North America
United StatesChina sourcing guide
Plan your purchase from China, with supplier checks, import paperwork and delivery considered before shipment.
Discuss your sourcing needsPlan your first order
- Confirm product classification and country of origin.
- Build a landed-cost quote that includes duties, taxes, fees, and broker handling.
- Decide who will act as importer of record.
- Set up CBP entry and release workflows before shipment.
- Collect invoice, packing list, and product specs early.
- Prepare for post-entry corrections or exams if CBP requests them.
Import requirements
The de minimis reset means U.S. buyers should treat China orders as standard customs work, not duty-free small parcels.
- CBP entry
- Importer of record
- HTS / origin
- Duty deposits
Global de minimis suspension
The White House order applies to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT on August 29, 2025.
The White HousePostal duty method changed again
CBP says the temporary postal specific-duty method was limited to six months, with ad valorem duty applying from February 28, 2026.
CBP factsheetEntry and duty workflow remains formal
CBP links cargo release, entry summary filing, and estimated duty deposits inside the formal entry-summary and post-release process.
CBP entry summary guidanceE-commerce FAQ confirms scope
CBP's e-commerce FAQ states that the suspension covers low-value shipments from all countries and explains duty collection paths for postal flows.
CBP e-commerce FAQFrom order to delivery
Classify and quote
Confirm HTS, origin, and landed cost before the order is placed.
Assign clearance
Decide whether the importer or a licensed customs broker will handle CBP entry.
File release and summary
Arrange cargo release, then file entry summary and estimated duty deposit on time.
Close the loop
Resolve exams, corrections, or post-release issues before the next replenishment cycle.
Market context
Position the United States as a formal-entry market in 2026: buyers sourcing from China should price customs handling, duties, and broker workflows into every order instead of relying on low-value parcel shortcuts.
Policy reset
The White House suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries effective August 29, 2025, so low-value China imports now need standard customs planning.
Landed-cost discipline
U.S. buyers need duty, tax, fee, and entry steps modeled before they commit to a supplier or quote.
Repeat-order readiness
Standardized documents and broker handoffs reduce friction when replenishment volume grows.
Choosing your sourcing partners
- Pick partners who quote landed cost, not freight only.
- Ask how they handle CBP entry, duties, and post-entry corrections.
- Verify they keep classification and origin data clean from the first RFQ.
- Prefer teams that can support repeat orders without rebuilding the customs file.