» How Can I Start Shipping To China From USA?

How Can I Start Shipping To China From USA?

This video is intended to be a primer on shipping international to China. It outlines the holidays to avoid, commodity restrictions, basic documents and provides important Chinese international shipping resource links.

We have prepared general step by step instruction on shipping an international package.

Important Points on Importing into China from USA

All Shipments fall into one of three categories:

1. Documents
2. Personal Effects
3. Cargo

Cargo Shipments are further subdivided into three categories:
1. Non dutiable samples and or advertising materials
2. Dutiable samples and or advertising materials
3. Formal Entry Shipments

Basic Documents for Import Into China
1. Commercial Invoice or Pro Forma Invoice
2. Waybill (provided by the carrier)
3. Packing List
4. Certificate of Origin
5. Shipper’s Export Declaration

Your commodity may have some specific requirements that should be examined.

How will China Value my shipment?

The dutiable value of an imported good is known as its CIF value.
CIF Value=(Normal transaction price of the good) + (packing, shipping, and insurance costs) + (Any commissions).

How much Duty will I have to pay?

Import Duties consists of Import Customs Duty (IAD), Value added Tax (VAT) and any Excise or tax (CT)

Import duty rates are divided into three classifications:
1. Most Favored Nation (M.F.N.) or Normal Trade Relations
2. Asia-Pacific Trade Treaty rates (Former Bangkok Agreement (BA) Rates)
3. General (Gen) Rates.

A word about Most Favored Nation Status
The moniker Most Favored Nation is really a misnomer and poorly understood by the general population. Most Favored nation status just means that China is part of the World Trade Organization and enjoys normal trading relations with the United States which includes reciprocal tariff preferential agreements. The Unites States is trying to phase out the term however other countries still use it.

Import Tax or Value added Tax
Value added Tax currently 17% on the CIF value for most items.

Excise Tax
China charges excise duty or consumption tax
1.Tobacco products
2.Liquor
3.Wine
4.Petroleum products
5.Cosmetics
6.Perfumes
7.Shampoo
8.Fireworks
8.Jewelry
9.Motorcycles
10.Automobiles
11.Automobile tires

Service Charge
China may impose a service charge of 3% of the CIF value.

Good Luck and Good Shipping

Your How To Ship Advisor

Basic Documents

Standard Commercial Invoice

Pro Forma Invoice

Certificate of Origin

Shipper’s Export Declaration

DHL, FEDEX, UPS Country Specific Links

DHL International China

Fedex International China

UPS International China