Chapter 64 covers footwear, gaiters and the like, and parts thereof. It includes footwear made of various materials for uppers and outer soles, such as leather shoes, sports shoes, rain boots, etc., as well as parts such as soles, heels, and uppers. However, this chapter does not include uppers made of textile materials (Chapters 61/62) or toy footwear, sports protective gear, etc. (Chapter 95). Heading 6403 covers footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather. It includes everyday leather shoes, boots, ski boots, etc. However, it does not include footwear with outer soles of textile materials and uppers of leather (6404) or footwear with uppers of textile materials (6404), etc. Code 640330 has 6 digits: the first 2 digits '64' represent Chapter 64 (footwear, gaiters and the like, and parts thereof); digits 3-4 '03' represent heading 6403 (footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather); digits 5-6 '30' represent subheading 640330 (ski boots with uppers of leather). Note: Under heading 6403, further subdivision is based on outer sole material and upper material. 640330 specifically refers to ski boots with uppers of leather. The product is ski boots, with uppers of leather and outer soles usually of rubber or plastics. According to classification rules, footwear is classified by the materials of the outer sole and upper. Since the upper is leather and the outer sole is rubber/plastics, it falls under heading 6403. Under 6403, ski boots are separately listed under subheading 640330, distinct from other sports footwear (6403.19) or everyday footwear (6403.99).
Chapter
Chapter 64 covers footwear, gaiters and the like, and parts thereof. It includes footwear made of various materials for uppers and outer soles, such as leather shoes, sports shoes, rain boots, etc., as well as parts such as soles, heels, and uppers. However, this chapter does not include uppers made of textile materials (Chapters 61/62) or toy footwear, sports protective gear, etc. (Chapter 95).
Heading
Heading 6403 covers footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather. It includes everyday leather shoes, boots, ski boots, etc. However, it does not include footwear with outer soles of textile materials and uppers of leather (6404) or footwear with uppers of textile materials (6404), etc.
Digit Breakdown
Code 640330 has 6 digits: the first 2 digits '64' represent Chapter 64 (footwear, gaiters and the like, and parts thereof); digits 3-4 '03' represent heading 6403 (footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather); digits 5-6 '30' represent subheading 640330 (ski boots with uppers of leather). Note: Under heading 6403, further subdivision is based on outer sole material and upper material. 640330 specifically refers to ski boots with uppers of leather.
Classification Basis
The product is ski boots, with uppers of leather and outer soles usually of rubber or plastics. According to classification rules, footwear is classified by the materials of the outer sole and upper. Since the upper is leather and the outer sole is rubber/plastics, it falls under heading 6403. Under 6403, ski boots are separately listed under subheading 640330, distinct from other sports footwear (6403.19) or everyday footwear (6403.99).
📝 Declaration Elements
Product Name: Declare the product name accurately as 'ski boots' or 'ski boots with leather uppers', avoiding vague names like 'sports shoes'. Brand: Fill in the brand name (if no brand, fill 'no brand'), must match the actual product or packaging. Upper Material: Clearly declare whether the upper is made of leather, such as 'cowhide', 'sheepskin', etc., and provide material proof. Outer Sole Material: Declare the outer sole material, such as 'rubber', 'plastics', etc., which affects heading classification. Style: Declare as 'ski boots' and note features such as whether they are ankle-covering, whether they have ski bindings, etc. Size: Declare the footwear size, such as 'size 42', for customs inspection and statistics. Use: Declare the use as 'skiing', emphasizing specificity. Packaging Specifications: Declare the packaging method, such as 'boxed', 'one pair per box', etc. Customs declaration example:
Product Name: Ski boots (leather uppers)
Brand: XX Brand
Upper Material: Cowhide
Outer Sole Material: Rubber
Style: High-top ski boots with bindings
Size: 42
Use: Skiing
Packaging: Boxed, one pair per box
Remarks: No infringement, no brand authorization issues. Incorrectly declaring artificial leather uppers as leather, leading to classification error under 6404. False declaration of outer sole material, such as declaring rubber when it is actually plastics, affecting subheading. Not specifying 'ski-specific', leading to customs classification as other sports shoes (6403.19).
Product Name
Declare the product name accurately as 'ski boots' or 'ski boots with leather uppers', avoiding vague names like 'sports shoes'.
⚠️ Incorrectly declaring as 'ski shoes' or 'mountaineering boots', leading to classification errors.
Brand
Fill in the brand name (if no brand, fill 'no brand'), must match the actual product or packaging.
⚠️ False brand declaration or confusion with infringing brands.
Upper Material
Clearly declare whether the upper is made of leather, such as 'cowhide', 'sheepskin', etc., and provide material proof.
⚠️ Declaring artificial leather as leather, or not distinguishing leather types.
Outer Sole Material
Declare the outer sole material, such as 'rubber', 'plastics', etc., which affects heading classification.
⚠️ Incorrectly declaring as 'leather outer sole', leading to subheadings like 6403.20.
Style
Declare as 'ski boots' and note features such as whether they are ankle-covering, whether they have ski bindings, etc.
⚠️ Not specifying ski-specific use, leading to misclassification as other sports shoes.
Size
Declare the footwear size, such as 'size 42', for customs inspection and statistics.
⚠️ Incorrect or missing size declaration.
Use
Declare the use as 'skiing', emphasizing specificity.
⚠️ Declaring as 'daily wear', leading to classification disputes.
Packaging Specifications
Declare the packaging method, such as 'boxed', 'one pair per box', etc.
Example： Customs declaration example:
Product Name: Ski boots (leather uppers)
Brand: XX Brand
Upper Material: Cowhide
Outer Sole Material: Rubber
Style: High-top ski boots with bindings
Size: 42
Use: Skiing
Packaging: Boxed, one pair per box
Remarks: No infringement, no brand authorization issues.
Common Mistakes：
Incorrectly declaring artificial leather uppers as leather, leading to classification error under 6404.
False declaration of outer sole material, such as declaring rubber when it is actually plastics, affecting subheading.
Not specifying 'ski-specific', leading to customs classification as other sports shoes (6403.19).
🎯 Classification Logic
Core classification basis: 1) Upper material must be leather (Chapter 41 or 43); 2) Outer sole material is rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather; 3) Footwear is ski-specific, with ski boot features (e.g., rigid shell, bindings, etc.). According to the Import and Export Tariff and notes, ski boots must meet sports-specific requirements and have leather uppers. If the upper is textile material, classify under 6404; if the outer sole is leather and the upper is leather, classify under 6403.20 (but ski boots usually have rubber/plastic outer soles). 640319 Other sports footwear: 640319 covers other sports footwear with leather uppers, such as hiking shoes, basketball shoes, but not ski-specific. Ski boots must be classified under 640330, as ski boots have a separate subheading. 640320 Footwear with leather outer soles and leather uppers: 640320 requires leather outer soles, while ski boots usually have rubber or plastic outer soles, so they are not classified here. 640411 Sports footwear with textile uppers: 640411 has textile uppers, while 640330 requires leather uppers. Material difference is the core distinction. 950611 Skis: 950611 covers skis, which are sports equipment under Chapter 95, while ski boots are footwear under Chapter 64. Is the upper leather? Is the outer sole rubber/plastics? Is it specifically for skiing? Is it ankle-covering with bindings? Is the brand infringing?
Basis
Core classification basis: 1) Upper material must be leather (Chapter 41 or 43); 2) Outer sole material is rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather; 3) Footwear is ski-specific, with ski boot features (e.g., rigid shell, bindings, etc.). According to the Import and Export Tariff and notes, ski boots must meet sports-specific requirements and have leather uppers. If the upper is textile material, classify under 6404; if the outer sole is leather and the upper is leather, classify under 6403.20 (but ski boots usually have rubber/plastic outer soles).
Confused Codes：
640319 - Other sports footwear
640319 covers other sports footwear with leather uppers, such as hiking shoes, basketball shoes, but not ski-specific. Ski boots must be classified under 640330, as ski boots have a separate subheading.
640320 - Footwear with leather outer soles and leather uppers
640320 requires leather outer soles, while ski boots usually have rubber or plastic outer soles, so they are not classified here.
640411 - Sports footwear with textile uppers
640411 has textile uppers, while 640330 requires leather uppers. Material difference is the core distinction.
950611 - Skis
950611 covers skis, which are sports equipment under Chapter 95, while ski boots are footwear under Chapter 64.
Self-Check：
✓ Is the upper leather?
✓ Is the outer sole rubber/plastics?
✓ Is it specifically for skiing?
✓ Is it ankle-covering with bindings?
✓ Is the brand infringing?
❓ FAQ
How to check the import tax rate for 640330? You can check through the General Administration of Customs website, China International Trade Single Window, or the Import and Export Tariff. Enter HS code 640330 to view the MFN rate, general rate, VAT, and consumption tax. Note that rates may be adjusted; refer to the latest version. Can ski boots with synthetic leather uppers be classified under 640330? No. 640330 requires leather (natural leather) uppers. Synthetic leather is plastic material and should be classified under 6403.19 (other sports footwear) or 6404 (textile uppers), depending on the outer sole and upper materials. Do ski boots with metal bindings affect classification? No. Classification is based on upper and outer sole materials; metal attachments do not change the heading. However, if the bindings constitute the essential character, they might be considered a complete ski set, but usually still classified as footwear. What certifications are needed to export ski boots to the EU? Must comply with EU CE certification (Personal Protective Equipment Directive) and bear the CE mark. Additionally, note REACH regulations on chemical restrictions. It is recommended to confirm requirements with the importer in advance. What is the difference between 640330 and 640340? 640340 covers footwear with metal toe-caps, typically safety shoes. Ski boots generally do not have metal toe-caps, so they are classified under 640330. If ski boots have metal toe-caps, they might be classified under 640340, but judgment is based on actual design. How to declare ski boots sold via cross-border e-commerce? Provide HS code 640330, and declare elements including product name, brand, upper material, outer sole material, style, size, use, etc. Note the difference between personal items and commercial customs declaration; it is recommended to declare as goods to avoid undervaluation. Are there packaging requirements for ski boots? No special requirements, but ensure packaging is sturdy to avoid transport damage. Declare packaging specifications, such as 'boxed'. If gift-wrapped, declare truthfully. If ski boots have leather uppers and leather outer soles, where are they classified? If the outer sole is leather and the upper is leather, classify under 640320 (footwear with leather outer soles and leather uppers). However, ski boots usually have rubber/plastic outer soles, so 640330 is more common.
Q: How to check the import tax rate for 640330?
A: You can check through the General Administration of Customs website, China International Trade Single Window, or the Import and Export Tariff. Enter HS code 640330 to view the MFN rate, general rate, VAT, and consumption tax. Note that rates may be adjusted; refer to the latest version.
Q: Can ski boots with synthetic leather uppers be classified under 640330?
A: No. 640330 requires leather (natural leather) uppers. Synthetic leather is plastic material and should be classified under 6403.19 (other sports footwear) or 6404 (textile uppers), depending on the outer sole and upper materials.
Q: Do ski boots with metal bindings affect classification?
A: No. Classification is based on upper and outer sole materials; metal attachments do not change the heading. However, if the bindings constitute the essential character, they might be considered a complete ski set, but usually still classified as footwear.
Q: What certifications are needed to export ski boots to the EU?
A: Must comply with EU CE certification (Personal Protective Equipment Directive) and bear the CE mark. Additionally, note REACH regulations on chemical restrictions. It is recommended to confirm requirements with the importer in advance.
Q: What is the difference between 640330 and 640340?
A: 640340 covers footwear with metal toe-caps, typically safety shoes. Ski boots generally do not have metal toe-caps, so they are classified under 640330. If ski boots have metal toe-caps, they might be classified under 640340, but judgment is based on actual design.
Q: How to declare ski boots sold via cross-border e-commerce?
A: Provide HS code 640330, and declare elements including product name, brand, upper material, outer sole material, style, size, use, etc. Note the difference between personal items and commercial customs declaration; it is recommended to declare as goods to avoid undervaluation.
Q: Are there packaging requirements for ski boots?
A: No special requirements, but ensure packaging is sturdy to avoid transport damage. Declare packaging specifications, such as 'boxed'. If gift-wrapped, declare truthfully.
Q: If ski boots have leather uppers and leather outer soles, where are they classified?
A: If the outer sole is leather and the upper is leather, classify under 640320 (footwear with leather outer soles and leather uppers). However, ski boots usually have rubber/plastic outer soles, so 640330 is more common.
⚠️ 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.