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Last reviewed: September 2026 · Copy link
Your first import from China: the full checklist
Before you wire the deposit
- EIN (sole props use SSN) — you cannot be an importer of record without one.
- HTS line + landed cost computed: duty stack, MPF/HMF, and freight per unit against your sell price.
- Incoterms: FOB is the sane default for new importers; EXW hides origin-side costs, DDP hides the broker relationship from you.
- Supplier compliance evidence: for children’s products, a CPSC-accepted lab test report before production, not after.
Booking the shipment
- Freight forwarder quotes ocean LCL vs air vs courier: ocean wins on cost per kg above roughly 100–150 kg; air/courier win below that or when timing matters.
- Ask the forwarder whether their US brokerage clears under your importer of record (it must be you, not the factory).
- Customs bond: single entry for a test shipment, continuous once you import regularly.
At the border and after
- Entry docs: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading/airway bill, ISF filing 24h before vessel loading (the $5,000 late-ISF penalty is real).
- Children’s products: the CPC and test report accompany the product — CBP can request them at entry, and Amazon will at listing.
- After clearance: the entry summary (CF 7501) is your record; keep it with the CPC and test report in one place — this is exactly what the vault on this site is for.
Questions people ask
Should my factory ship DDP so I don’t deal with customs?
DDP means someone else is the importer of record — usually the factory’s forwarding arm. You lose control of classification and valuation (they choose duty-minimizing numbers with your goods attached), and Amazon increasingly scrutinizes importer identity. For a real brand, import under your own name.
How much does customs clearance cost?
Broker entry fees typically run $100–300 per entry plus bond, with courier clearance cheaper but less controllable. MPF/HMF and duty are separate. Get the broker fee in writing with the forwarder quote.
How long does clearance take?
Routine ocean entries clear in hours once documents are right; exams add days to weeks. Air and courier clear fastest. The difference between smooth and stuck is almost always document quality, not luck.
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