# Plain Language Summary: Water-Resistant Garment Classification Bill

This bill makes a technical change to how the U.S. government classifies water-resistant clothing for import and tariff purposes. Right now, the government has specific rules about what counts as "water resistant" when goods come into the country, and those rules determine what taxes (called tariffs) get charged on imported clothes. This bill modifies those requirements to change the definition of what qualifies as water resistant.

The practical effect is that this could change which imported garments get taxed at different rates. Some clothing manufacturers and importers might see their tariff costs go up or down depending on whether their products meet the new water-resistance standards. For consumers, this could potentially affect prices on imported water-resistant jackets, rain gear, and other outdoor clothing, though the exact impact depends on how companies respond to the new rules and whether they pass savings or costs along to shoppers.

The change is fairly narrow and technical—it's not about banning anything or creating new regulations from scratch, just adjusting the existing standards that U.S. Customs uses to determine tariff classifications. This matters most to clothing importers and manufacturers who deal with water-resistant gear, as they'll need to understand the new requirements to properly classify their products and pay the correct tariffs.

A bill to amend chapter 62 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to modify the requirements for a garment to be considered water resistant.

King, Angus S., Jr.

 <p>This bill revises requirements for a garment to be considered water resistant under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS). The HTS sets out the tariff rates and statistical categories for all merchandise imported into the United States. </p> <p>Currently, garments that are classified under specified subheadings under chapter 62 of the HTS (e.g., water resistant trousers) must have a water resistance such that, under a head pressure of 600 millimeters, not more than 1.0 gram of water penetrates after two minutes when tested in accordance with a specified test method. Further, the water resistance must be the result of a rubber or plastics application to the outer shell, lining, or inner lining. This bill removes the requirement that the water resistance must be the result of a rubber or plastics application to the outer shell, lining, or inner lining.</p>