US customs and importer readiness
Prepare the importer, bond, classification and customs handoff before FBA inventory leaves China.
Review a shipmentImporter, broker, commercial data and warehouse delivery must describe one legitimate transaction.
This page is planning information, not legal or tax advice. Verify current requirements with the importer and appointed broker.
- Name the legal importer
- Confirm broker authority and bond
- Review HTS and Section 301
- Check product-agency requirements
- Match entry data to delivery records
Unverified customs facts do not enter an automated shipment plan.
Time-sensitive guidance must retain official sources, a review date and a visible change log.
US importer readiness workbook for marketplace inventory
This page is for sellers and importing entities preparing China-origin commercial inventory for lawful entry into the United States and delivery to FBA or a 3PL.
A US importer of record for Amazon FBA inventory must exercise reasonable care over classification, value, origin, admissibility and entry records. Establish the importing entity, broker authority and customs bond before departure; the fulfillment warehouse should not be assumed to perform these duties.
Reviewed 11 August 2026. Shipment-specific confirmation is required before booking.Build the plan from confirmed inputs.
- Importer
- Entity responsible for the accuracy and compliance of the entry
- Broker
- Authorized filer and customs representative
- Bond
- Single-entry or continuous structure confirmed for the shipment
- Evidence
- HTS rationale, value, origin and agency documents
Name the importer before booking
The importer must be connected to the legitimate transaction and able to maintain records, answer customs questions and pay required duties and fees. Do not use the FBA destination as a substitute for this role.
Document the importing entity's legal name, identifier, address and broker authority. If a third party offers an importer service, review the contract, transaction flow and legal suitability with qualified advisers.
Authorize the broker and customs bond
The broker needs authority from the importer and sufficient product and transaction data before filing. Discuss whether the shipment uses a single-entry or continuous bond and whether additional bond conditions apply.
A broker filing is not a transfer of importer responsibility. The importer should review classifications, values, origins, duty assumptions and entry records under a reasonable-care process.
Review HTS and Section 301
Classify the actual product by material, function and use under the current Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Marketplace categories and supplier codes are not classification evidence.
For China-origin goods, check current Chapter 99 and Section 301 measures through USITC, USTR and CBP sources. Record the source date and broker confirmation because tariff actions and exclusions can change.
Check product-agency requirements
Food, cosmetics, medical devices, electronics, chemicals, textiles, wood products and other categories can involve agencies beyond CBP. Identify the product's composition, claims and intended use before transport.
Carrier acceptance and marketplace acceptance are separate from customs admissibility. Resolve batteries and restricted goods before booking and keep the evidence with the shipment file.
Retain and reconcile entry records
Keep commercial documents, transport records, broker communications, entry summaries, duty support and product evidence under the importer's retention process. Match entry quantities and values to the physical shipment.
After customs release, connect the entry record to final delivery and receiving. Investigate shortages, damage or data differences while evidence remains available and correct future processes without silently rewriting history.
Questions to resolve before release.
Answers are planning guidance. Current carrier, customs, tax, product and receiving rules still require shipment-specific confirmation.
Can Amazon be importer of record for FBA shipments?
Do not assume Amazon or a fulfillment center performs the importer role. Establish the importer independently and follow current marketplace guidance.
Does the customs broker become responsible for the entry?
The broker has professional duties, but the importer remains responsible for reasonable care and accurate information. Review the filed data.
Do all China-origin products pay Section 301 duties?
No. Treatment depends on current classification and measures. Check official US sources and the appointed broker for the actual product.
What is a customs bond?
A customs bond supports obligations to CBP. The importer and broker should determine the appropriate bond structure and amount for the entry activity.
Define what a successful warehouse handoff means.
Send the receiving destination, product, finished load data, factory release date and required check-in window.
Build the brief