Import costs · 3 min read
How to review a U.S. customs broker quote line by line
Separate government charges, broker services and logistics allowances before comparing import budgets.
Import guides
Understand the moving parts before you buy or ship. Each guide explains what to check, where the estimate stops, and which official sources support it.
Our methodology and sourcesExplore the guides
Classification and duties · 3 min read
USMCA eligibility: what to check before claiming a preferential rate
Distinguish shipping location, originating status and certification with a practical evidence worksheet.
Practical case · 2 min read
Garment HTS classification: why fiber composition changes the question
Prepare a garment specification sheet before comparing cotton, synthetic and mixed-fiber import estimates.
Classification and duties · 2 min read
Import duty per kilogram: calculate a specific or compound rate
Separate customs value, tariff quantities and shipping weight with a worked hypothetical duty example.
Classification and duties · 2 min read
How to search CBP CROSS rulings before choosing an HTS code
Build a product comparison sheet, evaluate ruling facts and check the current HTS before using a classification.
Import costs · 3 min read
DDP imports to the U.S.: who handles duties and customs entry?
Check the named destination, importer of record and duty evidence before accepting a delivered-duty-paid offer.
Import costs · 3 min read
EXW vs FOB: compare U.S. import quotes on the same basis
Normalize factory and port quotes with an explicit cost worksheet before estimating U.S. import duties.
Classification and duties · 3 min read
Check AD/CVD scope before ordering imported goods
Investigate written order scope and producer/exporter facts before treating a duty estimate as a complete purchase budget.
Classification and duties · 2 min read
China import duties: check the base rate and additional measures
Follow a dated, product-specific workflow for ordinary HTS duties, Chapter 99 measures and exclusions without assuming one China-wide rate.
Import costs · 3 min read
The real cost of importing from China to the U.S.
Separate product, transport, customs charges and service quotes so a partial duty estimate is never mistaken for delivered cost.
Practical case · 3 min read
Compare two suppliers by import cost, not unit price alone
Normalize specifications, quantity, sale terms, destination and entry assumptions; compare known costs while leaving unquoted lines pending.
Import costs · 3 min read
FOB, CIF and U.S. customs value: what should you enter?
Use sale terms to understand who pays each leg, then determine customs value from the transaction facts and documented adjustments.