how to import from china?2024 Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

As a new force in global trade, China has formed a matrix of competitive advantages in trade with multiple subjects in multiple fields. Hong Ocean explains the do’s and don’ts of importing goods from China.

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What documents are required for importing from China?

1. Prepare relevant certificates and documents

Importing enterprises should hold the necessary certificates, such as foreign trade contracts, invoices, packing lists, and bills of lading. These documents are essential for proving the legality of import transactions and product information.

Unique documents may also be provided depending on the imported goods, such as the Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit for importing food of animal and plant origin, inspection and quarantine certificates issued by the exporting country, health certificates, and certificates of origin.

2. Report to the entry-exit inspection and quarantine institution

Importing enterprises must apply for inspection at the entry-exit inspection and quarantine institution at the customs declaration location, submitting the relevant certificates and documents prepared as mentioned above. This step is essential to ensuring that imported goods meet China’s quality and safety standards.

3.Customs declaration and tax payment

Importing enterprises need to declare detailed information about the imported goods to the customs, including the name, quantity, and value of the goods, and submit relevant customs declaration documents.

The customs authorities will inspect the imported goods and determine the price according to the declared information and relevant regulations to ensure that the goods are consistent with the declared content and that the price is within a reasonable range.

The importing enterprise must pay customs duties and related taxes according to the amount approved by the customs.

You can find out more about tariffs by checking out the following posts.

Find the right product to import from China

Product Features

Choose products with a good reputation and quality assurance, paying attention to the ingredients and safety of the products, especially cosmetics and skin care products that come into direct contact with the skin.

Brand and popularity: Well-known brands usually have high market recognition and consumer trust. At the same time, you can also pay attention to niche but distinctive brands.

Price and profit margin: Consider the product’s price positioning, which should align with the target market’s purchasing power and ensure sufficient profit margins.

Supply chain management

Supplier selection: Finding reliable suppliers is the key to ensuring product quality and a stable supply. Suitable suppliers can be found through channels such as attending industry exhibitions and online procurement platforms.

Investigate supplier qualifications

  • Investigate the supplier’s qualifications, production capacity, delivery time, after-sales service, etc.
  • Establish a good cooperative relationship with the supplier.
  • Ensure timely delivery and problem-solving.

Laws, regulations, and policies

Understand import policies: Familiarise yourself with the import policies and regulations of different countries and regions, including tax policies such as tariffs, value-added tax, and consumption tax, as well as product access standards and certification requirements.

Pay attention to policy changes: Adjust your product selection strategy promptly. For example, the adjustment of the national cross-border e-commerce policy may restrict or encourage the import of certain types of products.

Intellectual property protection:

  • Avoid selecting infringing products.
  • Ensure that the selected products have legitimate intellectual property rights.
  • Sign clear intellectual property protection agreements with suppliers to reduce legal risks.

Calculate the shipping costs for your goods.

International special line logistics‌: The calculation method is similar to global express delivery, but the price is usually lower. The cost includes the basic shipping and local fees in the destination country, such as customs clearance and end delivery fees‌.

‌International shipping‌: Includes full container shipping and bulk cargo shipping. Full container shipping is charged according to the volume or weight of the container, and the cost ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand US dollars, depending on factors such as the shipping route and type of cargo. Shipping may also include fuel surcharges, port congestion surcharges, etc.‌.

Air freight‌: Charges are based on the actual weight or the volumetric weight (whichever is greater) and can range from tens to hundreds of dollars per kilogram, depending on the nature of the goods, the shipping season, the airline, etc.

‌Land freight‌includes full truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping. Full truckload shipping is charged based on the type of vehicle; the distance traveled, and the weight or volume of the goods; LTL shipping is charged per kilogram or cubic meter and may also include factors such as the distance traveled and the nature of the goods.

The main factors affecting the cost of international transport include:

Distance: The distance between the origin and destination directly affects the transport cost. The further the distance, the higher the cost of transport.

Weight and volume of goods: Actual weight and volume weight are the primary basis for calculation. The greater the weight and volume, the higher the cost.

Mode of transport: Different modes of transport (Air Freight, Ocean Freight and Railway Freight ) have different calculation standards and cost ranges.

Additional fees‌: These include fuel surcharges, remote area surcharges, special service surcharges, etc., which will change depending on the specific situation.

By understanding these calculation methods and influencing factors, you can more accurately estimate the cost of international shipping and help companies make more reasonable logistics decisions.

Hello! We can help you learn about shipping costs from China to the United States. Click the link below.

How to choose the best freight forwarder

Check the company’s qualifications‌: First, ensure the freight forwarder has the necessary qualifications, such as the International Freight Forwarder Enterprise Registration Certificate, the Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier Business Qualification Registration Certificate, etc. You can verify this qualification information through the website or inquiry channels of the relevant national departments to ensure its legitimacy and reliability‌

Investigate the company’s reputation‌: Collect industry reviews and word-of-mouth information to understand the freight forwarding company’s service quality, reputation, and customer satisfaction. You can do this by consulting with peer companies, checking reviews on industry forums, and checking online business review platforms.‌

Understand the transport network and resources‌: Investigate the freight forwarding company’s transport network coverage, including its partnerships with major shipping companies, airlines, land transport companies, etc. A company with an extensive transport network and abundant resources can provide customers with more transport options and convenient services.

Assess service capabilities and professionalism‌: Find out about the professional background, experience, and qualifications of the freight forwarder’s professional team members, including logistics professionals, customs brokers, customer service staff, etc. An experienced and highly professional team can provide quality services‌

Consider transport methods and costs‌: Choose the appropriate transport method according to the type and size of the goods, such as express delivery air or sea transport. At the same time, understand the timeliness and costs of different transport methods to better plan the transport plan‌.

Find out about customs clearance capabilities‌: When the expertise is similar, customs clearance capabilities become the key. An experienced freight forwarder will prepare the required procedures in advance, significantly shortening the transit time.

Check user feedback‌: Problems may arise while transporting goods, so the freight forwarder’s after-sales service and problem-solving capabilities are also essential. You can check the user feedback and reviews of the freight forwarder. Although you cannot wholly trust online reviews, you can judge and analyze them based on your experience.

Related:How to Choose Best Freight Forwarder China to US

What documents are needed after the goods arrive at their destination?

Commercial invoice‌: This is one of the most important documents. It details information about the goods, including the sender and recipient’s details, the name, quantity, unit price, total price, country of origin, etc. The commercial invoice is used for customs clearance and settlement and helps customs assess duties and taxes‌.

Waybill or bill of lading‌: A waybill is a document issued by a courier company to certify that a package has been delivered. It contains information such as the tracking number, origin and destination of the package. A bill of lading is more common in shipping and other modes of transport. It certifies the route and relevant transport information of the goods, helps customs track the transport process, and ensures the legality of the source and transport of the goods.

Packing list‌: A detailed list of each box’s contents, including the quantity and weight of each item. The packing list facilitates customs inspection and clearance, ensuring the parcel’s contents match the declaration‌.

Customs declaration‌: Declares the goods to customs to ensure smooth customs clearance. The customs declaration must describe the parcel’s contents, including the goods’ classification, quantity, and value‌.

Certificate of origin‌: For goods eligible for preferential tariff policies, a certificate of origin is required to prove the goods’ origin and meet specific trade needs‌.

You can check out the post below to learn more about the certificate of origin:

Quality inspection certificate‌: For special items that involve human health and safety, such as food and medicine, a quality inspection certificate is required to prove that the goods meet international standards or the quality requirements of the destination country‌.

License or quota certificate‌: For regulated goods, such as certain agricultural products and textiles, a license or quota certificate may be required to show the quantity and legitimacy of the imported goods.

Insurance policy‌: If you insure your package, you must provide an insurance policy to prove the package is insured.

These documents’ specific requirements and format may vary depending on factors such as the type of goods and the customs requirements of the destination country or region. Therefore, when preparing these documents, it is recommended to check the specific requirements of the destination country in detail to ensure smooth customs clearance.

Read the article below to find out about importing from other countries.

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