Shipping Electronics from China: Freight, Customs & Duties Guide
Getting your products manufactured is half the battle. Getting them through Chinese export, international shipping, US customs, and into your warehouse is the other half. That’s where most first-time importers get burned.
The big surprises: Section 301 tariffs add 7.5% to 25% on top of the product cost. De minimis is gone for Chinese goods, every shipment pays duties. And the $800 per-unit FOB price you negotiated is not your cost. By the time goods hit your warehouse, landed cost is typically 40% to 80% higher.
If you’re planning a first shipment, read US customs and duties and the cost calculator before you sign anything.
Shipping Methods
- Sea vs Air vs Express: How to Choose
- Ocean Freight from China: FCL vs LCL Guide
- GRI, BAF, and Peak Season Surcharges Explained
- Air Freight from China: Costs, Timing, and When to Use It
- Express Couriers from China: DHL, FedEx, UPS Guide
- Incoterms Explained for China Importers
- DDP vs DAP: What the Difference Costs You
- Freight Forwarders: What They Do and How to Choose One
- Bills of Lading: Original BL, Telex Release, and Sea Waybill
- Amazon FBA Direct from China
- Consolidation Warehouses in China
- Cargo Insurance for China Shipments
Customs and Duties
- US Customs and Import Duties for Electronics
- Importing Samples from China After De Minimis
- Section 301 Tariffs 2026: Electronics Categories
- Section 232 Tariffs and Electronics: Steel and Aluminum Derivatives
- UK Customs for Electronics from China
- EU VAT and Customs for Electronics
- Canada Customs for Electronics
- CARM for Canadian Importers: CBSA Portal and RPP Bond
- How to Work with a Customs Broker
- FCC and UL Compliance for US Imports
Import Administration
- Import Bond Guide for US Electronics Importers
- ISF Filing: The 10+2 Rule Explained
- Customs Valuation: How CBP Calculates What You Owe
- Customs Examination Types: What Happens When CBP Inspects
- Duty Drawback for Electronics Importers
- Foreign Trade Zones and Bonded Warehouses
Product-Specific Shipping Rules
All 37 Guides
CARM for Canadian Importers: Registering on the CBSA Portal and Posting Your Own Bond
CARM is mandatory for commercial imports into Canada. Register on the CARM Client Portal, delegate your broker, and post your own RPP financial security.
ISPM-15 Wood Packaging Rules: Avoiding Customs Holds on Palletized Electronics
Why pallets and crates from China need the IPPC heat-treatment stamp, what CBP and APHIS do when the wood fails, and how to keep heavy electronics moving.
Section 232 Tariffs and Electronics: Steel, Aluminum, and Derivative-Product Exposure
Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs now reach derivative products, including the metal enclosures and brackets on imported electronics. How to check your exposure.
Bills of Lading for China Imports: Original BL, Telex Release, and Sea Waybill
What a bill of lading is, how original BL, telex release, and sea waybill differ, and what to do when your supplier holds the document for payment.
Foreign Trade Zones and Bonded Warehouses: Deferring Duty on China Electronics
How FTZs and bonded warehouses defer duty on China electronics, why Section 301 survives zone admission, and when the fees beat paying duty at entry.
GRI, BAF, and Peak Season Surcharges: Why Your Ocean Freight Rate Keeps Changing
Why ocean freight quotes from China change before sailing: how GRIs, bunker surcharges, and peak season fees work, and how importers time their bookings.
Importing Samples from China After De Minimis: Duty, Entry, and Paperwork
Why sample shipments from China now owe duty, how couriers clear them under informal entry, and why a no commercial value invoice does not help.
Anti-Dumping Duties: The Tariff That Can Wreck Your Margin
What anti-dumping and countervailing duties are, why some electronics carry shockingly high extra duties, and how to check before you import.
Demurrage and Detention: The Port Fees That Add Up Fast
What demurrage and detention charges are, why they pile up when containers sit too long, and how importers avoid these costly and avoidable port fees.
FCL vs LCL: Which Ocean Shipping Option to Use
When to ship a full container (FCL) versus consolidating into a shared one (LCL), how the costs cross over, and the hidden trade-offs in speed and risk.
Volumetric Weight and CBM: How Freight Is Really Priced
Why a light, bulky shipment can cost as much as a heavy one. How chargeable weight, volumetric weight, and CBM work, and how to estimate your freight cost.
Air Freight from China: Costs, Transit Times, and When It Makes Sense
Air freight from China costs $4-12/kg but cuts 6+ weeks off delivery. Learn rates, transit times, lithium battery rules, and when air beats sea.
DHL, FedEx, and UPS from China: Express Courier Guide for Importers
Compare DHL, FedEx, and UPS express shipping from China. Real pricing, volumetric weight traps, lithium battery rules, and when to use your own account.
Ocean Freight from China: FCL vs LCL, Costs, and How to Ship
Ocean freight from China explained: FCL vs LCL, container sizes, real rate ranges, ISF filing deadlines, and the mistakes that cost importers money.
Amazon FBA Direct from China: How It Works and What Goes Wrong
Amazon FBA direct from China lets factories ship straight to fulfillment centers. Compliance requirements, real costs, and common mistakes.
Canada Customs for Electronics from China: Duties, GST, and CBSA Process
Import electronics from China into Canada. CBSA process, duty rates, GST, continuous bond, ISED radio approval, and choosing a CHB.
Cargo Insurance for China Electronics Shipments
Cargo insurance for China shipment electronics explained. Learn ICC A vs B vs C, real carrier liability limits, what coverage costs, and how claims work.
CBP Customs Examination: What Happens When Your Electronics Get Pulled
CBP customs examination of electronics shipments: exam types, costs, timelines, what inspectors look for, and how to reduce your chances of getting pulled.
China Reshipping Warehouses and Prep Centers: What They Do and How to Use Them
China reshipping warehouses consolidate shipments, apply FBA labels, and prep goods for export. How they work and what they cost.
Consolidation Warehouses in China: What They Do and When You Need One
A practical guide to China consolidation warehouses: costs, services, vetting, and when using one actually saves you money on multi-supplier orders.
DDP vs DAP Shipping from China: Which Incoterm Should You Use?
DDP vs DAP shipping from China explained for electronics importers. Know who controls customs, who bears the duty risk, and which term saves you money.
Duty Drawback for Electronics Importers: How to Recover Paid Tariffs
Duty drawback lets you recover up to 99% of import duties when you export goods. How it works for electronics importers paying Section 301 tariffs.
EU Customs for Electronics from China: Import VAT, Duties, and Declarations
How EU customs works for electronics imported from China. TARIC codes, CCT rates, import VAT by country, ICS2, EORI, and the NL Article 23 VAT deferment scheme.
Freight Forwarders for China Electronics: How to Find and Hire One
Learn how freight forwarders work for China electronics imports, what they cost, 7 questions to ask before hiring, and which names to research first
How Customs Valuation Works for Electronics Imports from China
Customs valuation electronics import China explained. Transaction value, assists, invoice fraud risks, First Sale rule, and how CBP checks your declared value.
How to Read a Commercial Invoice for China Imports
The commercial invoice is CBP's primary tool for assessing duties. Every required field, mistakes that trigger delays, and why undervaluation is fraud.
How to Work with a Customs Broker for China Electronics Imports
Customs brokers for China electronics imports: fees, documents needed, HTS classification, and how to find a good one.
Import Bond for Electronics Importers: What You Need and Why
Learn what a customs bond is, the two types, which one makes sense for your import volume, and how to get one before your first electronics shipment.
ISF Filing: The 10+2 Rule Explained for Electronics Importers
ISF filing for electronics imports: what data CBP needs, when to file, penalties for missed deadlines, and broker workflow setup.
Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations from China: What Importers Must Know
Lithium battery shipping from China regulations explained: IATA, IMDG, UN38.3 testing, SOC limits, hazmat classification, and the compliance checklist you need
Port Congestion and Shipping Delays: A Practical Guide for Electronics Importers
China shipping delays and port congestion can cost importers thousands. How to monitor conditions, cut fees, and protect your supply chain.
UK Customs for Electronics from China: A Practical Import Guide
How UK customs works for electronics imported from China. Covers CDS, commodity codes, import VAT, duty deferment, UKCA marking, and EORI numbers.
FCC and UL Compliance for Imported Electronics: What You Need
FCC compliance for imported electronics is non-negotiable in 2026. Learn what needs certification, what it costs, and how to verify before you import
Sea Freight vs Air Freight vs Express: Shipping from China Compared
Compare sea freight vs air freight from China in 2026. Real costs per kg and CBM, transit times, and when each mode makes sense for electronics importers
Section 301 Tariffs on Chinese Electronics: 2026 Importer Guide
Section 301 tariffs stack with IEEPA and reciprocal tariffs to hit some Chinese electronics at 170%+. What you're actually paying by product category.
Understanding Incoterms: FOB, CIF, EXW Explained for Importers
Understand Incoterms FOB, CIF, and EXW before importing from China. Learn which term puts you in control and how each affects your real landed cost
US Customs & Import Duties for Electronics from China (2026)
Learn import duties for electronics from China in 2026, including Section 301 tariffs, HTS codes, ISF filing, and customs broker costs. Start saving now