China import guides
Plain answers for small importers moving loads from China to the USA, covering customs and CPSC rules, air vs sea method choices, how to calculate your real landed cost, and what FBA sellers need to know after the prep rule change. No jargon, no filler.
Customs & Duties
What actually happens when your goods hit the US border, and what it costs. These guides cover CPSC eFiling requirements, ISF 10+2 filing for ocean shipments, the formal entry process for small loads, HS code selection, and the most common reasons shipments get held. Understanding clearance before you ship prevents the expensive surprises that happen when you figure it out at the border.
Shipping branded goods from China to the USA: the branded channel, prices and customs
Goods with a brand on them travel on a separate branded channel. What that channel is, what it costs next to plain goods, and what US customs can ask you for.
Read guide ›CPSC eFiling is now required: what importers from China must do
A federal rule now applies to regulated consumer goods. Since July 8, 2026 your certificate data must be filed electronically at entry, or your goods can be held.
Read guide ›Importing small parcels from China after the de-minimis change
The $800 duty-free pass is gone. What changed, what it costs you now, and how to keep small-shipment imports simple.
Read guide ›How US customs clearance works for a small China shipment
The documents, the HS code, the broker, and the common reasons small shipments get stuck at customs.
Read guide ›HS codes for China imports: how to find the right code and use it
The HS code sets your duty rate and clears customs. How to find the right one, avoid misclassification, and confirm it before anything moves.
Read guide ›US-China tariffs in 2026: what changed and what small importers need to know
The IEEPA tariffs are gone, a temporary surcharge with a 150-day clock followed, and de minimis ended. What still applies to Chinese goods, with the primary source for each change.
Read guide ›US customs bond for China imports: single-entry vs continuous, costs, and who needs one
Any commercial shipment of $2,500 or more needs a customs bond to clear US customs. What it is, single-entry vs continuous, what each costs, and how to get one.
Read guide ›What is a customs broker and do you need one for China imports?
A customs broker files your CBP entry, classifies your goods, and arranges duty payment. What they cost and when you need to hire one separately.
Read guide ›How to read a commercial invoice for a China import
Every field on a commercial invoice matters to US Customs. What to check before your China shipment departs and the mistakes that cause clearance delays.
Read guide ›Section 301 tariffs on China imports: what they are and how much they add
Section 301 tariffs are a China-specific surcharge on top of the standard duty rate, ranging from 7.5% to 100%. Here is how to find your rate and what it means for your landed cost.
Read guide ›The $800 de minimis rule for US imports: what it covers and what it does not
The $800 Section 321 exemption no longer applies: it ended for China-origin goods on 2 May 2025 and for every country on 29 August 2025. Here is what it covered and what entry now requires.
Read guide ›Incoterms Explained: DDP vs DAP and What They Mean for Your China Shipment
DDP means the supplier handles everything including US duties. DAP means you handle customs and pay duties yourself. The difference can be thousands of dollars on a single shipment.
Read guide ›Packing List Requirements for China Imports: What to Include and Why It Matters
The packing list tells CBP and your warehouse exactly what is in each carton. Missing or inaccurate information causes customs delays and receiving errors. Here is what every field must contain.
Read guide ›Product Liability Insurance for Importers: What It Covers and Why You Need It
US product liability law treats importers as the manufacturer when the overseas supplier cannot be sued domestically. A single injury claim can exceed the value of your entire inventory. Here is what product liability insurance covers.
Read guide ›Importer Security Filing (ISF 10+2): What It Is, What to File, and What Happens If You Miss It
ISF must be filed 24 hours before your container is loaded at the Chinese port. Miss it and CBP can issue penalties up to $5,000 per violation. Here is exactly what to file and who is responsible.
Read guide ›Product Certifications for China Imports: What You Need to Sell in the US
FCC authorization is required for any electronic device that emits radio frequency. A Children's Product Certificate backed by third-party testing is required for children's products. Importing without required certifications risks seizure, fines, and an Amazon ban.
Read guide ›US Customs Examination Types: VACIS, CET, Tailgate, and Intensive
CBP exams range from a 1-day X-ray scan to a devanning exam of 5 to 15 business days, longer with lab testing. The type assigned to your shipment changes the cost by an order of magnitude.
Read guide ›Country of Origin Marking for US Imports: What the Rules Actually Require
CBP can hold and assess additional duties on unmarked or incorrectly marked goods. Most importers learn the rules after their first violation, not before.
Read guide ›Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties on China Imports: How They Work
AD/CVD duties are separate from Section 301 tariffs and can dwarf them. Some product categories face combined rates over 200%. Most importers discover this at entry, not before.
Read guide ›Bonded Warehouses for China Imports: How to Defer Duties Until You Need the Goods
You do not have to pay import duties the moment your container clears customs. A bonded warehouse lets you defer that payment until you actually need the inventory.
Read guide ›Shipping Methods
Air, sea LCL, and everything in between: how to choose and what to expect. Air freight suits small, high-value, or time-sensitive parcels where speed justifies the per-kilogram cost. Sea LCL (less-than-container load) suits heavier cargo from about 10 kg that can wait 28 to 32 days in transit and where the lower rate per kilogram matters more than speed.
Air vs sea freight from China for small shipments
When air wins, when sea LCL wins, and the simple rule that tells you which one fits your shipment.
Read guide ›How long does shipping from China to the US take in 2026?
Express is 5-7 days, air freight 5-10, sea LCL 25-50 days door to door. What those numbers include, what slows them down, and how much buffer to build into your planning.
Read guide ›What is LCL shipping? A plain-English guide for small China importers
Share a container, pay per cubic meter. How LCL shipping works for small China loads, what it actually costs, and when air wins instead.
Read guide ›FCL vs LCL ocean freight: which one is right for your China shipment?
FCL gives you a whole container; LCL shares space with other cargo. Here is how the pricing works and when FCL becomes the cheaper option.
Read guide ›What is a bill of lading and why it controls your China shipment
The bill of lading is the transport contract between shipper and carrier. In negotiable form, it also controls title to the goods. Here is what importers need to know.
Read guide ›How long does sea freight take from China to the USA? A stage-by-stage timeline
A China to USA shipment takes 35-75 days factory to warehouse (West Coast) or 50-90 (East Coast). Here is where the time goes: production, booking, ocean freight, customs, and last mile.
Read guide ›Cargo Insurance for China Imports: What It Covers and Why You Need It
Ocean carriers limit liability to roughly $500 per container, not per shipment. A $50,000 load of electronics is not covered. Here is what cargo insurance actually protects and how to get it.
Read guide ›LA/Long Beach vs. NY/NJ vs. Chicago: Choosing a US Port of Entry for China Imports
Most importers default to LA/Long Beach because their freight forwarder does. The port that is right for your shipment depends on where your inventory lands, not where the ship docks.
Read guide ›Ocean Freight Surcharges Explained: What Every Line Item on Your Quote Actually Means
The base ocean freight rate is rarely what you actually pay. Surcharges add 30% to 80% to the cost of moving a container. Most importers accept them without understanding what they are.
Read guide ›Demurrage and Detention Charges: What They Are and How to Avoid Them
Demurrage and detention are two of the most unexpected costs in ocean freight. Together they can add thousands of dollars to a shipment in days. Most importers do not understand the difference until they get the invoice.
Read guide ›Golden Week 2026: what China's October holiday means for your shipment to the USA
China stopped for National Day from 1 to 7 October 2026. The official dates, what really happens at factories and forwarders around them, and a checklist you can reuse for any China holiday.
Read guide ›Chinese New Year 2027: the last safe days to ship from China to the USA
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on 6 February, and China's factories slow down weeks before it. The dates, why the shutdown runs longer than the official days, and the last safe days to ship by air and by sea.
Read guide ›Costs & Pricing
How to calculate your real landed cost before you commit to an order. Landed cost is the number that actually matters: not the factory price, but the total after freight, duties, broker fees, and delivery are added. These guides show how to build that number before ordering so you know your margin before the goods move, not after they arrive.
What drives ocean freight cost from China to the USA
Ocean rates move more than almost any line in your landed cost. Here is what actually drives them and how to plan a shipment so a rate swing does not wreck your margin.
Read guide ›Landed cost on China imports: how to estimate it before you order
Goods price is only part of the story. How to add freight, duty, and handling so you know your true cost before you buy.
Read guide ›How to choose a freight forwarder for China imports
What separates a freight forwarder worth using from one that burns your shipment. The questions to ask before you wire a dollar.
Read guide ›Incoterms for small importers: EXW, FOB, and DDP explained
Which Incoterm should a small importer use? What EXW, FOB, and DDP actually mean for your bill, your risk, and what you have to manage yourself.
Read guide ›DDP shipping from China: what it means and how to verify you're actually getting it
One price, duties included, nothing owed at delivery. What DDP shipping from China actually means, and how to check a quote is the real thing.
Read guide ›Freight forwarders for small China to USA imports: an honest comparison
We are one of the options on this page, and we say where we are the wrong one. The categories, the criteria, and the five questions that settle it in ten minutes.
Read guide ›How to get a China to USA shipping quote in Claude
If you already work in Claude, you can price a China to USA shipment there. Add the Plain Freight connector once, then ask in plain words. No form, no account, no API key.
Read guide ›How to get a China to USA shipping quote in ChatGPT
Plain Freight is an app in ChatGPT. Open the listing once, then ask for a rough price, a real offer or a tracking update in plain words. Nothing is booked or charged in the chat.
Read guide ›Amazon FBA
Getting China-sourced inventory into FBA compliantly after the prep rule change. Amazon stopped doing FBA prep for most sellers, which means labeling, inspection, and carton compliance now have to be handled before the shipment leaves China. These guides cover what changed, what your China supplier needs to do, who handles customs for a direct-to-FBA shipment, and what Amazon requires at the warehouse.
Shipping to Amazon FBA from China as a small seller
The end-to-end process: customs, FNSKU prep, method choice, and the January 2026 rule change that means goods must arrive fully compliant or get rejected.
Read guide ›Kickstarter and crowdfunding: how to ship your product from China to backers
Shipping a Kickstarter or Indiegogo product from China to hundreds of US backers is a one-time freight challenge with high stakes. Here is how to do it without customs surprises.
Read guide ›Etsy and eBay sellers: how to import from China without customs surprises
Etsy and eBay sellers who source from China now pay customs duties on every shipment. Here is how to import small lots without unexpected fees eating your margin.
Read guide ›Whatnot sellers: how to import inventory from China in 2026
Sourcing for Whatnot from China? Every shipment now pays US customs duties. Here is how to import inventory cost-effectively without customs surprises.
Read guide ›Shopify sellers: how to ship from China to the US in 2026
Shopify sellers importing from China need to plan for customs duties, DDP freight, and realistic landed costs. A practical 2026 guide for small DTC brands.
Read guide ›TikTok Shop shipping from China: what sellers need to know in 2026
TikTok Shop moves fast. Your freight has to keep up. A practical guide on shipping from China for TikTok Shop US sellers, from cost to customs to timeline.
Read guide ›Overseas warehouses and FBA transshipment: restocking Amazon from a US warehouse
Ship bulk by sea, hold inventory in a US warehouse, and feed Amazon FBA in days instead of weeks. How the overseas-warehouse model works and when it beats direct-to-FBA.
Read guide ›Pallet shipping from China to Amazon FBA: specs, appointments, and oversized freight
The pallet spec Amazon enforces, the ISPM-15 rule customs enforces, delivery appointments, and what changes when your product itself is oversized.
Read guide ›More guides
Sourcing, first shipments, and product-specific rules: the guides that do not fit a single stage of the shipment but come up constantly for first-time importers.
First-time importer checklist: 14 steps for your first shipment from China
Before your first shipment leaves China: supplier vetting, compliance, landed cost, customs bond, ISF and documents. A 14-step checklist for new importers.
Read guide ›Payment terms with Chinese suppliers: T/T, LC, OA, and trade assurance explained
T/T, LC, OA, and Alibaba Trade Assurance: what each payment method protects, what it costs, and which one fits your supplier relationship.
Read guide ›Amazon FBA prep requirements for goods imported from China
FBA shipments from China need FNSKU labels, correct packaging, and often a third-party prep center. Here is what Amazon requires and where most first-time sellers get it wrong.
Read guide ›How to ship samples from China: cost, customs, and what suppliers expect
Shipping samples from China typically costs $30 to $80 by express courier. Here is how customs treats them, what value to declare, and how to set supplier expectations.
Read guide ›Factory vs trading company vs sourcing agent: who are you actually buying from in China?
Chinese suppliers fall into three categories: factories, trading companies, and sourcing agents. Each has different prices, minimums, and risks. Here is how to identify which one you are dealing with.
Read guide ›China product inspection: pre-shipment, during production, and container loading
Third-party inspections in China cost $200 to $400 and catch quality problems before the goods ship. Here is how each inspection type works and when to use it.
Read guide ›How to Negotiate MOQ with Chinese Suppliers: A Practical Guide
MOQ is not a fixed wall. It is a reflection of the supplier's production economics. Understanding why it exists gives you five practical angles to negotiate a lower opening order.
Read guide ›Canton Fair Sourcing Guide: How to Find and Vet Suppliers at the World's Largest Trade Fair
The Canton Fair draws thousands of exhibitors and buyers across several phases. Here is how to use it to find suppliers, compare products, and negotiate effectively, without wasting three days walking the wrong halls.
Read guide ›Letter of Credit for China Imports: How It Works and When to Use One
A letter of credit shifts payment risk from the buyer to the bank. The supplier gets paid only when compliant documents are presented. It solves a real problem, but adds cost and complexity most small importers do not need.
Read guide ›China Sourcing Agent: What They Do, What They Cost, and How to Avoid Bad Ones
Sourcing agents charge 5% to 15% of order value and operate in China on your behalf. The value is real for buyers who lack time or China presence. The risk is real too: commission conflicts and kickbacks are common.
Read guide ›China Supplier Contracts: What to Include Before You Place an Order
Most importers place orders on a purchase order alone. When something goes wrong, that document rarely has the terms needed to get recourse from a Chinese supplier.
Read guide ›Shipping electronics from China to the US: duties, FCC rules, and battery restrictions
Electronics top the FBA import charts but bring FCC compliance, lithium battery air restrictions, and HTS codes that matter. What to verify before your shipment leaves China.
Read guide ›Shipping clothing and apparel from China to the US: duty rates, labeling, and customs rules
Clothing from China carries high duty rates and requires fiber content, country of origin, and care instruction labels before entry. What to check before your apparel shipment ships.
Read guide ›Ordering from several Alibaba suppliers? Ship everything to our China warehouse and receive one box
Buying a few items each from 3 or 4 Alibaba suppliers? Send every order to our China warehouse and we combine them into one box, with one all-in price to your door.
Read guide ›How to ship 1688, Taobao and Pinduoduo orders to the USA in one box
Sellers on 1688, Taobao and Pinduoduo deliver inside China. Give them one warehouse address, and we combine the parcels into a single box to your US door with duty in the price.
Read guide ›Ready to ship?
Share your shipment details and get a clear quote before anything moves.
Get a quote