Shipping from China to the USA

How we ship from China to the USA

Guldstreet Shipping moves goods from factories and suppliers in China to businesses across the United States. You get one written quote that covers pickup in China, export clearance, freight, the US customs entry and delivery to your door. We check the cargo before it leaves China, so what arrives is what you paid for.

There are three ways to ship, and the right one depends on volume, weight and how soon you need the goods.

Shared container (LCL)

Less than Container Load is the usual choice for small and growing importers. Your cartons share a container with other shippers' cargo and you pay only for the space you use, measured in cubic meters (CBM). Ocean carriers bill LCL on whichever is greater, volume or weight, where 1,000 kg counts as 1 CBM. Most shipments between 1 and 15 CBM are cheaper as LCL than as a full container.

Full container (FCL)

A Full Container Load gives you a 20-foot, 40-foot or 40-foot high cube container for your goods alone. It is loaded at the supplier or our consolidation warehouse, sealed, and not opened again until customs or your team opens it. In practice a 20-foot container holds about 25 to 28 CBM of cartons, a 40-foot about 55 to 58 CBM and a 40-foot high cube about 65 to 68 CBM.

Air freight

Air is for urgent stock, samples and high-value goods. Airlines charge on chargeable weight, the greater of the actual weight and the volume weight. Volume weight is length x width x height in centimeters divided by 6,000. Light, bulky goods such as plastic cups or packaging often cost more by air than their scale weight suggests, so we always show you both numbers.

How your freight is measured

Every carton is measured and weighed at our consolidation warehouse in China before it ships, and your quote is confirmed on those measurements. Two examples:

Shipment	Volume	Weight	Billed on
Sea, 50 cartons of 50 x 40 x 25 cm at 22 kg	2.5 CBM	1,100 kg	2.5 CBM (volume is greater)
Air, 10 cartons of 20 x 25 x 35 cm at 5 kg	2.9 kg volume weight per carton	50 kg actual	50 kg (actual weight is greater)

US ports and airports

We route each shipment to the gateway closest to its delivery address, which keeps inland trucking short.

• West Coast: Los Angeles and Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma
• East Coast: New York and New Jersey, Savannah
• Gulf: Houston
• Inland: Chicago and other rail hubs, by rail from the West Coast
• Air: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and New York JFK

From the port or airport we deliver by truck to your warehouse, store or home, with a liftgate where there is no loading dock. In New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia our own team can make the final delivery.

US customs: what every importer needs to know

Importing from China means dealing with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). We coordinate the paperwork with a licensed US customs broker, but these rules apply to every shipment, and it pays to know them before you buy.

• Importer of record. Every shipment needs an importer of record, usually your business, identified by its EIN. If you have never imported, the importer number is registered on CBP Form 5106 as part of your first entry.
• Customs bond. Formal entries need a customs bond. A single-entry bond covers one shipment. A continuous bond covers a year of imports and suits regular importers.
• Importer Security Filing (ISF or 10+2). For ocean cargo, CBP requires the ISF at least 24 hours before the goods are loaded onto the vessel in China. A late or missing ISF can bring penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, so we collect your supplier details early.
• Formal entry. Commercial shipments valued over $2,500 need a formal entry. The low-value duty-free exemption (de minimis) no longer covers commercial shipments from China, so plan on paying duty whatever the value.
• Duties and tariffs. Goods from China pay the regular duty for their tariff (HTS) code plus Section 301 tariffs. These rates changed several times in 2025 and 2026, including after the Supreme Court's February 2026 ruling on IEEPA tariffs. We confirm the current rate for your product's HTS code when we quote, and show it on its own line.
• Country of origin marking. US rules require most imported goods and their cartons to be marked with the country of origin, for example "Made in China". We check the marks before your cargo leaves.
• Other agencies. Some products need more than a customs entry. Food and cosmetics fall under the FDA, children's products need a Children's Product Certificate for the CPSC, and many electronics need FCC compliance. Tell us what you are importing and we will flag what applies.

Protected before it leaves China

The most expensive problems in importing are found after the goods arrive: short counts, wrong items, damaged cartons, missing marks. We catch them in China, while your supplier can still fix them.

• We confirm the supplier and the pickup address before collecting.
• Every carton is counted, measured, weighed and photographed at our consolidation warehouse.
• We check carton labels, origin marks and the packing list against the commercial invoice.
• Your cargo is sealed and tracked, and you get updates at each step.

What we ship from China to the USA

• Packaging and disposables: cups, food containers, bags, labels
• Apparel, textiles and footwear
• Home goods, furniture and decor
• Beauty and personal care supplies
• Electronics accessories and small appliances
• Machinery, tools and spare parts
• Wholesale and e-commerce inventory

Lithium batteries and other dangerous goods ship under special rules, and counterfeit or trademark-infringing goods are seized by CBP, so we review every product list before booking.

How it works

1. Send us your supplier's city, the product, carton count, carton size and weight, and the delivery ZIP code.
2. We send one written quote: pickup in China, export clearance, freight, US customs entry and delivery, with estimated duties shown separately. It is paid in full before the cargo ships.
3. We collect from your supplier, then count, measure, photograph and check every carton.
4. We file the export documents in China and the ISF in the US.
5. Your cargo sails or flies. We confirm the vessel or flight and the estimated arrival when it leaves.
6. The customs entry is filed and duties are paid to CBP.
7. We deliver to your door and send proof of delivery.

What your quote covers

Included: pickup from your supplier in China, cargo checks and photos, export clearance, ocean or air freight, US customs entry coordination and delivery to your address.

Not included unless listed: US duties, tariffs and taxes, which the importer pays to CBP; a customs bond if you do not already have one; CBP exam fees if your cargo is selected for inspection; and storage if cargo is not collected or cleared on time.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay tariffs on goods from China?

Yes. Commercial shipments from China pay regular duty plus Section 301 tariffs, whatever their value. Rates depend on the product's HTS code and have changed often, so we confirm the current rate when we quote.

Should I ship by sea or by air?

Sea is far cheaper for anything heavy or bulky and suits planned restocks. Air makes sense for urgent orders, samples and small, high-value goods. We can quote both so you can compare.

Do I need a customs bond?

Yes, for formal entries, which covers most commercial shipments from China. A single-entry bond is fine for an occasional shipment. If you import several times a year, a continuous bond usually costs less.

Can you deliver anywhere in the United States?

Yes, to any address in the lower 48 states, including warehouses, stores and homes. Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico are quoted on request.

Can you buy from Chinese suppliers for me?

Yes. We can place orders with suppliers on platforms such as 1688 and Alibaba within each seller's limits, check the goods, consolidate them and ship them to you.

What do you need from me to quote?

The product, the supplier's city, carton count, carton size and weight, the delivery ZIP code and the value of the goods. If you have the commercial invoice and packing list, send them too.

Ready to move your next order? Request a written China to USA quote, or open a business account if you import regularly.