MFN duty (Column 1 General)
RateDepends on the 10-digit HTS code — from 0% to well over 20%
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- HTSUS Chapters 1–97, Column 1 General
- Effective
- Long-standing
- Scope
- Every commercial import into the United States.
China → USA · one lane onlyFreight shipping
Freight shipping
from China to USA
Sea, air, DDP and Amazon FBA — cleared through US customs and delivered to your door, with every tariff layer priced in writing.
Shenzhen-basedPort-to-port and door-to-door priced separatelyEvery quote dated
178 Section 301 exclusions expire Nov 9, 2026Lane snapshot
Verified Oct 23, 2026
China → US West Coast
- Port-to-port
- 12–22days
- Door-to-door
- 18–30days
Same ocean leg. Port-to-port counts the vessel; door-to-door adds pickup, export clearance, US entry and delivery.
Market reference
- 40ft spot, port-to-port
- USD 4,585
- Air freight, per kg
- USD 5.77
Drewry World Container Index, issued
Freightos Air Index, airport-to-airport, issued
Publisher indices, not our prices — neither includes duty, entry or delivery. Import duty adds 12 dated layers on top.
Shipping modes
Sea freight, air freight or LCL — which one fits your cargo?
It comes down to three numbers: volume, weight and how late you can afford to be. Under about 15 CBM, LCL usually beats a container you cannot fill. Above it, FCL pays for itself. If the goods are high-value or the deadline is measured in days, air is the only mode that fits — and the per-kilo rate is what that speed costs.
Sea Freight (FCL)
20GP / 40HQ, USWC & USEC
View details
LCL & Consolidation
Per CBM, 15 CBM break-even
View details
Air Freight
Chargeable weight, per kg
View details
Door-to-Door
Pickup, entry, final delivery
View details
DDP — Duties Paid
Who pays the duty stack
View details
Amazon FBA First Leg
Labeling, pallets, appointments
View detailsHow much does it cost to ship from China to USA?
There is no single rate, and a page that prints one is describing one date and one caliber. Ocean is priced per container or per CBM, air per chargeable kilo, and both move weekly. The table below is the public index we track — each row dated, each row attributed. Your own number needs an origin city, a delivery ZIP and an HTS code.
Data last verified:
Published index snapshots
Third-party indices, each with its issue date and caliber. They move the market; they are not a quote for your shipment.
| Measure | Value | Movement | As of | Publisher / Caliber |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Container Index — composite | USD 4,585 / 40ft | +2% week on week | 2026-10-22 | DrewryPort-to-port, 40ft container, spot, excludes surcharges and duties |
| Shanghai → Los Angeles (WCI route) | USD 8,007 / 40ft | +2% week on week | 2026-10-22 | DrewryPort-to-port, 40ft container, spot, excludes surcharges and duties |
| Asia → US West Coast (FBX01) | USD 8,126 / FEU | −0.3% week on week | 2026-10-16 | Freightos Baltic IndexPort-to-port, 40ft equivalent, spot index, weekly issue dated by the publisher — 8,149.4 on 2026-10-09 → 8,125.6 on 2026-10-16, rounded to whole dollars |
| China → North America (air) | USD 5.77 / kg | +19% week on week (2026-10-20 update) | 2026-10-13 | Freightos Air IndexAirport-to-airport, chargeable weight, excludes pickup, entry and duties. Latest published absolute value — the publisher reports weekly changes only, so the row is older than its movement |
Indices are port-to-port and exclude origin charges, US destination charges, customs filing and duty. A port-to-port index is not comparable to a door-to-door quote.
How long does shipping from China to USA take?
There are two answers for every shipment and only one of them is yours. Port-to-port measures the vessel; door-to-door adds pickup, export clearance, US entry and the final delivery. A quote that says “12–22 days to the US” is describing the first. Both columns are below.
Data last verified:
| Lane | Port-to-port (P2P) | Door-to-door (D2D) |
|---|---|---|
| China → US West Coast (LA / Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle–Tacoma) | 12–22 days | 18–30 days |
| China → US East Coast (NY/NJ, Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston) | 32–45 days | 36–52 days |
| China → US Gulf (Houston, New Orleans) | 30–42 days | 35–50 days |
| China → inland US via West Coast rail (IPI: Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Memphis) | 20–30 days to the rail ramp | 25–38 days |
| China → US (air freight, major gateway to gateway) | 3–5 days | 5–10 days |
Ranges are planning estimates for standard cargo in normal conditions, not commitments. They exclude blank sailings, terminal congestion, CBP holds and weather. Ask for the current figure before you book a downstream commitment.
GatewaysWhich US port should my shipment
Which US port should my shipment
from China enter?
Your delivery ZIP decides this, not the vessel schedule. The West Coast is the shortest ocean leg and the cheapest rail into the Midwest. The East Coast is a longer water leg that removes the inland haul. The Gulf suits Texas and the South Central states. We quote the gateways that fit and say which one we would use.
- US West CoastLos Angeles / Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle / Tacoma
- Shortest ocean leg, and the cheapest rail into the Midwest through the IPI ramps at Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City and Memphis.Port-to-port 12–22 daysDoor-to-door 18–30 days
- US East CoastNew York / New Jersey, Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston
- All-water through the Panama or Suez. Pick it when the delivery ZIP is east of the Appalachians — the water leg is longer, but the inland haul disappears.Port-to-port 32–45 daysDoor-to-door 36–52 days
- US Gulf CoastHouston, New Orleans
- All-water, or West Coast discharge plus domestic rail. The usual fit for Texas and the South Central states.Port-to-port 30–42 daysDoor-to-door 35–50 days
- Air gatewaysMajor US airports, then truck or onward air movement
- Chosen on the deadline rather than the geography. Air clears at a different entry port than the ocean container would have used.Airport-to-airport 3–5 daysDoor-to-door 5–10 days
Ranges are the same planning estimates as the table above, not carrier commitments. A port that looks cheaper on the ocean leg can cost more once the inland haul and the chassis time are added.
What tariffs and duties apply to China-origin goods in 2026?
US import duty is not one number. It is a base MFN rate plus whichever additional programmes name your product, plus government fees that apply even when the duty is zero. Each row below carries its effective date, its HTSUS Chapter 99 line where one exists, and a primary source.
Data last verified:
In effect — the base layer
Section 301 tariffs (Lists 1–4A and the 2024 review products)
Rate25% (Lists 1, 2, 3) · 7.5% (List 4A) · 25% / 50% / 100% on the 2024 four-year-review product lines
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- 9903.88.01–.04 (Lists 1–3) · 9903.88.15 (List 4A) · 9903.91.01 and following (2024 review products)
- Effective
- 2018-07-06 (first list); current rates confirmed 2024-09-18
- Scope
- Annexed product lists covering thousands of HTS lines of Chinese-origin goods. List 4B was announced but never took effect.
Section 301 forced-labor tariff (the 12.5% layer)
Rate12.5%
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- 9903.05.31 (mainland China) · 9903.05.43 (Hong Kong) · exemptions at 9903.05.86 (US Note 52(b)) · goods under Section 232 listed at 9903.05.90
- Effective
- 2026-07-24
- Scope
- Chinese-origin goods, with a published exemption list.
Section 232 national-security tariffs
RateMetals: 50% / 25% applied to full value. Vehicles and parts, wood products, patented pharmaceuticals and the 25% semiconductor tier are separate measures.
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- As listed in the HTSUS Chapter 99 subchapter III provisions cited by each proclamation
- Effective
- Staggered by product; metals valuation change from 2026-04-06
- Scope
- Specific product groups (steel, aluminium, derivatives, vehicles and parts, wood, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors).
AD/CVD — antidumping and countervailing duties
RatePer order. Rates above 100% are common; some orders exceed 300%. Cash deposits are required at entry.
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- 19 CFR Part 351 and the individual published orders
- Effective
- Order by order
- Scope
- Product-specific. Common exposure for furniture, steel and aluminium products, solar cells, tires, and many consumer goods.
IEEPA tariffs (fentanyl and reciprocal)
RateNo longer collected
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- Supreme Court decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump and Trump v. V.O.S. Selections (Roberts, C.J.)
- Effective
- Collection ceased 2026-02-24
- Scope
- The IEEPA-based tariff programmes.
Section 122 temporary import surcharge
Rate⚠️ Conflicting public accounts: 10% from 2026-02-24, with reports that it was raised to 15% two days later. Statutory cap is 15% for a maximum of 150 days.
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- Proclamation 11012; reported as 9903.03.01 in secondary sources
- Effective
- 2026-02-24 → 2026-07-24
- Scope
- A temporary balance-of-payments surcharge; it applied across the board rather than to listed products.
Section 301 product exclusions
RateWhere an exclusion applies, the Section 301 duty on that HTS line is not owed (or is refundable) for the covered period.
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- USTR notice published at 90 FR (2025-21671), published 2025-12-01
- Effective
- Various, extended by the 2025-12-01 notice → 2026-11-09 (23:59 Eastern Time) / 2026-11-10
- Scope
- 178 specifically enumerated product descriptions with matching HTS lines.
De minimis (USD 800 duty-free entry)
RateAbolished. Low-value shipments no longer enter duty-free; duty, taxes and fees apply.
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- Executive Order 14324 and the implementing CBP/Federal Register notices, including 2026-12670 (2026-06-24)
- Effective
- 2025-05-02 for China and Hong Kong; 2025-08-29 for all origins
- Scope
- All modes except international postal channels, which were handled separately.
The "30-for-30" mutual tariff-reduction lists
Rate⚠️ Not applicable yet. The lists are published but no reduced rate is in force, and no implementation date has been announced.
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- Published under the U.S.–China Board of Trade framework; announced 2026-09-28
- Effective
- No implementation date announced
- Scope
- Roughly USD 30 billion of goods on each side, about 1,700 tariff lines in total, with 77 lines on the US side including fireworks, household goods, toys, car seats and festive decorations.
UFLPA — Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
RateNot a duty. The consequence is detention of the shipment and the cost of proving the supply chain clean.
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- UFLPA and the DHS entity list; rebuttable presumption
- Effective
- 2022-06-21
- Scope
- Priority enforcement sectors include cotton and cotton goods, tomatoes and tomato products, and polysilicon and solar products.
Second Section 301 investigation ("overcapacity" across 60 economies)
RateNot yet determined
- HTSUS Chapter 99 / legal basis
- USTR investigation notice, 2026-03
- Effective
- Ongoing
- Scope
- Alleged non-market overcapacity in specific sectors across 60 economies.
Verified Oct 23, 2026. Confirm the current position against CBP CSMS, the HTSUS and the Federal Register before relying on any figure for a shipment.
Free tools
Estimate the US import duty and landed cost before you book
Three calculators and two guides, no email wall, and nothing you type leaves your browser. They use the 2026 layers above, the MPF and HMF rules, and the volumetric divisors that air and LCL actually charge on. Results are estimates — the last mile of accuracy is your HTS classification and a live rate.
What to check before you hire a China → USA freight forwarder
Four things separate a forwarder you can audit from one you cannot. None of them is a logo.
China-based, US-lane only
One Shenzhen office, one trade lane. That focus is why the tariff detail stays current.
Every rate is dated
Date, caliber and inclusions on every quote. No undated price sheets.
US brokers and 3PLs, named
Licensed US brokers file the entry; vetted 3PLs run the warehouse. We tell you who does what.
We say what we do not know
Where a tariff measure is unsettled in law, the page says so rather than picking a number.
Frequently asked questions about shipping from China to USA
The questions we actually get on the first call, answered without the sales padding.
How much does it cost to ship from China to the USA?
There is no single number, and any site that prints one is quoting a specific date, a specific caliber and a specific container. A port-to-port rate excludes origin charges, US destination charges, customs filing and duty. We quote port-to-port and door-to-door separately, put the date on both, and state whether carrier surcharges and duty are inside the figure.
How long does shipping from China to the USA take?
Ocean transit runs roughly 12–22 days port-to-port to the US West Coast and 32–45 days to the US East Coast. Door-to-door, add pickup, export clearance, US entry and final delivery — typically 18–30 days to the West Coast and 36–52 days to the East Coast. Air freight is 3–5 days airport-to-airport and 5–10 days door-to-door. These are planning ranges, not commitments.
Do you handle duties and customs clearance, or is that on me?
Either can work. If you want DDP we act through licensed US customs brokers and the duty stack is inside the price — but the duty number then depends entirely on your HTS codes, so we ask for them. If you are the importer of record, we still handle the filing, the bond and the port work and you pay duty directly at entry.
What is the biggest tariff change in 2026 that affects my import?
The Section 301 forced-labor tariff at 12.5%, effective 2026-07-24, is the newest cost layer for Chinese-origin goods. It has a published exemption list, but the list works at HTS line level, not at category level. Separately, 178 Section 301 product exclusions expire on 2026-11-09 — that is a dated cliff, not a gradual change.
Can you ship to Amazon FBA warehouses?
Yes. FBA first-leg needs the shipment to arrive compliant: correct FNSKU labelling, pallets built to Amazon spec, and a delivery appointment. We handle the origin side, the US entry and the appointment, and we will tell you before booking if your carton or pallet spec will be rejected.
Are your prices the lowest?
No, and we will not claim to be. Freight is re-priced weekly, and the cheapest quote in any given week usually excludes something that shows up later as a separate invoice. What we do commit to is a dated quote with its caliber and inclusions written out, so you can compare it against the next one honestly.
More answers, including bonds, entry documents and Incoterms, are on the full FAQ page.
Get a quote
Send the details, get a dated quote
Origin city, delivery ZIP, volume or weight, HTS code if you have one. Those four decide most of the number.
- Port-to-port and door-to-door quoted separately, both dated.
- Duty and government fees shown as their own lines, never buried.
- We will tell you when we cannot confirm a figure, and why.
Prefer to talk? WhatsApp +86 133 4282 0061 or email [email protected].