Customs Clearance in United States
Import entries into United States are administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Cargo typically sits 2–5 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — United States
| Customs authority | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | No federal VAT; duties vary by HTS code (often 0–6.5% for general goods) |
| De-minimis | USD 800 |
| Certification | FCC for radio devices; FDA Prior Notice for food/supplements |
| Typical port dwell | 2–5 days |
| Sea gateways | Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/Newark, Savannah |
| Air gateways | LAX (Los Angeles), ORD (Chicago), JFK (New York) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way United States expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
Importer-of-record registration and tax IDs must be in place before arrival; several markets file the declaration pre-shipment.
We do not publish a duty table for United States because the rate that matters is the one on your heading, not the headline band. Send the commodity and specification and we will come back with the applicable rate and the certification it triggers.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in United States
Our entries in United States are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our United States clearance partner →Freight rates into United States
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- Ship Ningbo to New York — FCL Container Cost from China
- United States (ZIP 0,1,2,3,4) Ocean Freight Cost from China | ZIM / Hede – Door Delivery
- Ship Shanghai to Long Beach — FCL Container Cost from China
- United States (ZIP 5,6,7) Import Freight from China — Sea Cargo Rates
- Ship Shanghai to Oakland — FCL Container Cost from China
- United States (ZIP 5,6,7) Ocean Freight Cost from China | Matson Extra Voyage – Door Delivery
- Shipping a Container from Ningbo to Los Angeles: Cost & Transit
- United States (ZIP 5,6,7) Ocean Freight Cost from China | ZIM / Hede – Door Delivery
Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in United States?
Import entries are administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
How long does clearance take in United States?
Cargo typically sits 2–5 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in United States?
No federal VAT; duties vary by HTS code (often 0–6.5% for general goods) The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in United States that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in United States?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.