Importing from China to the USA means more than paying the supplier and the freight. Every commercial shipment needs a customs entry, most pay several layers of tariffs, and ocean cargo needs an ISF filing before it is even loaded in China. This guide explains how to import from China to the USA step by step: what you pay, how duty is calculated, the ISF 10+2 filing, customs bonds, the documents you need and how to avoid holds at the port.
Key points
• You import as the importer of record, using your IRS number (EIN) registered with US Customs. A customs broker files the entry for you.
• Duty depends on the 10-digit HTS code. Most Chinese goods pay the normal duty plus Section 301 tariffs; see our 2026 tariff guide for the current rates.
• US duty is charged on the price paid for the goods (usually FOB). International freight is not part of the duty base.
• Ocean shipments need an ISF (10+2) filing at least 24 hours before the goods are loaded on the ship in China.
• Shipments over $2,500 need a customs bond. There is no duty-free de minimis for goods from China.
New to importing? Our step-by-step guide on how to import from China covers suppliers, payment, inspection and shipping before you reach customs.
What You Pay When Importing from China to the USA
| Cost | Who charges it | How it is worked out | When it is paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs duty and tariffs | US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) | Normal (MFN) duty + Section 301 and any other tariffs for your HTS code, × the value of the goods | With the customs entry, through your broker |
| Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) | CBP | 0.3464% of the value; from October 1, 2026 at least $34.58 and at most $670.86 per formal entry | With the duty |
| Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) | CBP | 0.125% of the value, ocean shipments only | With the duty |
| Customs broker and ISF filing | Your customs broker or forwarder | A fee per entry and per ISF | With the broker’s invoice |
| Customs bond | A surety company, via your broker | Single-entry bond per shipment, or an annual continuous bond | Before the goods arrive |
| Port, terminal and delivery charges | Terminal, carrier, trucker (via your forwarder) | Terminal handling, chassis, LCL unpacking, trucking to your door | With the freight invoice, unless included in a door-to-door price |
How US Import Duty Is Calculated
- Find the HTS code. The US uses a 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code. The first 6 digits are the international HS code. Our guide on how to find the HS code for your product explains how to look it up, and the USITC HTS search shows the normal duty rate.
- Add the China tariffs. Chinese goods usually pay Section 301 tariffs on top of the normal duty, and some products also pay Section 232 tariffs. The layers change often, so check the current stack in our US tariffs on Chinese goods guide.
- Use the right value. Duty is charged on the transaction value, which is normally the price you pay the supplier, FOB China. Ocean or air freight to the USA and insurance are not included, unlike in the UK or the EU. If you buy EXW, the inland costs to the Chinese port are usually added. See FOB vs EXW.
Duty = value × (normal duty rate + tariffs). The MPF and, for ocean freight, the HMF are then added as a percentage of the same value.
Example: duties and fees on one ocean shipment
Illustration only: a product with 0% normal duty on Section 301 List 4A (7.5%) plus the 12.5% Section 301 tariff in force since July 2026. Your rates depend on your HTS code. Freight, broker fees and delivery are left out.
Duties and fees together: $3,070.71, about 20.5% of the goods value. The same goods on Section 301 List 3 with a 3% normal duty would pay about 41%, which is why the HTS code is the first thing to check.
ISF Filing (10+2): Required for Every Ocean Shipment
The Importer Security Filing, usually called ISF or 10+2, gives US Customs details of an ocean shipment before it leaves the foreign port. The importer provides ten data elements and the shipping line provides two. It does not apply to air freight.
- Deadline: at least 24 hours before the goods are loaded on the vessel in China. In practice, send the details to your broker or forwarder about 72 hours before sailing.
- What it contains: seller, buyer, importer of record number, consignee number, manufacturer or supplier, ship-to party, country of origin, the HTS code (at least 6 digits) of each product, the container stuffing location and the consolidator, together with the bill of lading number.
- Who files: the importer is responsible, but the filing is normally done by the customs broker or forwarder.
- Penalties: late, missing or inaccurate ISF filings can be fined up to $5,000 each, and the cargo may be held for inspection.
Because we load and book in China, we can collect the stuffing location, consolidator and supplier details for the ISF directly, which removes the most common cause of late filings. For the full list of data elements, deadlines and penalties, see our ISF filing guide.
Customs Bonds: Single-Entry or Continuous
A customs bond is a guarantee to CBP that duties, fees and penalties will be paid. Commercial shipments valued over $2,500 (formal entries) need one, and ocean shipments also need bond cover for the ISF. Our ISF and customs bond guide compares single-entry and continuous bonds.
| Single-entry bond | Continuous bond | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | One shipment | All your entries for 12 months, including ISF |
| Amount | Usually the value of the goods plus duties and fees | At least $50,000, or 10% of the duties and fees you paid in the last year if that is higher |
| Best for | One or two shipments a year | Regular importers |
Your customs broker buys the bond from a surety company. A continuous bond is filed once and then used for every shipment, so it saves time and avoids last-minute delays.
No De Minimis for Goods from China
Until 2025, parcels worth under $800 could enter the USA duty-free. That ended for Chinese goods on May 2, 2025, and was suspended for all countries on August 29, 2025. Every commercial shipment from China now needs a customs entry and pays the full duty. For small orders, the most cost-effective option is often to combine several suppliers into one shipment with our China consolidation services, so you pay one set of entry and broker fees instead of several.
How to Import from China to the USA, Step by Step
- Get an importer number. US businesses use their IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN), registered with CBP on Form 5106. Your customs broker submits it. Companies outside the USA can also act as importer of record.
- Find the HTS code and total tariff for each product before you order, and build the duty into your price.
- Check other agency rules. Some products need approvals or testing from other US agencies: food, cosmetics and medical devices (FDA), electronics that emit radio signals (FCC), children’s products (CPSC testing and a Children’s Product Certificate). Lithium batteries have their own transport rules; see shipping batteries from China.
- Agree the delivery term with your supplier: EXW, FOB or DDP.
- Arrange the customs bond and ISF through your broker or forwarder before the goods are loaded.
- Ship. Sea freight to the West or East Coast, or air freight for urgent goods. See shipping time from China to the USA and shipping cost from China to the USA, and LCL vs FCL for choosing a shared or full container.
- Clear customs and deliver. Your broker files the entry, duties are paid, and the goods are released for delivery to your warehouse, your customer or an Amazon fulfilment centre.
Documents You Need
- Commercial invoice with seller, buyer, a clear description of each product, quantity, unit price, currency, delivery term and country of origin.
- Packing list with cartons, weights and dimensions.
- Bill of lading or air waybill.
- Importer number (EIN) and the HTS code for each product.
- ISF filing and customs bond for ocean shipments.
- Agency documents where required, such as FDA prior notice for food or a Children’s Product Certificate.
Keep your import records for five years: CBP can review past entries and ask for more duty.
How JIEYI Helps You Import from China to the USA
We are a freight forwarder in Dongguan shipping from South China to the USA by sea, air and express, to your door or to Amazon.
- Door to door with duties paid: with DDP shipping we arrange US customs clearance and pay the duties for you, so you know the landed cost before the goods leave China. Who is named as importer of record is agreed with you for each shipment.
- ISF and documents from the China side: we collect the supplier, stuffing and consolidation details for the ISF and check the invoice and packing list against the cargo before loading.
- Several suppliers, one entry: pickup and consolidation in Guangdong, so you pay one set of customs fees.
See our shipping from China to the USA service, or send us your products and cartons for a duty-paid quote.
For the full details on bond types, the US$50,000 continuous bond minimum and typical costs, read our guide to customs bonds.
Importing from China to the USA: FAQ
How much does it cost to import from China to the USA?
Besides the goods and the freight, you pay duty and tariffs based on the HTS code, the MPF (0.3464% of the value, with a minimum and maximum), the HMF for ocean freight (0.125%), broker and ISF fees, a customs bond and delivery. For many Chinese goods the tariffs alone are 20–40% of the goods value or more.
Do I need a license to import from China to the USA?
Most products need no import license, but you need an importer number, and some products need approvals from agencies such as the FDA, FCC or CPSC. Check your product before you order.
What is ISF filing and when is it due?
ISF (Importer Security Filing, or 10+2) is an advance filing for ocean shipments. It must reach US Customs at least 24 hours before the goods are loaded on the ship in China. Late or missing filings can be fined up to $5,000 each.
Do I need a customs bond?
Yes for commercial shipments over $2,500 and for the ISF on ocean shipments. Occasional importers can buy a single-entry bond; regular importers usually choose a continuous bond for 12 months.
Can I import from China without a customs broker?
You can file entries yourself, but most importers use a licensed customs broker or a forwarder that offers DDP, because tariff rules for Chinese goods change often and mistakes are expensive.
Checked on October 26, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or customs advice; tariffs and rules change, so confirm your position with a licensed US customs broker. Ask us for a duty-paid quote to the USA.
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