Import Intelligence Library
Learn how to reduce your import costs
Practical guides on HTS classification, Section 301 tariffs, freight benchmarking, and IEEPA refund eligibility — written for operators, not lawyers.
How to Import from China to the US: Step-by-Step Guide for Amazon Sellers
From finding suppliers on Alibaba and 1688 to clearing customs at the port — a practical walkthrough of the full import process, including HTS classification, duties, and the shipping timeline.
HTS Code Classification Guide: How to Find the Right Tariff Code
A plain-English guide to 10-digit HTS codes — the structure, General Rules of Interpretation, how to verify codes via USITC, and the most common classification mistakes importers make.
US Customs Duty Rates Explained: How Import Tariffs Work
How duty rates are set, MFN vs special rates, ad valorem vs specific vs compound duties, how to read the HTS rate column, and real rate examples across common product categories.
China to US Tariffs in 2026: Complete Rate Guide for Importers
Current MFN rates, Section 301 tariff overlay (Lists 1–4), IEEPA tariffs, total effective rate by product category, and how to check your exposure with lgistics.ai.
How to Calculate Import Duties: A Complete Guide for US Importers
The exact formula for calculating US import duties — MFN base rate, Section 301 stacking, MPF, HMF, and how to build a landed cost model that actually reflects what you'll owe.
Section 301 Tariffs Explained: Complete Guide for Amazon Sellers (2026)
Lists 1–4A, current rates, which products are affected, and how to legally reduce your Section 301 exposure through HTS reclassification.
Amazon FBA Import Duties: The Complete Seller's Guide
FBA-specific import flow, IOR requirements, duty payment timing, common classification mistakes FBA sellers make, and how to reconcile duty costs against your Seller Central data.
Do You Need a Customs Broker? When to Hire One vs. DIY
What licensed customs brokers do, what they cost ($150–$500 per entry), when you legally need one, and how to reduce your dependence on them for classification decisions.
CBP Rulings: How to Use the CROSS Database to Classify Your Products
What CBP rulings are, how to search the CROSS database for HTS classification precedents, and how to use ruling citations to build a defensible position in a CBP audit.
Complete Guide to Import Freight Costs: Ocean, Drayage, Trucking & Warehousing
Every leg of the US import supply chain explained — with real cost benchmarks for FCL, LCL, drayage, FTL, LTL, and 3PL warehousing, plus where importers most commonly overpay.
IEEPA Tariff Refunds: How to File for Overpaid Import Duties
Who qualifies for IEEPA duty refunds, how the CBP protest process works, what documentation you need, the 180-day deadline, and how to calculate your potential refund.
Reciprocal Tariffs 2025–2026: What Importers Need to Know
Which countries are subject to reciprocal tariffs, how they stack with Section 301, current rates, product exemptions, and the strategic responses importers should consider now.
Tariff Engineering: Legal Ways to Reduce Your Import Duty Rate
How importers legally reduce duty rates through product design, import structure, and supply chain decisions — with the GRI rules that support each technique and real savings examples.
Country of Origin Rules: How They Affect Your Import Duties
The substantial transformation test, USMCA preferential origin, transshipment risks, marking requirements, and why origin is now one of the most consequential decisions in your landed cost model.
Bonded Warehouses: How to Defer Import Duties and Reduce Costs
What bonded warehouses and FTZs are, how duty deferral works, when re-export eliminates duties entirely, the compliance requirements, and when the economics actually make sense for ecommerce importers.
Entry Summary (CF 7501): Line-by-Line Breakdown for Importers
Every field on CBP Form 7501 explained — common errors in each section, how to reconcile against your invoices, what to check before your broker files, and how to catch classification mistakes.
De Minimis Threshold: When You Don't Have to Pay Import Duties
How the US $800 de minimis exemption works, Section 321 entries, T86 vs T11 entry types, recent changes and political pressure to lower the threshold, and what it means for ecommerce sellers.
First Sale Rule: How to Lower Your Customs Value Legally
When your supply chain has a middleman, you can declare customs value at the factory price. What the first sale rule is, when it applies, documentation requirements, and real savings examples.
Customs Bonds: Single Entry vs Continuous Bond for Importers
What a customs bond is, when it's required for $2,500+ shipments, single entry ($50–100) vs continuous ($500–1000/yr) cost comparison, how to get bonded, and common mistakes importers make.
How to Calculate Landed Cost: The Complete Formula for Importers
The complete landed cost formula — product cost, freight, insurance, duties, Section 301 tariffs, MPF, HMF, drayage, and broker fees. Includes a line-by-line breakdown table and benchmarks by product category.
HS Code vs HTS Code: What's the Difference and Why It Matters
HS codes are international 6-digit codes. HTS codes are US-specific 10-digit codes. The last 4 digits determine your actual US duty rate — here's why that distinction matters and why supplier codes aren't enough.
Anti-Dumping & Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD): The Complete Importer's Guide
AD/CVD orders can add 200%+ to your landed cost, apply retroactively, and be billed years later. How the system works, how to check if your product is covered, cash deposits, reviews, evasion risk, and how importers protect themselves.
Anti-Dumping vs Countervailing Duties: What's the Difference?
AD targets unfair pricing; CVD offsets foreign government subsidies. A clear side-by-side of what each duty targets, how they're calculated, and why one product often carries both at the same time.
How to Check If Your Product Has AD/CVD Duties
A step-by-step process to screen any product for anti-dumping and countervailing exposure — using HTS code, country of origin, CBP's AD/CVD search, the Commerce ACCESS portal, the ITC, and the order's written scope.
Anti-Dumping Duty Rates: How They're Set & Why They Vary
Why the same product from the same country can carry a single-digit rate for one factory and 300%+ for another. How Commerce calculates the dumping margin, company-specific vs country-wide rates, AFA, and annual reviews.
AD/CVD Scope Rulings: Is Your Product Covered by an Order?
An AD/CVD order is defined by its written scope, not just an HTS code. What a scope ruling is, when to request one from Commerce, how the process works, and how to build a defensible position on coverage.
Freight Forwarder vs Customs Broker: Which Do You Need?
Freight forwarders move cargo. Customs brokers file entry documents. Most Amazon sellers need both — here's how to tell them apart, what to pay, what to ask, and the red flags that cost importers money.
Import Compliance Checklist: 15 Things Every US Importer Must Do
From ISF filing and customs bonds to 5-year record retention and CBP protest rights — a practical compliance checklist for US ecommerce importers you can actually use.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS): How to Read and Use It
How to navigate the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule — sections, chapters, headings, subheadings, Column 1 vs Column 2 rates, Chapter 99 overlays for Section 301, and special program indicators.
Section 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum: Current Rates and Impact
Section 232 tariffs impose 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum from most countries — separate from Section 301. Which HTS codes are covered, country exemptions, downstream products, and the exclusion process.
Duty Drawback: How to Recover Import Duties on Re-Exported Goods
Duty drawback lets you recover 99% of import duties on goods that are re-exported or destroyed. Most ecommerce sellers don't know it exists. Here's how the three drawback types work and how to file.
Incoterms Explained: FOB, CIF, EXW, DDP and What They Mean for Importers
Your incoterm determines who pays for freight, who bears transit risk, and what goes into your customs value — and therefore your duties. A plain-English guide to the terms that matter for Amazon sellers.
10 HTS Classification Mistakes That Cost Importers Thousands
The 10 most common HTS classification errors — using 'other' codes, classifying by material, trusting supplier codes, missing Section 301 exposure, and more. With real-world examples and how to audit your own codes.
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