Shipping from China to USA

Ocean freight from China to the USA takes 25–35 days for FCL on trans-Pacific services. Shanghai to Los Angeles is typically 25–28 days; Shenzhen to Miami (via Panama Canal) is 28–36 days. LCL with consolidation at origin and deconsolidation at destination adds 5–10 days. Air freight takes 3–6 days. Air express (DHL/FedEx/UPS) takes 3–5 days for small parcels.

Section 301 tariffs are additional duties imposed by the US Trade Representative on Chinese-origin goods in response to unfair trade practices. They are applied on top of standard MFN tariff rates. As of 2025, rates range from 7.5% to 25% depending on which Section 301 list the product falls under. IEEPA executive orders in 2025 added further blanket tariffs of 10–34%, making total effective rates on many goods 30–50%+. Suaid Global's customs team analyzes your specific HTS codes to determine exact applicable rates.

China's major export ports are: Shanghai (Yangshan) — the world's busiest container port; Ningbo-Zhoushan — world's #2 by volume; Shenzhen (Yantian, Shekou, Chiwan) — hub for South China/Pearl River Delta; Guangzhou (Nansha) — major South China port; Qingdao — key for North China and Korea-Japan trade; Tianjin (Xingang) — serves Beijing and North China. Suaid Global has agents at all major ports.

Required documents include: ISF (filed 24 hours before departure), commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, CBP Form 7501 with correct HTS codes including Chapter 99 Section 301 codes, and any applicable certificates (FCC for electronics, FDA prior notice for food/drugs, LACEY Act for wood products). ADD/CVD questionnaires may be required for affected product categories.

The general rule: if your shipment exceeds 15 cubic meters (CBM), FCL (Full Container Load) is typically more cost-effective. Below 15 CBM, LCL (Less than Container Load) consolidation is usually better. A 20-foot container holds approximately 25–28 CBM. A 40-foot container holds approximately 55–60 CBM. FCL also offers faster transit (no deconsolidation time), better cargo security, and more flexibility on cargo types. Contact us for a comparison quote.

The Section 321 de minimis exemption historically allowed goods valued under $800 to enter the USA duty-free without a formal entry. Under IEEPA executive orders in 2025, this exemption was suspended for goods of Chinese origin (including Hong Kong and Macau). This significantly impacts e-commerce sellers and small parcel importers who previously relied on de minimis shipping. Formal CBP entries are now required for all Chinese goods regardless of value.

Yes — the USA has anti-dumping (ADD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on hundreds of Chinese product categories. Major affected categories include: steel and aluminum products, solar panels and cells, tires, furniture, chemicals, seafood, and many more. ADD rates can range from a few percent to over 100% on top of all other applicable tariffs. Suaid Global checks ADD/CVD databases for every new China import to prevent unexpected duty assessments.

Section 301 exclusions have been granted for specific HTS codes during certain periods, allowing retroactive refund claims for tariffs paid. However, exclusion programs have opened and closed multiple times. First-sale valuation — using the factory price rather than middleman price as the customs value — can also reduce the dutiable value and therefore the total tariff amount. Suaid Global advises on all available duty mitigation strategies.

ISF (Importer Security Filing, also called '10+2') is a CBP requirement for all ocean shipments to the USA. It must be filed at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded onto the vessel at the foreign port. ISF requires 10 data elements from the importer (including seller, buyer, HTS codes, country of origin, and FIRMS code) and 2 elements from the carrier. Late or inaccurate ISF filing can result in $5,000 penalties per violation and cargo holds at US ports.

US importers can manage China tariff exposure through several strategies: (1) First-sale valuation to reduce customs value; (2) Tariff engineering — redesigning products to shift HTS classification to a lower-tariff code; (3) Supply chain diversification to Vietnam, India, or Mexico for China+1 sourcing; (4) Section 301 exclusion monitoring and timely exclusion requests; (5) Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) utilization; (6) Bonded warehouse strategies. Suaid Global's supply chain advisory team provides comprehensive tariff exposure analysis.