China → USA Freight Shipping.

Ocean freight from China to the USA takes 25–35 days for FCL on trans-Pacific routes. Shanghai to Los Angeles usually takes 25–28 days. Shenzhen to Miami, via the Panama Canal, takes 28–36 days. LCL adds 5–10 more days for consolidation at origin and deconsolidation at destination. Air freight takes 3–6 days. Air express — DHL, FedEx, or UPS — takes just 3–5 days for small parcels.

Section 301 tariffs are extra duties the US Trade Representative sets on Chinese-origin goods, in response to unfair trade practices. They stack on top of standard MFN tariff rates. As of 2025, rates run from 7.5% to 25%, based on which Section 301 list your product falls under. 2025 IEEPA executive orders added further blanket tariffs of 10–34%, pushing total effective rates on many goods to 30–50%+. Our customs broker partners review your exact HTS codes to work out your precise rate.

China's major export ports each play a role. Shanghai (Yangshan) is the world's busiest container port. Ningbo-Zhoushan ranks #2 by volume worldwide. Shenzhen (Yantian, Shekou, Chiwan) serves as the hub for South China and the Pearl River Delta. Guangzhou (Nansha) is a major South China port. Qingdao handles key trade with North China, Korea, and Japan. Tianjin (Xingang) serves Beijing and North China. Suaid Global has agents at every one of these ports.

You'll need an ISF, filed 24 hours before departure, plus a commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading. You also need CBP Form 7501 with correct HTS codes, including the Chapter 99 Section 301 codes. Some goods need extra certificates: FCC for electronics, FDA prior notice for food or drugs, and Lacey Act papers for wood products. Affected product types may also need ADD/CVD forms.

Here's the general rule: once your shipment tops 15 cubic meters (CBM), FCL (Full Container Load) usually costs less per unit. Below 15 CBM, LCL (Less than Container Load) is usually the better fit. A 20-foot container holds about 25–28 CBM. A 40-foot container holds about 55–60 CBM. FCL also moves faster, since it skips deconsolidation time, and it keeps your cargo more secure with more freedom on cargo types. Contact us for a side-by-side quote.

The Section 321 de minimis exemption used to let goods under $800 enter the USA duty-free, without a formal entry. 2025 IEEPA executive orders suspended this exemption for goods of Chinese origin, including Hong Kong and Macau. This hits e-commerce sellers and small parcel importers hard, since many once relied on de minimis shipping. Now all Chinese goods need a formal CBP entry, no matter the value.

Yes. The USA runs anti-dumping (ADD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on hundreds of Chinese product categories. Major categories hit include steel and aluminum products, solar panels and cells, tires, furniture, chemicals, seafood, and more. ADD rates can run from a few percent to over 100%, on top of all other tariffs. Suaid Global checks ADD/CVD records for every new China import, so you dodge surprise duty bills.

Section 301 exclusions have been granted for specific HTS codes at certain times, which lets you claim a refund on tariffs already paid. But these exclusion programs open and close often. First-sale valuation — using the factory price, not the middleman price, as your customs value — can also lower your dutiable value and cut your total tariff bill. Suaid Global advises you on every way to cut your duty bill.

ISF (Importer Security Filing, also called '10+2') is a CBP rule that covers all ocean shipments to the USA. You must file it at least 24 hours before the cargo loads onto the vessel at the foreign port. ISF needs 10 data points from the importer — seller, buyer, HTS codes, country of origin, and FIRMS code among them — plus 2 more from the carrier. Late or wrong ISF filing can cost you $5,000 per violation, plus cargo holds at US ports.

US importers can manage China tariff exposure through several paths. First-sale valuation lowers your customs value. Tariff engineering redesigns products to shift the HTS classification to a lower-tariff code. Supply chain diversification adds Vietnam, India, or Mexico as China+1 sourcing options. You can also track Section 301 exclusions and file requests on time. Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ) and bonded warehouse strategies offer more tools. Suaid Global's supply chain advisory service gives you a full tariff exposure analysis.