Shipping Furniture from China to USA

The LACEY Act bans trade in plants and plant products that were cut or gathered against the law. For furniture importers, this means you must declare the wood species (genus and species), the country of harvest, and the quantity of all wood and plant material in each product. You file this on USDA PPQ Form 505. If you skip this step, you risk seizure, fines, and even criminal charges. Suaid Global prepares your LACEY Act declarations and manages supplier paperwork for every furniture shipment.

Yes, there are. The biggest ADD order covers Wooden Bedroom Furniture from China (AD Case A-570-890, in place since 2005). Rates run from about 4% up to 216%, based on the exact Chinese manufacturer. Factories that took part in periodic reviews get their own set rate; the rest fall under the 'All Others' rate, about 216%. Wooden Cabinets and Vanities also face duties (AD/CVD orders added in 2020). Suaid Global checks your supplier's exact ADD rate before you ship.

Most furniture from China (HS Chapter 94) sits under Section 301 List 3, at a 25% rate. Add the MFN rate of 0–9.6%, plus any anti-dumping duty that applies, and the total tariff on Chinese furniture can run from 25% up to over 250% in the worst cases. If you source furniture from Vietnam, Malaysia, or other countries instead, you can skip Section 301 duties — though some ADD orders have followed furniture makers who moved to Vietnam.

Yes, it is. Knock-down (KD, or flat-pack) furniture ships far more efficiently. An assembled sofa might take up 4–5 CBM; the same sofa, flat-packed in boxes, might only take up 1–2 CBM. This 2–3x gain in space means a lower freight cost for each unit. KD furniture also faces less damage risk in transit. We advise your suppliers on KD packing setups, so you get the most out of each container.

The 40-foot High Cube (40HC) container is the top pick for furniture. It gives you 76 CBM of internal space and a 2.69m height, versus just 2.39m in a standard 40ft box, so it fits tall wardrobes, sofas, and mattresses that would not fit in a standard container. For smaller loads, under 20 CBM, LCL consolidation costs less. Suaid Global helps you pick the best container for your exact product mix.

You have a few ways to cut your tariff cost on Chinese furniture. First, check your supplier's ADD cash deposit rate before you place an order. Second, look into sourcing from Vietnam, Malaysia, or India, where Section 301 does not apply. Third, use first-sale valuation if you buy through a trading company. Fourth, check for Section 301 product exclusions tied to your specific HTS code. Fifth, look at LACEY Act first-sale strategies for furniture with mixed materials. Our supply chain advisory service can run a full tariff optimization review for you.