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.
CPSC eFiling starts July 8, 2026: what importers from China must do
A new federal deadline hits regulated consumer goods. From July 8, 2026 your certificate data must be filed electronically at entry, or your goods can be held.
Read guide →ISF (10+2) filing for ocean shipments from China: the 24-hour rule
Ship by sea from China and your ISF must be filed 24 hours before the box is loaded, or it is a $5,000 penalty. What the 10+2 filing is and how to never miss it.
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 and use them
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 small importers need to know
Tariffs on Chinese goods are at record levels. Here is what the rates actually are, what is exempt, and how to keep your margins intact.
Read guide →Do you need a customs bond to import from China?
Any commercial shipment over $2,500 needs a customs bond to clear US customs. What it is, single-entry vs continuous, and what it costs.
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 145%. Here is how to find your rate and what it means for your landed cost.
Read guide →How to find the HS code for your product (and why getting it wrong is costly)
Your HS code determines what duty rate you pay and whether Section 301 tariffs apply. Here is how to find the right code and what happens if you get it wrong.
Read guide →The $800 de minimis rule for US imports: what it covers and what it does not
Under Section 321, shipments under $800 enter the US duty-free with minimal paperwork. Here is what qualifies, what is excluded, and how recent policy changes affect China imports.
Read guide →US Customs Examination Types: VACIS, CET, Tailgate, and Intensive
CBP exams range from a 1-day X-ray scan to a 15-day full devanning. 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 →First Shipment from China: A Step-by-Step Checklist Before You Place Your Order
Most first-time importers from China figure out the rules after their first shipment gets held at the port. This checklist covers the steps to do before you place the order.
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 over 200 kg that can wait three to five weeks 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 weight rule that tells you which one fits your shipment.
Read guide →How long does shipping from China to the US take in 2026?
Air is 5-10 days, sea LCL is 30-45 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 →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 →LCL Shipping from China: How Consolidation Works and When to Use It
LCL lets you ship a few pallets from China without waiting until you have enough cargo to fill a container. You pay for your share of the space. The trade-off is time and handling.
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 →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.
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 →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.
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Scan the QR code in WeChat and send your product, weight, dimensions, China origin, US destination ZIP, and urgency. Email still works: hello@plainfreight.com.