Shipping from China to Arima
China โ Arima ยท via POS air / Port of Spain sea ยท clearance by Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago
We move freight cargo from South China into Arima through POS air / Port of Spain sea. Arima is eastern regional center, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
The clearing authority is Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago. Historical dwell on this gateway is around 4โ10 days, and it lengthens in SepโNov.
Duty, tax and clearance into Arima
Imports into Trinidad and Tobago are cleared by Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago. The headline position is: VAT 12.5%; CARICOM common external tariff 0โ20%. The de-minimis threshold is No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: TTBS conformity for regulated goods; import license for controlled categories. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Trinidad and Tobago: Foreign-exchange access can delay settlement. CARICOM tariff treatment differs from the rates applied in Latin American neighbors. Import licenses apply to controlled goods.
Routing and transit on this lane
Trinidad is the industrial anchor of the southern Caribbean and a distribution point for the eastern islands. Asian cargo generally transships at Kingston, Caucedo or Cartagena. Foreign-exchange availability has been a recurring constraint for importers, which affects how quickly duty and supplier payments settle.
| Air gateways used | POS (Port of Spain) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 5โ8 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Port of Spain, Point Lisas |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 28โ36 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Arima | POS air / Port of Spain sea |
| Inland leg to Arima | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 4โ10 days |
| Peak season to plan around | SepโNov |
Before you book: Arima checklist
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: TTBS conformity for regulated goods; import license for controlled categories.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Arima.
- Confirm the consignee in Arima can act as importer of record โ Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Put the Arima delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure โ it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Trinidad and Tobago duty rate against it yourself.
Air, sea or overland into Arima?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| โ๏ธ Air Freight | 5โ8 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| ๐ข Sea Freight | 28โ36 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Trinidad and Tobago gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Arima and 4โ10 days of clearance.
Mode guides for Arima
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Arima take?
China to the Trinidad and Tobago gateway is 5โ8 business days by air, 28โ36 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 4โ10 days of clearance with Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago and a same-day inland leg to Arima.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Arima?
Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago applies: VAT 12.5%; CARICOM common external tariff 0โ20%. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Arima.
What certification do I need for Trinidad and Tobago?
For regulated goods, plan for: TTBS conformity for regulated goods; import license for controlled categories. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
What documents does Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (TTBS conformity for regulated goods; import license for controlled categories). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Which port or airport does cargo for Arima clear through?
Cargo for Arima is routed via POS air / Port of Spain sea. Sea gateways for Trinidad and Tobago are Port of Spain, Point Lisas; air gateways are POS (Port of Spain). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Arima?
Per kilo, yes โ usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 28โ36 calendar days by sea versus 5โ8 business days by air to the Trinidad and Tobago gateway, before clearance and the same-day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
Other delivery cities in Trinidad and Tobago
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Trinidad and Tobago change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling โ confirm the current position for your own HS code with Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago or your broker before you ship.
- Customs and Excise Division
- WTO โ Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IMO โ IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
- IATA โ Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965โ970)
- World Bank โ Logistics Performance Index
Page data last reviewed: 10 ๆ 2026.
Shipping by industry
This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending โ these guides cover that by commodity.
- Salon Furniture Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness
- Sheet Metal Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Compressors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Electrical Cabinets New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Flooring Building Materials & Construction Products
- Plastic Products Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Ceramic Tableware Glass & Ceramic Products
- Tableware Furniture & Home Products
- Display Stands Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Umbrellas Consumer Goods & Gifts
- Bearings Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Solar Panel New Energy, Power & Electrical
Checking the Trinidad and Tobago duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.
Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.
For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.
For a wider view of how importing into Trinidad and Tobago actually works โ documentation norms, inspection behavior, the paperwork that tends to hold shipments โ the U.S. ITA guide to Trinidad and Tobago customs regulations is a useful independent read alongside our own lane notes.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Arima. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
Ocean Freight 101 - What Is LCL Ocean Freight — Flexport. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.
Customs clearance in Trinidad and Tobago
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border โ plus who files the entry.
Trinidad and Tobago clearance requirements →