First-time importer checklist: 14 steps for your first shipment from China

Getting started · Updated September 2026

Shipping from China to the USA? With Plain Freight, 5 kg by air is $111.89 door to door with US duty included, in 6 to 12 working days. Your own price shows on screen in seconds.

Get my price

Importing from China for the first time involves a lot of moving parts that do not obviously connect to each other. Customs requirements, shipping terms, product compliance, supplier payment: they all interact, and a mistake in one area often shows up as a problem somewhere else entirely. The freight booking is the easy part; the steps before and after it are where first-timers run into trouble.

This checklist covers the 14 things to confirm before you place the order, when you confirm it, before the goods leave China, and while they are on the way, followed by the documents every shipment needs and the mistakes that most often cost new importers money. Working through it once means your first shipment clears cleanly, and it sets up every shipment after it.

Key takeaways

Verify the supplier, check compliance and marking, find your HTS code, and calculate landed cost before placing the order.
DDP is simpler for a first shipment; FOB gives more control once you have a trusted forwarder. Either way, ask for freight and duty as separate lines.
The commercial invoice is the most important document: tell your supplier exactly what to include, never undervalue, and review it before the goods are packed.
A customs bond is required for commercial shipments of $2,500 or more, and cargo insurance is a separate product.
For ocean freight, the ISF must be filed 24 hours before the container is loaded in China, not when it arrives.
Prepare the entry, the truck, and the free-time window before arrival, and have duty payment ready: CBP will not release cargo until duties are paid.

Before you place the order

The time to solve most import problems is before the order is confirmed, not after the goods are packed.

Step 1: Verify your supplier. Request a copy of their business license and check that it matches the company name on your contract. Ask whether they have exported to the US before; a supplier with no US export history creates more risk of document errors. Most goods can be exported from China freely, but confirm your product does not need a Chinese export license.
Step 2: Confirm product compliance and marking. Check whether your product needs a US certification, registration, or testing before it can be sold. FDA-regulated products (food, supplements, cosmetics, medical devices) have registration requirements. CPSC-regulated products (children's goods, many consumer products) may need third-party testing, and certificate data is now filed electronically at entry (CPSC eFiling guide). Electronics may need FCC authorization. Also plan the 'Made in China' country of origin marking and put it in your purchase order.
Step 3: Find your HS code and duty rate. Use the USITC tariff database to find the 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule code for your product. That gives you the base duty rate. For goods made in China, check whether Section 301 tariffs apply to that code and whether an anti-dumping or countervailing duty (AD/CVD) order covers the product; CBP publishes AD/CVD information on cbp.gov, and an AD/CVD order can put the total rate far above the normal duty. Our US-China tariffs guide explains how the layers stack in 2026.
Step 4: Calculate your total landed cost. Add product cost, freight, import duties (the HTS rate plus any additional duties on Chinese goods), customs broker fees, and delivery to your warehouse. Do this before you place the order: on some products the duty alone changes whether the product makes sense. The landed cost guide walks through the math.
Step 5: Choose your Incoterms. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means the forwarder or supplier handles everything including customs clearance and duty payment. FOB (Free On Board) means you take over from the port of loading. FOB gives you more control and can cost less once you have a trusted forwarder; DDP is simpler for a first shipment. The trade-off with DDP is visibility, so ask for a quote that shows freight and duty as separate lines.

When you confirm the order

Once the order is confirmed, the key tasks are setting up logistics and making sure the supplier has your shipping and document details right.

Step 6: Book your freight forwarder and customs broker. Get quotes from at least two forwarders for both air and sea before committing, and confirm whether each quote includes customs clearance, the customs bond, and delivery, or bills them separately. Some forwarders also act as your broker; others do not, so clarify who files the entry. A licensed broker typically charges a few hundred dollars per entry if you hire one separately.
Step 7: Set the commercial invoice and packing list requirements. Tell your supplier exactly what to include on the commercial invoice: your full legal name and US address as buyer, a specific product description (not 'parts' or 'merchandise'), the real transaction value, currency, country of origin (China), and the Incoterms. Do not accept an undervalued invoice: CBP compares declared values against known prices. Ask for draft documents before the goods are packed.
Step 8: Arrange the customs bond. Any commercial import valued at $2,500 or more needs a CBP customs bond. If you ship DDP, confirm in writing that the bond is included. If you ship FOB or EXW, have your broker set up a single-entry or continuous bond before the goods load, because an ocean shipment's ISF also needs bond coverage.
Step 9: Arrange cargo insurance. Carrier liability is limited (for ocean cargo, often $500 per package under US law), so it rarely covers the value of your goods. Marine cargo insurance covers the declared value for a small percentage of it. The customs bond does not protect your goods.

Before the goods leave China

This is your last clear opportunity to catch problems before the shipment is in transit and options are limited.

Step 10: Review all shipping documents before departure. Check the commercial invoice, packing list, and any required certificates. Quantities on the invoice and packing list must match, and the buyer name and address must be correct. If anything looks wrong, have the supplier correct it before the goods are loaded.
Step 11: Get tracking details and shipment references. For ocean freight you receive a bill of lading number; for air freight an air waybill number. Your forwarder should provide these as soon as the booking is confirmed.
Step 12: Confirm the ISF (Importer Security Filing) is on file. For ocean freight to the US, the ISF (also called 10+2) must be filed at least 24 hours before your container is loaded onto the vessel in China, not when it arrives. If you ship FOB or EXW, confirm your broker has filed it. A late or inaccurate ISF can draw liquidated damages of $5,000 per violation, and the container can be held back from loading.

While the goods are in transit

Once the shipment is moving, the work is preparing the arrival so nothing waits at the port.

Step 13: Prepare the entry, delivery, and free time. Send your broker the commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading as soon as they exist; for ocean freight the entry can be filed up to 5 days before the vessel arrives. Book the truck from the port or CFS to your warehouse before arrival, since capacity at major ports gets tight in peak season. Find out how many free days the terminal or CFS allows before storage and demurrage start, and plan pickup inside that window.
Step 14: Have duties and fees ready to pay. Your broker will tell you the total owed (duties, CBP fees, and any other charges) before release. CBP will not release the goods until duties are paid.

Documents you need for every shipment

Commercial invoice: issued by the supplier, showing buyer, seller, product description, quantity, unit price, total value, and country of origin.
Packing list: itemizes each carton, its dimensions, weight, and contents.
Bill of lading (ocean) or air waybill (air): issued by the carrier or forwarder, needed to file the entry and to collect the cargo.
Arrival notice: sent by the carrier or forwarder as the shipment nears the US, confirming the estimated arrival and container or reference number.
ISF confirmation (ocean only): confirmation from your broker or forwarder that the ISF was filed on time.
Any product certificates your goods need, such as CPSC certificate data or FCC authorization.

Common first-shipment mistakes

Not calculating duties before ordering. Discovering the real duty rate after the order is placed can change the whole business case.
Using an incorrect HTS code: the wrong code means the wrong duty rate, and back duties plus penalties when it is found.
Undervaluing goods on the commercial invoice. CBP audits declared values, and undervaluation leads to duties on the assessed value and potential fraud penalties.
Missing the ISF deadline. Have your broker file it before the goods load, which means collecting the data while production is still running.
Not having a customs bond. Without one, a formal entry cannot be filed and the cargo cannot clear. This is a common last-minute scramble.
Waiting until the vessel arrives to involve a broker. Entries can be filed ahead of arrival; late filing lets storage and demurrage charges build.

FAQ

Do I need a customs broker for my first China import?

For any commercial shipment valued at $2,500 or more, a licensed customs broker normally files the import entry with CBP. Self-filing is legally possible but means working in CBP's systems and taking on the classification risk yourself. If you ship DDP, your freight forwarder typically includes brokerage. If you ship FOB or EXW, you hire the broker separately.

What is an ISF and do I need to file it?

ISF (Importer Security Filing) is a US Customs requirement for ocean freight. It must be filed at least 24 hours before your cargo is loaded onto the vessel at the Chinese port. Your broker or forwarder files it for you, but you must supply the data on time. Late or inaccurate filings can draw $5,000 per violation. Air freight does not need an ISF.

How do I find out if my product needs a certification before importing?

Start with the government agency that regulates your product category. FDA covers food, supplements, cosmetics, and medical devices. CPSC covers consumer products with safety standards, including children's products. FCC covers many electronics. EPA covers certain chemicals and engines. Check those agencies' importer requirements before placing your first order.

What Incoterms should I use for my first shipment?

DDP is simpler for first-time importers because the forwarder or supplier handles customs clearance and duty payment. The trade-off is less visibility into what freight and duty each cost, so ask for them as separate lines. FOB gives you more control and can be more cost-effective once you have a trusted forwarder, but adds steps you manage yourself.

How early should I book a freight forwarder?

Ideally before you place the order, because you need the freight cost to calculate landed cost. For ocean freight, book at least 3 to 4 weeks before the planned ship date, and earlier in peak season (August to October). For air freight, 1 to 2 weeks is usually enough.

How do I know what my import duty rate is?

Look up your 10-digit HTS code at hts.usitc.gov and read the 'General' rate. For goods made in China, also check whether Section 301 tariffs or an AD/CVD order apply to that code. If you are unsure of the code, ask a customs broker to classify the product before you order.

Shipping a small load from China?

See your all-in price on screen in seconds: freight, US customs, and delivery to your door. Nothing to pay until your cartons are weighed.

Get my price See pricing ›