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New Tariffs Started Today: What Importers from China, South Korea and Vietnam Will Actually Pay

New Section 301 Tariffs Effective July 24, 2026: China, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam Explained Beginning July 24, 2026, the United States imposed new Section 301 tariffs on imports from 60 economies in response to their forced-labor import policies. Depending on the country, covered merchandise is subject to a 10% or 12.5% tariff, with certain products exempted. However, the new tariff does not calculate the same way for every country. NEW TARIFFS EFFECTIVE JULY 24, 2026 China: +12.5% South Korea: 12.5% minimum combined rate Taiwan: 10% minimum combined rate Vietnam: +12.5% China: An Additional 12.5% For covered products from China, the new tariff is an additional 12.5% . This means it may stack on top of: The product’s regular customs duty Existing China Section 301 tariffs Antidumping or countervailing duties Other applicable trade-remedy duties For example: Duty type Rate Normal customs duty 5% Existing China Section 301 7.5% - 25% New Section 301 tariff 12.5% Total du...

How to Import Clothing From China to the USA: Shipping, Duties, Documents & Labeling

Importing clothing from China is not difficult because the cargo is physically hard to move. It becomes difficult when the shipment reaches the United States and someone realizes: The invoice only says “clothing” The fiber content was never confirmed Nobody knows whether the garments are knit or woven The country-of-origin labels are wrong The carton dimensions were estimates The customs broker received the documents after the vessel departed The importer budgeted for freight but not duties and destination charges Most expensive apparel-importing problems begin before the cargo leaves China . The good news is that these problems are usually preventable. Before booking a clothing shipment, make sure you can answer six basic questions: What exactly is each garment? Is it knit or woven? What is the fiber content by percentage? Who is the clothing designed for? Are the required labels already attached correctly? What are the final carton dimensions, weight, and quantity? If you can answer ...

How to Ship Cosmetics from Korea to the USA: Air, LCL, FCL & Costs

If you are looking for one flat price to ship cosmetics from South Korea to the United States, you probably will not find an honest one. That is not because freight forwarders are trying to hide the price. It is because “a cosmetics shipment from Korea” could mean: Six cartons of skincare needed for a product launch Three pallets of masks and serums going to Los Angeles Twelve cubic meters of inventory going to Texas A full container being delivered to a distribution warehouse Perfume, aerosols, nail products, or other goods requiring additional transportation review Those shipments should not be priced—or routed—the same way. However, you can still estimate which shipping method will probably make sense, understand how the billable quantity is calculated, and identify whether a freight quote is complete. This guide will show you how. The Quick Answer For most commercial cosmetics shipments from South Korea, you will be comparing one of three options: Air Freight Usually worth consider...

IEEPA Duty Refund Guide for Importers

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Quick Summary To request an IEEPA refund, the importer generally needs to: Confirm the company has a CBP Form 5106 importer record. Open or access an ACE Portal Top Account. Confirm the ACE account has an Importer sub-account. Add ACH refund bank information in ACE. Identify eligible entries. Upload a CAPE Declaration CSV file through ACE. Monitor refund status in ACE reports. Step 1: Confirm You Are the Importer of Record The refund should generally be filed by: The Importer of Record, Customs Broker, freight agent, or any third party with a power of attorney. Before starting, gather: Legal company name EIN or importer number CBP Form 5106 information ( here  or ask your customs broker to update ) ACE Portal login email, if already created Entry numbers Entry dates Liquidation dates Amount of IEEPA duties paid Broker/filer information U.S. bank account information for ACH refunds Important: the entry filing date is not the same as the liquidation date. CAPE eligibility depends hea...

CPSC eFiling for Apparel Imports After July 8, 2026: What Importers Should Prepare

CPSC eFiling for Apparel Imports: What Importers Need to Know Before July 8, 2026 If you import garments, apparel, socks, footwear, or other textile products into the United States, there is an important compliance change coming. Starting July 8, 2026 , CPSC eFiling becomes mandatory for most imported regulated consumer products that require a CPSC certificate. For apparel importers, this means certain certificate data may need to be filed electronically through CBP’s ACE system at the time of customs entry. For many importers, the confusing part is that not every garment is treated the same. Some adult apparel may be exempt from testing or certificate requirements, while other garments may require flame test records, manufacturer information, and certificate data. At Cargo Bridge, we help importers review these details before cargo moves so the clearance process is smoother when the shipment reaches the United States. What Is CPSC eFiling? CPSC stands for the U.S. Consumer Product Saf...