Shipping from China to the USA
Importing into the United States means working with CBP rules, an ISF deadline that falls before your container leaves China, and, for Amazon sellers, inventory that must arrive fully prepped. We handle the China side of all three from Shenzhen.
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West Coast or East Coast: Picking a US Port of Entry
Most China cargo enters through Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, or Seattle/Tacoma on the Pacific side, or through New York/New Jersey, Savannah, and Houston via the Panama Canal or Suez routes. The right choice depends on where your buyers or fulfillment centers are, not just on the ocean leg:
- Pacific ports give the shortest crossing from South China, then rely on rail or truck to reach the Midwest and East. A good fit when inventory sells mostly in western states or when speed to the first US warehouse matters most.
- Atlantic and Gulf ports mean a longer all-water voyage but land the goods much closer to East Coast and Southern customers, which can cut domestic trucking and avoid inland rail congestion.
- Air freight and express courier skip the port question for urgent restocks, product samples, and small parcels. They are cleared by CBP at the arrival airport or the courier's own facility.
Because carrier schedules and port conditions shift, we compare the actual routings available for your shipment and quote each option separately instead of quoting a single generic figure.
What US Customs Expects Before Your Cargo Sails
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) clears every import. For ocean cargo your broker files the ISF 10+2 before loading, a customs bond backs any formal entry, and duty is set by the product's HTS code plus any Section 301 tariff that applies to China-origin goods. We prepare the commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading or air waybill with consistent descriptions so your broker is not chasing missing data.
If the destination is an Amazon US fulfillment center, our team completes FNSKU and Transparency labeling, poly bagging, and inspection in Shenzhen, then splits cartons to match your shipment plan. See the full service list or how we handle warehousing & freight booking. Walmart distribution centers, your own 3PL, and direct business addresses are booked the same way.
US Import FAQ
What is an ISF 10+2 filing and who is responsible for it?
The Importer Security Filing is a set of cargo data elements that US Customs and Border Protection requires for ocean shipments, and it has to be submitted before the container is loaded on the vessel in China. Legally the obligation sits with the US importer, and in practice your customs broker usually transmits it. Late or missing filings can lead to CBP penalties and cargo holds, so we send the supplier, consignee, and packing details your broker needs as soon as your goods are booked. ISF applies to sea freight only, not air or express.
Do I need a US customs bond to import from China?
For a formal entry, CBP normally requires a customs bond, either a single-entry bond for one shipment or a continuous bond that covers every entry over a year. Regular importers and most Amazon sellers restocking several times a year tend to choose the continuous option. A licensed US customs broker can arrange the bond and act as your clearance agent; if you do not have one yet, we can introduce brokers we coordinate with.
How do Section 301 tariffs affect goods made in China?
Section 301 tariffs are additional duties the US applies to a wide range of China-origin products, on top of the normal duty set by the item's HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code. Whether they apply, and at what rate, depends entirely on that classification, and the lists have changed several times. We can help you gather accurate product descriptions and materials data for classification, but the final HTS code and duty calculation should come from your broker or a ruling from CBP, not from a freight forwarder's guess.
Amazon stopped offering prep in the US. What does that change for my FBA shipments?
Amazon ended its own FBA prep and item-labeling service for US inbound inventory on January 1, 2026, so units now have to arrive at the fulfillment center already labeled, bagged, and packed to Amazon's requirements. That work has to happen somewhere before the goods reach the US, and doing it in Shenzhen means non-compliant units are fixed before they are put on a ship. We apply FNSKU and Transparency labels, poly bag, and inspect here, then book the freight to the fulfillment centers in your shipment plan.
Importing into the US?
Send your product, carton count, and destination ZIP code or FBA shipment plan, and we will price sea, air, and express routings within 12 hours (Monday–Saturday).