Chapter 56 covers nonwovens, felt, wadding, and cordage in their general commercial forms. Textile articles specifically adapted for industrial or technical uses — such as filter cloths, conveyor belting, or textile hose — are more likely classified in the chapter on impregnated and technical textile articles. The key question is whether the product has been further processed or configured specifically for a defined industrial function beyond its base textile form.

Heading 5605 covers yarn — whether or not gimped — consisting of a metal strip or powder combined with textile yarn, or a strip of metallized plastic film. It differs from gimped yarn (5606), which is a textile yarn wrapped or covered with another textile yarn or strip without necessarily containing metal. The presence of actual metal or metallized film as a structural component, rather than a surface coating, is the distinguishing criterion.