Two separate US filings run in parallel before a China-origin container is allowed on board: the Automated Manifest System (AMS) cargo declaration, and the Importer Security Filing (ISF 10+2). Both are due 24 hours before the vessel loads at the Chinese port, but they are filed by different parties and they fail for different reasons. AMS is a carrier or NVOCC obligation; ISF is an importer obligation, and the penalty for getting it wrong lands on the importer of record.
ChinaShippingZ moves cargo for importers in 80+ countries across 100+ destination ports, working with partner agents in 30+ countries (as of October 2026). We book USA cargo out of Shenzhen (Yantian), Ningbo and Shanghai, and customs documentation on the destination side is handled by our brokerage partners. What we can control from China is the part that most delays are caused by: getting the ten ISF data elements collected and consistent before the cut-off, rather than discovering a mismatch after the vessel has sailed.
ISF 10+2: The Ten Data Elements You Must Supply
“10+2” describes the split of responsibility: the importer supplies ten data elements, the carrier supplies two (the vessel stow plan and container status messages). The ten importer elements are below, and they must be complete and accurate — not merely filed — before the 24-hour cut-off.
| # | ISF data element | Who holds it | Where it usually goes wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturer (or supplier) — full name and address | Chinese factory | Trading company name given instead of the actual manufacturing entity. |
| 2 | Seller (shipper) — full name and address | Exporter of record in China | Differs from the commercial invoice seller, triggering a data mismatch. |
| 3 | Buyer (importer of record) — full name and EIN / TIN | US importer | EIN missing or belonging to a different legal entity than the one bonding the entry. |
| 4 | Consignee — full name and US delivery address | US importer / 3PL | Final warehouse address not yet known at time of filing. |
| 5 | Container stuffing location | Factory or CFS operator | Address of the forwarder's warehouse given when cargo was actually stuffed at the factory. |
| 6 | Consolidator (stuffer) — full name and address | LCL consolidator | Left blank on FCL shipments where the factory stuffed the container itself. |
| 7 | 10-digit HTSUS code, per product line | Broker with the importer | Six-digit HS code submitted; the US requires the full ten digits. |
| 8 | Gross weight | Factory / forwarder | Estimated weight filed, then corrected after weighing — correction is itself a violation. |
| 9 | Container number | Carrier | Equipment substituted after the filing was transmitted and accepted. |
| 10 | Seal number | Carrier / stuffing location | Seal changed at the terminal and never updated in the filing. |
ISF and AMS Timeline: What Happens When
| Checkpoint | Action | Consequence if missed |
|---|---|---|
| T−7 days | All ten ISF data elements collected from the factory, the seller and the importer, and checked against the commercial invoice and packing list | Not a regulatory deadline, but the practical point after which a rejection can no longer be cured before loading. |
| T−48 to T−72 hours | Broker transmits the filing through ABI; CBP returns an accepted or rejected transaction response | A rejection returned this late leaves little or no room to re-file before cut-off. |
| T−24 hours | Statutory deadline — ISF must be filed and accepted 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port. AMS is due on the same clock. | USD 5,000 per violation, capped at USD 10,000 per shipment. Cargo can also be held — a “do not load” message stops the container at origin. |
| T−0 | Vessel loading at Shenzhen (Yantian), Ningbo or Shanghai | No further ISF correction is possible without a separate amendment filing. |
| T+14 to T+18 days | Arrival at the US discharge port; CBP cross-checks the ISF against the carrier manifest and the entry | Discrepancies between the three data sets are a common trigger for an exam hold. |
| T+15 to T+20 days | Entry summary filed on CBP Form 7501 and estimated duty paid | Late entry summary incurs interest and can delay release of the cargo. |
| T+314 days | Post-entry amendment window closes | After this point the entry liquidates at the value, classification and duty already on file, and recovering an overpayment requires a protest. |
Day counts are port-to-port planning references for China → US West Coast services as of and exclude origin clearance, discharge and customs clearance. Confirm the post-entry amendment window with your broker before relying on it. Source: CBP — Automated Systems.
HTSUS Classification: Why Ten Digits, and What a Wrong Code Costs
The United States classifies goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which runs to 10 digits against the 6-digit HS code used internationally. The extra four digits are what determine the actual duty rate, so a classification copied from an EU or Chinese declaration is not a US classification.
Section 301 duties sit on top of the ordinary duty rate for China-origin goods. The rate is not a single number: it varies by HTSUS subheading and is revised by the U.S. Trade Representative. A commonly misremembered figure is a flat 25% when the rate actually applying to a given subheading may be lower or higher. Verify the current rate against the USTR Section 301 tariff action list for your specific HTSUS code — do not budget against a remembered headline number.
Customs Bond, Entry Threshold and Exam Codes
Customs bond: single entry vs continuous
| Bond type | Covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Single Entry Bond (SEB) | One shipment, one entry, at one port | Occasional importers, or a one-off shipment where no continuous bond exists. |
| Continuous Bond (CB) | All entries made by the importer over a twelve-month period, at any port | Any importer shipping more than a few times a year — the annual premium is normally lower than the accumulated single bond cost. |
A bond is required for a formal entry. The practical dividing line is consignment value: shipments valued at USD 2,500 or less can generally be entered as an informal entry with a simplified process, while anything above that threshold requires a formal entry supported by a bond and a full entry summary. Certain goods — including anything subject to a partner government agency requirement — require a formal entry regardless of value.
CBP exam codes 5H and 9H
| Code | What CBP does | What it means for your timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 5H | Intensive examination. Physical devanning of the container plus a document review — goods are counted, weighed and compared against the invoice, packing list and entry. | The slowest of the two. Adds days for the devan, the exam itself and re-stuffing; terminal exam fees and per diem accrue while the container sits. |
| 9H | Document-only review. No physical exam; CBP reviews the entry package, typically focusing on whether the importer of record is genuine and correctly identified. | Faster than 5H, but release waits on document production. Incomplete importer documentation is the usual reason a 9H hold is extended. |
Neither code implies wrongdoing on its own, and neither can be “requested” or cleared by the forwarder: the exam is CBP's decision and the broker responds to it. What reduces exposure is data consistency — the ISF, the carrier manifest and the entry should describe the same goods, the same parties and the same weights.
Product Certification: Agencies Beyond CBP
CBP clears the entry; it does not certify the product. A shipment can pass CBP and still be inadmissible because a partner government agency requirement was not met. The table below maps the recurring categories for China-origin consumer and industrial goods.
| Product category | Agency | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics, chargers, and any device emitting radio frequency energy | Federal Communications Commission (FCC) | Equipment authorisation and labelling under FCC rules for radio frequency devices. |
| Children's products, toys, children's apparel | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) | Children's Product Certificate (CPC) based on third-party testing, plus a permanent tracking label on the product and packaging. |
| Engines, generators, off-road and on-road machinery | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | EPA compliance documentation and conformity labelling for non-road and highway engines. |
| All textiles and apparel | CBP (country-of-origin marking, 19 U.S.C. 1304) | Permanent, legible “Made in China” label sewn into the garment, not a removable hangtag. |
| Wooden pallets, crates and dunnage | USDA APHIS (ISPM 15) | IPPC heat-treatment or fumigation stamp visible on the wood. Unmarked wood is refused entry or requires treatment at destination. |
| Lithium batteries shipped by air | IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations / PHMSA | UN 38.3 test report plus an MSDS; state of charge at or below 30% for air shipments of cells and batteries alone. |
| Food, cosmetics, medical devices, dietary supplements | Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | Prior notice for food, plus registration and product listing requirements that vary by category. |
Customs documentation on the destination side is handled by our brokerage partners. On the China side we check the commercial invoice, packing list and ISF data set against each other before the cut-off, because a mismatch between them is what triggers a 5H or 9H hold rather than a clean release.
Freight Rates from China to the USA
Contact us for current rates. We do not publish fixed rates for the trans-Pacific lanes: space, peak-season surcharges, bunker costs and carrier routing move week by week, and a rate quoted without a confirmed sailing is not a figure you can plan inventory against. Send us the commodity, HTSUS code, container type, origin port and cargo-ready date and we will return an all-in figure with the routing and transit estimate stated in writing.
Importing from China into the USA?
Tell us the commodity, HTSUS code, container type, origin port and cargo-ready date. We will confirm routing, transit estimate, the ISF cut-off for that sailing and the surcharge stack in writing before you commit space.
WeChat ID: kenvincheung · Telephone: +86 189 2415 5660 · Monday–Sunday 09:00–19:00 (UTC+8)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long before loading must an ISF 10+2 be filed for a China to USA shipment?
An Importer Security Filing must be transmitted and accepted by CBP at least 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port, which in practice means your data has to reach the filer three to four days before the cut-off to leave room for a rejection and re-transmission. The carrier’s AMS declaration runs on the same 24-hour clock but is the carrier’s obligation, not yours.
What is the penalty for a late or inaccurate ISF filing?
CBP assesses liquidated damages of USD 5,000 per violation for a late, incomplete or inaccurate Importer Security Filing, capped at USD 10,000 per shipment, and the exposure attaches whether the filing is late, incomplete or inaccurate, not only when nothing is filed at all. Separately, CBP can issue a do-not-load message that stops the container at the origin port.
What happens if I use the wrong 10-digit HTSUS code on a US import?
A wrong 10-digit HTSUS code exposes you to back duties on underpaid entries plus civil penalties under 19 U.S.C. 1592, which are assessed by culpability tier — negligence, gross negligence and fraud — rather than as a single fixed percentage of value, so have the classification confirmed by a licensed customs broker. The US requires ten digits, not the six-digit international HS code.
Do I need a customs bond to import from China into the USA?
Every formal entry into the United States must be supported by a customs bond, either a single entry bond covering one shipment or a continuous bond covering all entries made over twelve months, and the continuous bond is normally cheaper once you import more than a handful of times a year. Shipments valued at USD 2,500 or less may qualify for a simplified informal entry.
What does CBP exam code 5H or 9H mean on my container?
Code 5H means CBP is conducting an intensive examination — the container is physically devanned and the documents are checked against the goods — while code 9H is a document-only review that typically focuses on verifying the identity and validity of the importer of record. Neither implies wrongdoing, but both add days and terminal cost to your clearance.
Which US agencies regulate my product besides CBP?
Aside from CBP, the agencies that most often apply to China-origin consumer goods are the FCC for electronics that emit radio frequency energy, the CPSC for children’s products, the EPA for engines and generators, and the FDA for food, cosmetics and medical devices. Each can hold a shipment independently of whether CBP has accepted the entry.
How long do I have to correct a US customs entry after clearance?
CBP’s post-entry amendment window is commonly cited as 314 days from the date of entry, during which a broker can file a post-entry amendment or a protest to correct the declared value, classification or duty paid, after which the entry is liquidated at the figures already filed. Confirm the exact window with your broker before relying on it.
Do you publish fixed freight rates from China to the USA?
No — contact us for current rates, because space, surcharges and carrier routing on the trans-Pacific lanes move week by week and a rate quoted without a confirmed sailing is not a figure you can plan inventory against, so we quote per shipment with the routing and transit estimate stated in writing. Send us the commodity, HTSUS code, container type, origin port and cargo-ready date and we will return an all-in figure.
About this page. Regulatory steps and figures on this page are planning references compiled from public agency sources, not legal advice. They were checked against CBP, USITC, USTR and the Federal Maritime Commission, current as of . Verify current requirements against the sources above before shipping. Penalty amounts, tariff rates and certification scope vary by commodity, HTSUS code and entry type, and are confirmed by a licensed customs broker per shipment — request a fixed quote before booking.
References
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Basic Import and Export
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Automated Systems (ACE)
- U.S. International Trade Commission — Harmonized Tariff Schedule
- Office of the United States Trade Representative — Section 301 Tariff Actions
- Federal Maritime Commission — Bureau of Certification and Licensing
- Federal Communications Commission
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- International Trade Administration — Know Your Incoterms
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