Import from China to United States
The US is the world's largest importer of Chinese goods, taking in over $427 billion annually. US customs duty is assessed on FOB value using Column 1 General rates from the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS). Section 301 tariffs — an additional 7.5% to 25% on many Chinese goods, with higher rates for some strategic sectors — can apply on top of standard HTS rates. The historical $800 de minimis threshold still exists in US law, but low-value China and Hong Kong shipments have faced special tariff and entry rules since May 2025.
📋 Key Import Fees — China to United States
- ✓ Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF): 0.3464% (min $32.71 / max $634.62)
- ✓ Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF): 0.125% of CIF value
- ✓ Section 301 tariffs: 7.5–25% additional on China-origin goods
- ✓ Customs bond: typically 10% of annual duties/taxes
Import Process — China to United States
Goods must be classified under the HTSUS, filed via CBP's ACE system, and cleared by a licensed customs broker for formal entries over $2,500. ISF (10+2) must be filed 24 hours before vessel departure from China.
How to plan imports from China to United States
Country-guide queries in Google tend to rank when they answer the full import decision, not just one fee. Searchers want to understand the customs authority, the duty basis, the key taxes, the shipping process, and the tools that help them model the shipment before they commit stock or cash. This page is built around that intent. It combines a country overview, key fees, calculators such as Sea Freight Cost Calculator China to Usa, US Customs Duty Calculator — Full Breakdown, Landed Cost Calculator — Total China Import Cost Per Unit, and Section 301 Tariff Calculator — US-China Trade War Tariffs, and an official-source layer so an importer can move from early budgeting into real execution with fewer blind spots.
For United States, the major planning anchors are the customs authority, fob value (column 1 general rate), the applicable local tax treatment, and the de minimis threshold of $800 baseline in law, but China/Hong Kong low-value imports face special rules after May 2025. Those inputs shape how an importer should compare suppliers, structure quotations, and decide whether a small shipment, a trial order, or a full replenishment makes commercial sense. The best time to model those variables is before production is approved, because once a deposit is paid the room to correct pricing, route choice, or documentation mistakes gets much smaller.
High-performing import-guide pages in the SERP also explain what needs to be verified beyond the estimate. That usually includes product classification, valuation basis, any extra tariffs or trade remedies, and the documents required to clear cargo. This hub is designed to support that workflow by showing the economic structure of the destination market first and then linking you into more detailed duty, freight, and landed-cost tools.
What importers usually need to confirm before shipment
Before relying on a number for United States, confirm the transaction value, the incoterm, the product classification, the shipment mode, and any market-specific compliance obligations. Those checks matter because the cost stack is not just duty. It can include Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF), Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF), Section 301 tariffs, and Customs bond, local handling, brokerage, and inventory timing risk. When Google surfaces practical country guides, they almost always pair duty discussion with documentation and shipping context for exactly this reason: importers do not experience customs costs in isolation from freight, paperwork, and timing.
The basic process also needs to line up with how cargo actually enters United States. That means understanding the filing sequence, who can make entry, whether a customs broker or equivalent intermediary is typically used, and what commercial documents must be accurate on arrival. If the value basis or classification is wrong on the invoice, the estimate on paper can drift away from the real landed result very quickly. The role of this guide is to make those dependencies visible before you rely on any one calculation.
A strong workflow is to use the country calculators as the first pass, then compare the result against the official references and your shipment documents. If the shipment is large, regulated, or margin-sensitive, rerun the model after the final packing details and freight assumptions are known. That approach is much closer to how experienced import teams work than a one-time lookup made weeks before the cargo ships.
Official Sources for United States
Use CBP Importing Guide, USITC HTS, and USTR Tariff Actions to validate the current rules that apply to China-origin cargo entering United States. Those portals are where you confirm live tariff treatment, import process requirements, and valuation or tax rules before filing or approving a shipment.
- CBP Importing Guide - Official U.S. entry, filing, and importer responsibility guidance.
- USITC HTS - Official U.S. tariff schedule and classification lookup.
- USTR Tariff Actions - Current U.S. tariff actions affecting China-origin goods.
Free Calculators for United States Importers
Selected tools for duty, freight, landed cost, and import planning
Sea Freight Cost Calculator China to Usa
Shanghai/Ningbo/Yantian to LA/Long Beach, NY/NJ, Savannah, or Seattle. 2026 FCL and LCL benchmark rates with transit times, peak-season surcharges, and port-specific THC differences.
US Customs Duty Calculator — Full Breakdown
Calculate your exact US customs bill: HTS base rate + Section 301 surcharge + MPF (0.3464%) + HMF (0.125%). See the effective duty rate that actually hits your bottom line — not the headline number your supplier quotes.
Landed Cost Calculator — Total China Import Cost Per Unit
The single most important number in China importing. Enter FOB price, freight, HTS duty, Section 301 tariffs, MPF, and broker fees — get the true per-unit cost that determines whether your product is profitable or a money pit.
Section 301 Tariff Calculator — US-China Trade War Tariffs
Section 301 adds 7.5–25% on top of standard HTS rates for most China-origin goods. Enter your List classification (1, 2, 3, 4A, or 4B) to see the additional tariff and whether any exclusions apply to your product.
Merchandise Processing Fee Calculator
MPF is 0.3464% of CIF (min $32.71, max $634.62). HMF is 0.125% with no cap on waterborne imports. These two fees apply to every US import shipment — calculate them precisely for your cost model.
De Minimis Threshold Calculator — Duty-Free Limit by Country
The $800 Section 321 threshold still exists in US law, but special rules now apply to China/Hong Kong shipments. Model your shipment value against the de minimis rules to see if duty and MPF are owed.
Customs Bond Calculator — Continuous vs Single Entry
CBP requires a customs bond before any US import. Single-entry bonds cover one shipment; continuous bonds cover a year. Calculate the bond amount based on your annual duty volume and find out what it costs.
Duty Drawback Calculator — Recover Import Duties Paid
If you re-export, destroy, or manufacture with imported goods, you may recover up to 99% of duties paid. Estimate your drawback eligibility and the refund amount before filing your drawback claim.
Anti-Dumping Duty Calculator — ADD & CVD from China
Anti-dumping duties can be 20–250%+ and they blindside importers who skip this check. Enter your product category to see if an AD/CVD order exists, who it covers, and the cash deposit rate CBP will demand.
First Sale Valuation Calculator — Reduce Dutiable Value
Buying through a trading company? First Sale lets you declare the factory price — not the middleman price — as the dutiable value. See how much duty you save and whether your supply chain qualifies.
Frequently Asked Questions — Importing from China to United States
Compare Import Costs by Country
Key duty and tax differences when importing the same product from China to each country