How to Import from China to the USA: A Step-by-Step Guide for US Businesses
Learning how to import from China to the USA comes down to six things: the right HTS code, clear Incoterms, the right freight mode, an on-time ISF filing, a smooth customs entry and a final delivery plan. This guide walks through each step for US businesses bringing goods into Chicago and the Midwest, with tips from the operations team at Universal Shipping & Logistics Inc. (USL).
Quick answer: To import from China to the USA, confirm the HTS code and duty rate for your product, agree on Incoterms with your supplier, book ocean or air freight with a freight forwarder, file the Importer Security Filing at least 24 hours before an ocean shipment is loaded in China, clear US Customs with a customs bond, and arrange final delivery to your warehouse.
How to Import from China to the USA in Six Steps
Every China import follows the same basic path, whether you ship one pallet or ten containers a month:
- Find your HTS code and check duties
- Agree on Incoterms with your supplier
- Choose ocean freight or air freight
- File the ISF and set up a customs bond
- Clear US Customs at the port of entry
- Deliver the cargo to Chicago or your final location
The sections below explain what each step involves and where importers usually run into delays.
Step 1: Find the HTS Code and Check Duties
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code is a 10-digit number that tells US Customs what your product is and which duty rate applies. You can search codes in the official Harmonized Tariff Schedule published by the US International Trade Commission.
Goods from China often carry extra duties on top of the standard rate, and US tariff rules changed several times during 2025 and 2026. Check the current rate for your exact code before you place an order, so the landed cost in your budget matches the bill you receive. Also note that the $800 de minimis exemption is suspended, so small shipments now go through normal duty and entry rules as well. Getting the code right is the first step in knowing how to import from China to the USA without surprises.
Step 2: Agree on Incoterms With Your Supplier
Incoterms decide who pays for each part of the journey and where the risk passes from seller to buyer. The most common terms for China imports are:
- FOB (Free on Board): The supplier delivers the goods onto the vessel in China. You control the freight from there. Most importers prefer FOB because they choose their own forwarder and see the real freight cost.
- EXW (Ex Works): You pick up the goods at the factory gate and handle everything after that, including Chinese export clearance.
- CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight): The supplier books the ocean freight to a US port. It looks easy, but you lose control over the carrier, the schedule and the destination charges.
Once you know how to import from China to the USA on FOB terms, you can compare forwarders on service and get full visibility of your shipment.
Step 3: Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight
Ocean freight is the most cost-effective choice for most China imports. You can book:
- FCL shipping: A full container for your cargo only, usually best when you have enough goods to fill most of a 20 ft or 40 ft container.
- LCL shipping is when your cargo shares a container with other shippers and you pay for the space you use.
Ocean transit from Shanghai to Los Angeles takes about 14 days port to port. Shipments to the East Coast through the Panama Canal often take 30 to 40 days.
Air freight suits urgent orders, samples and high-value goods. It costs more per kilo, and cargo can land at Chicago O’Hare within days of leaving China.
Step 4: File the ISF and Set Up a Customs Bond
Anyone planning how to import from China to the USA by sea must meet two compliance steps. For ocean shipments, US Customs and Border Protection requires the Importer Security Filing, also called ISF or 10+2. It must be submitted at least 24 hours before the cargo is loaded onto the vessel in China. Late or missing filings can lead to fines, extra inspections and delays.
You will also need a customs bond for commercial shipments valued over $2,500. A single-entry bond covers one shipment. A continuous bond covers every entry for a year and usually makes more sense if you import regularly.
Step 5: Clear US Customs at the Port of Entry
Customs is where most first-time importers feel the pressure, so this step deserves the most care when you import from China to the USA. When the cargo arrives, US Customs reviews the entry documents, assesses duties and decides whether to release or inspect the shipment. The core documents are:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Arrival notice
- Any permits your product needs, such as FDA or FCC paperwork
USL assists with customs clearance (link: https://www.usl.us.com/freight-forwarding-services/customs-clearance/) so your documents are complete and accurate before the cargo lands. Clean paperwork is the single biggest factor in avoiding holds at the port.
Step 6: Final Delivery to Chicago and the Midwest
Chicago is one of the busiest inland freight hubs in North America, and most China cargo reaches it in one of three ways:
- West Coast port plus rail: Containers land at Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle or Tacoma and move by rail to Chicago.
- East Coast port plus truck: Cargo arrives at New York or Savannah and finishes by road.
- Air freight into O’Hare: Direct delivery for time-sensitive goods.
From the rail ramp or airport, land transport handles the last leg to your warehouse. For a single booking that covers every leg, ask about door-to-door ocean freight.
What It Costs to Import from China to the USA
There is no single price list for how to import from China to the USA, because every shipment depends on its own details. The main cost factors are:
- Freight mode and container type (FCL, LCL or air)
- Origin port in China and destination in the US
- Season, with peak demand before the holidays and Chinese New Year
- Duties and tariffs for your HTS code
- Customs bond, ISF and port fees
- Inland rail or truck delivery to your door
USL works on contracted carrier rates. Our team reviews each shipment, sources rates from carriers on your route and sends a written quote with every charge listed, so you know your landed cost before the cargo moves.
Common Mistakes When You Import from China to the USA
Most delays we see when businesses import from China to the USA come from a short list of avoidable errors:
- Wrong HTS codes that lead to incorrect duties or penalties
- Missing the ISF deadline because the supplier shipped early
- Accepting CIF terms and then paying surprise destination charges
- Leaving no buffer for Chinese New Year factory closures
- Sending incomplete product details that trigger customs holds
Each of these is easy to avoid with a forwarder who checks your paperwork before the booking is confirmed.
How USL Helps You Import from China to the USA
USL is a non-asset-based freight forwarder. It doesn’t own ships, aircraft, trucks or containers. Our Chicago operations team coordinates ocean, air and land freight through carrier partners and a network in 60+ countries, including members of OLO Family and JC Trans.
With more than 1,140 freight forwarding projects completed and a 96.6 percent on-time record, our team handles booking, ISF, documents, customs clearance assistance and final delivery as one coordinated move. You get one quote, one team and clear updates from pickup in China to delivery in Chicago.
Ready to plan your next China shipment? Request a free freight quote or call +1 (773) 474-0875.
