if of leather, under 6403; if it is other sports footwear (such as basketball shoes), it is classified under other subheadings of 6402 or the corresponding subheadings of 6403/6404.
Confused Codes：
640219 - Other sports footwear
640219 covers other sports footwear of rubber or plastics, not specifically tennis shoes, and has a broader scope of application.
6403 - Leather footwear
6403 covers footwear with uppers of leather; if tennis shoes have leather uppers, they should be classified under 6403.
6404 - Textile upper footwear
6404 covers footwear with uppers of textile materials; if tennis shoes have textile uppers, they are classified under 6404.
6401 - Waterproof footwear
6401 covers waterproof footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics, but with a waterproof function, and its use differs from that of tennis shoes.
Self-Check：
✓ Are both the outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics?
✓ Is the commodity specially designed for tennis?
✓ Is it confused with waterproof footwear or other sports footwear?
✓ Are the brand and model completely declared?
✓ Is the use clearly specified as tennis?
❓ FAQ
How can I check the tariff rate for 640240? You can check the most-favored-nation rate, general rate, and preferential rates by entering HS code 640240 on the official website of the General Administration of Customs, China International Trade Single Window, or third-party tariff inquiry platforms, and selecting the importing/exporting country, origin, and other information. Note that tariff rates are adjusted with policy changes, and the latest published rates should prevail. Are rubber tennis shoes and plastic tennis shoes classified the same? Yes, 640240 covers tennis shoes of rubber or plastics, and both are classified under the same code. However, when declaring, the specific materials of the upper and sole must be separately indicated as rubber or plastics for customs inspection. If the upper of tennis shoes is made of textile materials, which code should they be classified under? If the upper is of textile materials and the sole is of rubber or plastics, they should be classified under 6404 (footwear with textile uppers). The specific subheading must be further determined based on the sole material and use, such as 640411 for sports footwear. Must the brand and model be filled in when declaring? Yes, the brand and model are important bases for customs valuation and classification and must be truthfully declared. If there is no brand, fill in "none"; the model must be consistent with the actual goods, otherwise it may be deemed a false declaration. What is the difference in classification between tennis shoes and basketball shoes? If the outer soles and uppers of tennis shoes are of rubber or plastics, they are classified under 640240; if basketball shoes are of the same materials, they are classified under 640219 (other sports footwear). The two have different uses and different classification subheadings. Can 640240 be used for cross-border e-commerce retail export of tennis shoes? Yes, but it must be ensured that the goods meet the definition of 640240. Cross-border e-commerce exports require an accurate HS code for customs clearance in the destination country. It is recommended to also understand the destination country's tariff policies. How should "use" be filled in among the declaration elements to be compliant? A specific use should be filled in, such as "for tennis," rather than the general "sports." If it is multi-purpose, the primary use should be indicated to avoid classification disputes caused by vague use. What is the main difference between 640240 and 640219? 640240 specifically refers to tennis shoes, while 640219 covers other sports footwear (such as basketball shoes, training shoes, etc.). The difference lies in the specificity of use: tennis shoes must be specially designed for tennis, while other sports footwear has no such restriction.
Q: How can I check the tariff rate for 640240?
A: You can check the most-favored-nation rate, general rate, and preferential rates by entering HS code 640240 on the official website of the General Administration of Customs, China International Trade Single Window, or third-party tariff inquiry platforms, and selecting the importing/exporting country, origin, and other information. Note that tariff rates are adjusted with policy changes, and the latest published rates should prevail.
Q: Are rubber tennis shoes and plastic tennis shoes classified the same?
A: Yes, 640240 covers tennis shoes of rubber or plastics, and both are classified under the same code. However, when declaring, the specific materials of the upper and sole must be separately indicated as rubber or plastics for customs inspection.
Q: If the upper of tennis shoes is made of textile materials, which code should they be classified under?
A: If the upper is of textile materials and the sole is of rubber or plastics, they should be classified under 6404 (footwear with textile uppers). The specific subheading must be further determined based on the sole material and use, such as 640411 for sports footwear.
Q: Must the brand and model be filled in when declaring?
A: Yes, the brand and model are important bases for customs valuation and classification and must be truthfully declared. If there is no brand, fill in "none"; the model must be consistent with the actual goods, otherwise it may be deemed a false declaration.
Q: What is the difference in classification between tennis shoes and basketball shoes?
A: If the outer soles and uppers of tennis shoes are of rubber or plastics, they are classified under 640240; if basketball shoes are of the same materials, they are classified under 640219 (other sports footwear). The two have different uses and different classification subheadings.
Q: Can 640240 be used for cross-border e-commerce retail export of tennis shoes?
A: Yes, but it must be ensured that the goods meet the definition of 640240. Cross-border e-commerce exports require an accurate HS code for customs clearance in the destination country. It is recommended to also understand the destination country's tariff policies.
Q: How should "use" be filled in among the declaration elements to be compliant?
A: A specific use should be filled in, such as "for tennis," rather than the general "sports." If it is multi-purpose, the primary use should be indicated to avoid classification disputes caused by vague use.
Q: What is the main difference between 640240 and 640219?
A: 640240 specifically refers to tennis shoes, while 640219 covers other sports footwear (such as basketball shoes, training shoes, etc.). The difference lies in the specificity of use: tennis shoes must be specially designed for tennis, while other sports footwear has no such restriction.
⚠️ Disclaimer: HS code classification, declaration elements, tariff rates and regulatory conditions on this page are for reference only and do not constitute legal advice on customs classification. Tariff rates and regulations are subject to change; the latest announcements from the General Administration of Customs and on-site determinations shall prevail. Please consult professional customs brokers or customs authorities before import/export.