How to Import from China: Step-by-Step Guide

Importing from China starts with a verified supplier and a locked commercial baseline. What information do you have?

1. Supplier verified (factory visit, audit, or trusted reference) → proceed to RFQ with specs, MOQ, lead time, and named Incoterm.
2. Only marketplace contact → validate entity, export experience, and sample quality before large deposit.
3. Next operational step → classify at destination, book freight to your Incoterm point, and prepare import entry documents.
4. When to escalate → involve a licensed import broker when product controls, food/cosmetic rules, or anti-dumping questions appear.

• First-time import of this product category
• New supplier or Incoterms change
• Bank or buyer requests additional proof documents

### Electronics exporter compliance review A Shenzhen electronics firm shipping to Germany faced new documentation requirements.

**Outcome:** Updated commercial invoice fields before customs entry; avoided port hold.

**Lesson:** Align invoice data with latest customs pre-declaration fields before shipment.

### Buyer email negotiation on payment terms An importer requested 30-day open account; seller proposed confirmed L/C instead.

**Outcome:** Both parties agreed on 60-day usance L/C with third-party inspection clause.

**Lesson:** Use email templates to document payment term changes before production starts.

How to Import from China: Step-by-Step Guide is a core concept importers and exporters must understand for compliant cross-border trade.

Complete an internal document review before shipment to avoid port holds.

1. Issue an RFQ with identical specs and Incoterm to at least two suppliers for comparable quotes.
2. Build a landed-cost worksheet adding freight, insurance, duty estimate, and local delivery to the unit price.
3. Confirm HS code and import requirements in your home market before signing the PI.
4. Use Trade31 import workflow tools to track RFQ, PI verification, and landed-cost comparison in one place.