How to Export Taiwan Products to USA 2025 — Step-by-Step

Step 1: Determine Your HTS Code and Duty Rate

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code is a 10-digit number that classifies your product for US customs. It determines your import duty rate and what regulations apply to your product.

Find your HTS code using the US International Trade Commission's HTS database at hts.usitc.gov. Search by product description. When you identify the right code, the page shows the duty rate and any special conditions.

Good news for Taiwan exporters: The US-Taiwan trade relationship is positive, and many product categories from Taiwan have 0% duty under the US General Notes provisions. Electronics components and many manufactured goods from Taiwan enter duty-free. Categories with duties (typically 3–7.5%) include certain apparel, footwear, and some consumer goods.

Get the classification confirmed by a licensed US customs broker before your first shipment. Misclassification can result in back-duties plus penalties.

Step 2: Choose Your Freight Method

Air freight (DHL, FedEx, UPS): 3–7 days Taiwan to US. Cost: approximately $5–12/kg. Best for: first shipments to test the market, emergency restocking, small high-value items. A 50kg shipment costs approximately $400–600.

Sea freight LCL (Less-than-Container Load): 25–40 days door-to-door. Cost: approximately $150–300/CBM (cubic meter) plus port fees and customs. Best for: shipments under 10 CBM. A typical Amazon FBA shipment of 500 units of a small product is usually 1–3 CBM, costing $400–700 total landed.

Sea freight FCL (Full Container Load): 20–35 days. A 20-foot container costs $1,200–2,000 (Taiwan to US West Coast) plus destination fees. Best for: 15+ CBM of goods — typically 3,000+ units of a standard product.

For most first-time Taiwan exporters sending to Amazon FBA, LCL sea freight strikes the best balance of cost and speed.

Step 3: Work with a Freight Forwarder and Customs Broker

A freight forwarder manages the logistics chain: booking space on ships/aircraft, arranging pickup from your Taiwan factory, preparing export documents (commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin), and coordinating delivery to Amazon warehouses.

A US customs broker handles the import side: filing the entry with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), paying duties on your behalf, and releasing the cargo from the port.

Many freight forwarders offer both services as a bundled "door-to-door" shipment. For Amazon FBA specifically, choose a forwarder experienced with Amazon delivery appointments — Amazon warehouses have strict scheduling requirements and will reject shipments that arrive without a pre-scheduled appointment.

Required documents for every US-bound shipment: Commercial Invoice (seller name, buyer name, product description, unit price, total value, Incoterms), Packing List (unit counts, carton dimensions, weights), Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, and Certificate of Origin (proving goods are from Taiwan, sometimes required for duty preference).

Step 4: CBP Entry and Customs Clearance

For shipments valued under $2,500, a "Section 321" informal entry is filed — fast, low paperwork, no formal bond required. Most small FBA test shipments qualify.

For shipments over $2,500, a formal entry is required. Your customs broker files an "Entry Summary" (CBP Form 7501) with the full product description, HTS code, declared value, and calculated duties. A Customs Bond is required — your broker can arrange a single-entry bond ($50–100) or annual bond ($400+) if you import regularly.

CBP may select your shipment for examination. This adds 3–7 days and costs $100–500 in exam fees. It is random and cannot be avoided, but reputable freight forwarders with accurate documentation have lower examination rates.

Once cleared, your broker releases the cargo to the delivery driver for transport to the Amazon fulfillment center.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to import a small shipment from Taiwan to the US?

For a typical first FBA shipment of 500 units weighing 200kg and occupying 1.5 CBM: Taiwan export trucking ($80) + sea freight LCL ($250) + US destination charges ($200) + customs broker fee ($150) + import duty (0–7.5% of cargo value) = approximately $750–1,000 total shipping and customs cost.

What is the import duty rate for Taiwan products entering the US?

It varies significantly by HTS code. Many manufactured goods from Taiwan enter at 0% duty. Others pay 3–7.5%. A few categories (certain apparel, shoes) can be higher. Use the USITC HTS database at hts.usitc.gov to look up your specific product code before calculating your cost structure.

Do I need an import license to bring goods from Taiwan to the US?

For most consumer products, no import license is required. However, certain product categories do require permits or registrations: food products and supplements (FDA facility registration), medical devices (FDA 510k or similar), and controlled substances. Your customs broker can advise on whether your specific product requires any pre-import registration.