China
USA trade laneElectronics remain the signature import from China: consumer devices, smart-home products, LED lighting, small appliances, and the components behind all of them. The category's high value-to-weight ratio gives importers real modal choice — this is cargo where air freight is often genuinely affordable — and its regulatory surface (FCC, batteries, energy standards) is where preparation separates smooth entries from seized shipments.
AGF moves electronics both ways across the Pacific by air and ocean, with the compliance checks — FCC declarations, battery documentation, energy labeling — built into the booking process rather than discovered at the border.
How Electronics & Appliances Ships from China to USA
Mode choice is a real decision for electronics. High-value launches and replenishment fly (2–5 days door to door); steady-state inventory sails (3–4 weeks door to door) at a fraction of the cost. Many clients run both: the split-shipment strategy from our air-vs-ocean playbook.
Lithium batteries change the rules. Devices with lithium-ion cells ship under dangerous-goods provisions — UN38.3 test documentation, state-of-charge limits for air freight, proper marking and declaration. Non-compliant battery shipments get rejected at origin or, worse, fined at destination.
- Air for velocity and launches; ocean for baseline inventory — often both at once
- Lithium batteries: UN38.3 test summaries and DG-compliant packing are non-negotiable
- High-value cargo warrants all-risk insurance and, at volume, palletized secure loading
- Serial-number-level packing lists speed both customs and your own receiving
What Drives the Cost
- Mode split — the air/ocean ratio you run is the biggest cost lever
- Chargeable weight vs actual weight for air shipments
- Section 301 status — many electronics lines have been on and off exclusion lists
- Battery/DG surcharges and documentation
- Insurance premium on high-value loads
HS Codes and Duty Notes
Classification guidance only — duty rates change and depend on your exact product. Our licensed customs brokers verify every code before you commit to an order.
| HS Code | Products | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8471 / 8517 | Computers and networking / communication devices | Many core electronics lines are duty-free at base rate; Section 301 coverage varies by line and has changed repeatedly — check current status per 10-digit code. |
| 8518 / 8528 | Audio equipment / monitors and displays | Modest base rates; classification hinges on function and connectivity details. |
| 8509 / 8516 | Household appliances | Small appliances classify by function; energy-related standards (DOE) may apply alongside customs requirements. |
| 9405 | LED lighting and fixtures | A major China import line — FCC and DOE/Energy labeling considerations travel with it. |
Regulations and Compliance
FCC compliance
Any device with radio functions (WiFi, Bluetooth) or digital circuitry needs appropriate FCC authorization — certification for intentional radiators, Supplier's Declaration of Conformity for most others. Import declarations attest to this; selling non-compliant devices brings penalties well beyond customs.
Lithium battery rules
UN38.3 testing documentation, watt-hour limits, packing instructions, and carrier-specific rules govern battery shipments, especially by air. We pre-check every battery SKU's paperwork before booking.
DOE energy standards and labeling
Appliances, external power supplies, and lighting face federal efficiency standards and labeling requirements — a market-access issue to resolve during product development, not at the port.
Section 5 import safety (CPSC) for consumer products
Consumer electronics with child-appeal or specific hazards may need testing and a General Certificate of Conformity. Category-dependent — we flag it during classification.
Door-to-Door Import Service
From Shenzhen — the world's electronics capital and minutes from our Foshan office — we consolidate multiple suppliers, verify compliance documents, and ship by air or ocean to your 3PL, Amazon prep center, or warehouse, customs cleared and delivered on one invoice.
For e-commerce sellers, the post-de-minimis world makes bulk import plus US fulfillment the winning structure — we run exactly that pipeline, including storage and pick-pack through our warehousing partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I ship electronics from China by air or by sea?
Can I import devices with lithium batteries?
What happens if my product isn't FCC compliant?
Electronics & Appliances is just one example. AGF ships whatever your business moves — on this lane and beyond. If your commodity isn't covered by one of our guides, tell us what you ship and we'll build the logistics around it.
Textiles & Home Textiles from India