Importing from China to the United States has become more complicated since 2025. The $800 de minimis exemption is gone, and tariffs on Chinese goods have changed several times. Factory prices are still far below US wholesale for many products, but landed cost now depends heavily on duty.
This guide explains what a small business needs to know in 2026: which products are regulated, how duties are built up, when air or sea pays off, and how buying through soorce with delivery duties paid (DDP) gives you one delivered price instead of a customs bill on arrival.
What you can import
Almost all consumer and business goods can be imported from China: apparel, bags, home and kitchen goods, furniture, packaging, phone accessories, tools, auto parts, lighting, pet supplies, fitness gear and office products. The question is rarely whether a product is allowed, and usually which agency's rules apply to it.
Several federal agencies regulate products at the border alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Check these before ordering:
- Children's products and toys must meet Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) rules, with third-party testing and a Children's Product Certificate. Many other consumer products need a General Certificate of Conformity.
- Electronics that emit radio frequencies (chargers, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices, LED drivers) must comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules.
- Food, food-contact items, cosmetics and some medical devices fall under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Goods linked to forced labour under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act can be detained, and counterfeit or trademark-infringing goods are seized. Check with your customs authority for regulated goods.
US duties and tariffs on Chinese goods in 2026
Every product has a duty rate in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), published by the U.S. International Trade Commission. For many consumer goods this base rate is between zero and about 20% of the customs value.
Goods made in China can pay extra layers on top. Section 301 tariffs, in place since 2018, add 7.5% to 25% or more depending on the product list, and Section 232 tariffs apply to steel, aluminium and some derived products. Other tariffs have been added, struck down and replaced during 2025 and 2026, including after the Supreme Court ruled in February 2026 that emergency powers did not authorise tariffs. Because the total changes often, look up the current rate for your exact product before you commit to a price.
The de minimis exemption for shipments under $800 ended for all countries on 29 August 2025, so every shipment from China is now dutiable, however small. The US has no federal VAT; state sales tax applies when you sell, not when you import.
- Shipments over $2,500 normally need a formal entry and a customs bond, and ocean cargo needs an Importer Security Filing before it leaves China.
- CBP also charges a Merchandise Processing Fee, and ocean freight a Harbor Maintenance Fee.
- Country of origin must be marked on the goods, and the value declared must be the real transaction value.
How DDP delivery removes the hassle
With DDP, soorce's price at checkout includes freight from China, US customs clearance and the duties and fees due on entry. Our logistics partner acts as importer for the shipment, files the entry and delivers to your door, so you do not need your own customs broker, bond or tariff research for that delivery, and nothing extra is collected when the boxes arrive.
Before shipping, we check the supplier and inspect the goods in China, which matters more in the US than almost anywhere: a shipment held for a labelling or certification problem costs time and storage. DDP covers the import. You remain responsible for product compliance when you sell, such as CPSC certificates for children's products or FCC compliance for electronics.
Air or sea freight: which one pays off
Air is billed by the kilo or by volume (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6,000), whichever is higher. It is quicker and suits samples, small restocks and goods with a high value per kilo, such as phone accessories, jewellery or small electronics.
Sea freight to the US is much cheaper per kilo, and on the West Coast routes it is quicker than many people expect. It pays off for heavier and bulkier goods: furniture, kitchenware, fitness equipment, packaging and tools. Sea lines bill from a minimum weight, so very small orders are often better by air. Products with built-in batteries are restricted on many sea lines.
The box below shows what soorce charges today to deliver to the US door to door with duties paid, for a few sample weights.
Worked example: 500 kitchen utensil sets to the US
Say you order 500 silicone kitchen utensil sets at $3 each, $1,500 of goods, weighing about 90 kg packed. The table prices this order by air and by sea at today's rates, with US duties and entry fees already inside the shipping line.
Divide the delivered total by 500 for your landed cost per set and compare it with US wholesale. Because China tariffs change, a quote is based on the rules in force when the order is placed, and weight is confirmed after packing in China.
500 silicone kitchen utensil sets, precio de hoy
| Concepto | Aéreo | Marítimo |
|---|---|---|
| Mercancía | $1,500.00 | $1,500.00 |
| Entrega, aranceles e impuestos (unos 90 kg) | $700.32 | $152.10 |
| Total con entrega | $2,200.32 | $1,652.10 |
| Por pieza, con entrega | $4.40 | $3.30 |
El envío usa las tarifas en vivo de hoy para este peso. La cifra de mercancía es un precio de ejemplo; tu total real se muestra al finalizar la compra.
How to order on soorce, step by step
- Find a product by searching or browsing. The product page shows the price per piece, the minimum quantity and the delivered price to the United States.
- Add quantities to your cart. Orders start from 100 pieces or $1,000; a smaller order can be sent as a request and our team will confirm if it can go ahead.
- At checkout pick air or sea, enter your US delivery address and pay securely online at checkout, in US dollars.
- We confirm with the factory, check the supplier and inspect the goods before they leave China, and send photos if something needs your decision.
- The shipment clears US customs with duties paid and is delivered to your door. Track each stage from your account.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Pricing a product on last year's tariff. Check the current duty for its HTS code before you set your selling price.
- Assuming a small order still enters duty-free. De minimis is over: every shipment pays.
- Selling children's products or electronics without CPSC or FCC paperwork, which marketplaces and retailers increasingly ask for.
- Shipping light, bulky goods by air and paying for volume instead of weight.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is there still a $800 duty-free limit for imports from China?
No. The de minimis exemption ended for shipments from every country on 29 August 2025, so all imports from China are dutiable. With soorce's DDP delivery those duties are included in the price at checkout.
What tariff applies to goods from China in 2026?
It depends on the product: the base HTSUS rate plus Section 301 tariffs and any other measures in force, which have changed several times in 2025 and 2026. Look up your exact product with U.S. Customs and Border Protection or a licensed broker before committing.
Do I need a customs broker to import from China?
For formal entries over $2,500 most importers use a licensed customs broker and a bond. When you order through soorce, our logistics partner handles the entry, so you do not need your own broker for that delivery.
How long does shipping from China to the US take?
Air usually arrives within about a week or two of leaving our warehouse, and sea takes a few weeks door to door. The live transit window for each method is shown in the shipping box on this page and at checkout.
Do I need certificates to sell imported products in the US?
Many products do: CPSC certificates for children's products and many consumer goods, FCC compliance for electronics, FDA rules for cosmetics and food-contact items. Check with your customs authority for regulated goods.
What is the minimum order on soorce?
Orders start from 100 pieces or $1,000 of goods. Smaller orders can be sent as a request, and our team will confirm whether they can go ahead.
Fuentes
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- U.S. International Trade Commission (Harmonized Tariff Schedule)
- Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)
- Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Esta guía es información general, verificada con los organismos oficiales indicados arriba en noviembre de 2026. Las normas cambian y algunos productos están regulados: consulta con tu autoridad aduanera antes de pedir productos regulados.