Frequently Asked Questions

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is an Incoterm meaning the seller/forwarder handles everything from origin to the buyer's door — including all customs clearance, duties, taxes, and final delivery. The buyer just receives the cargo. This shifts virtually all logistics complexity to us.

Ocean transit: 14–18 days from Shenzhen/Shanghai/Ningbo to West Coast (LA, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle). East Coast (NY, Savannah) 26–34 days. Add 7–10 days for clearance, deconsolidation, and final delivery. Door-to-door total typically 22–28 days for West Coast, 34–44 days for East Coast.

All major Chinese ports: Shenzhen / Yantian (CNSZX), Shanghai (CNSHA), Ningbo (CNNGB), Qingdao (CNTAO), Tianjin / Xingang (CNTXG), Guangzhou / Nansha (CNGZU), Xiamen (CNXMN), and others. Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Ningbo have the most LCL consolidation options.

All major US ports: Los Angeles / Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle/Tacoma (West Coast); New York / NJ, Norfolk, Savannah, Charleston (East Coast); Houston (Gulf Coast); inland via rail or trucking. Final delivery to any business or warehouse address in the lower 48 states.

Yes, but transit times are longer and rates higher due to additional carrier routing. Mention these destinations specifically in your quote request — we'll quote with realistic transit times.

Yes. Hong Kong has separate customs status from mainland China (despite being part of China). Some products see different duty treatment via Hong Kong vs mainland — we can advise on the trade-offs.

Our minimum is 1 CBM or 200kg (whichever is higher in chargeable terms). Below 1 CBM, air courier (DHL/FedEx) is usually cheaper and faster.

Generally around 15 CBM. A 20ft container holds ~28 CBM usable, but at 15+ CBM, FCL often becomes cheaper per CBM and faster (no consolidation/deconsolidation time). We'll always tell you when FCL is the better deal.

Yes — we handle multi-supplier consolidation regularly. Up to 3 supplier pickups in Guangdong/Zhejiang/Shanghai are standard. More than 3 pickups: possible but additional handling fee may apply.

FBA shipments require specific labeling, palletization standards, and appointment booking. While not our primary specialty, we can deliver LCL to FBA-Prep providers in the US who will then handle FBA receiving. Be specific in your inquiry if this is your goal.

AD (Anti-Dumping Duty) targets products sold in the US below "fair value" (often below the producer's home market price or production cost). CVD (Countervailing Duty) offsets foreign government subsidies. Both are determined by US Department of Commerce + International Trade Commission. They apply IN ADDITION to regular duty rates.

Check the Department of Commerce's published AD/CVD orders by HTS code and country. Common Chinese products with AD/CVD: aluminum foil, aluminum extrusions, solar cells, tires (PVLT and TBR), wooden cabinets, steel pipe, hardwood plywood, chemicals. We do this check at quote stage.

Section 301 is a US trade act used to impose additional tariffs on Chinese-origin goods, originally imposed in 2018 and modified since. Lists 1, 2, 3, 4A apply 7.5–25% additional tariff on top of regular duty. Most Chinese consumer goods today face Section 301.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), effective 2022, presumes that goods made in whole or in part in China's Xinjiang region (XUAR) are produced with forced labor and are therefore prohibited from US entry. The importer must rebut this presumption with clear-and-convincing evidence. UFLPA most heavily affects solar (polysilicon), cotton/apparel, and tomato products.

Country-of-origin transshipment is heavily scrutinized. Circumvention investigations can extend AD/CVD to third-country production using Chinese inputs. This is an active enforcement area. Talk to a trade compliance attorney before relying on third-country sourcing to avoid duties.

A customs bond is a guarantee that you (the importer) will pay duties owed and comply with regulations. Single-entry bonds cover one shipment; continuous bonds (typically $50K minimum) cover all imports for a year. AD/CVD products often require larger continuous bonds.

We quote an all-in price covering: factory pickup, export documentation, ocean freight, ISF, US customs entry, duties (regular + Section 301 + AD/CVD), bond, deconsolidation, trucking, and last-mile delivery. Every line is itemized in your quote.

Because DDP includes US duties, MPF, HMF, broker fees, ISF, deconsolidation, and trucking — all costs you'd pay separately anyway. "Cheap" freight quotes that exclude these are misleading. When you total everything, DDP from a transparent forwarder often equals or beats piecing it together yourself.

For new clients: 50% deposit on booking, 50% on bill of lading issuance or before US delivery (depending on service). For established clients with track record: net 15 or net 30 terms negotiable. Bank wire to our China account or USD bank account; we can discuss alternatives.

No — quotes are free. For complex AD/CVD products, we'll do a pre-quote duty analysis at no charge to help you understand your real landed cost.

Standard ocean carrier liability is very limited (often $500 per package under COGSA). For meaningful protection, we strongly recommend purchasing marine cargo insurance — typically 0.3–0.5% of CIF value for general cargo. We can arrange this in your quote, or you can bring your own coverage.

Depends on the reason: routine exam (most common), AD/CVD scrutiny, UFLPA detention, security hold, etc. For routine exams, typically released in 1-2 weeks. For UFLPA: depends on documentation strength, can be days to weeks to permanent exclusion. We respond to CBP queries same-day to minimize holds.

Ocean carrier delays beyond our control (weather, port congestion, vessel issues) are not our fault and not covered by us — but we proactively communicate. Delays caused by us (paperwork errors, missed bookings) are our problem to resolve.

We're a freight forwarder. We hold a Ministry of Commerce freight forwarding license, NVOCC registration, AMS and ISF filing authority. For US customs entry filings, we work with licensed US customs brokers — including AD/CVD-experienced brokers — as our partner network. This separation is standard and ensures specialist handling at each step.

No — everything is handled remotely via email, WhatsApp, WeChat, or phone. Most clients never set foot in our office. We're available 24/7 across China and US time zones.

English, Mandarin, Cantonese. Most US client communication is in English. Our China-side suppliers/factory liaison is handled in Mandarin/Cantonese.

Easiest: fill out our quote form. You'll get a quote within 2 business hours. If you have a quick question first, WhatsApp or email us.