Category: Recommended Articles

Customs & Taxes When Importing from China: US, EU, UK, Australia & Canada

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 82 Comments

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Understanding import duties, port charges, VAT, and other taxes is crucial when importing products from China, especially in a time when trade tensions are at an all-time high. However, each country or market has its own import duty rates and customs value calculation methods.

In this article, we explain what every Importer must know about import duties, customs valuation methods, and other taxes when importing products to the following countries and regions.

  • United States
  • European Union
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom

Continue reading Customs & Taxes When Importing from China: US, EU, UK, Australia & Canada

BSCI and Sedex Audits in China: What Importers Must Know

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 35 Comments

BSCI Sedex audits in China

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Importers are facing more pressure from customers to ensure that their products are, at least to a certain extent, ethically produced.

However, actively monitoring working conditions in a country far away, costs millions of dollars. In other words, ensuring social compliance in China is out of reach for any company that’s not on the Fortune 500. That’s where BSCI and Sedex come in.

In this guide, we explain what importers must know about BSCI and Sedex audits, including rating systems, finding audited suppliers, and much more.

Overview

  • What is BSCI?
  • What is Sedex?
  • What does it mean when a supplier BSCI or Sedex audited?
  • Is it risky to buy from non-BSCI or SMETA audited suppliers?
  • Where can I find a sample BSCI or SMETA report?
  • How do I know if the audit report is valid and authentic?
  • How can I find BSCI or SMETA audited suppliers?
  • Can we find BSCI and SMETA audited suppliers on Alibaba?
  • Are BSCI and SMETA audits common among suppliers in China?
  • Can our company pay to make a supplier BSCI or Sedex certified?
  • How much does a BSCI or Sedex audit cost?
  • Why are not all suppliers BSCI or Sedex audited?
  • Can BSCI and SMETA audits be conducted in any industry?
  • Which companies offer BSCI audits in China?
  • Which companies offer Sedex SMETA audits in China?

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Permits and Licenses When Importing from Asia: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 3 Comments

Licenses and permits

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Importing certain types of products requires that you first obtain a permit or license. Failing to obtain the necessary permits and licenses can be disastrous, as it can result in your cargo being seized by the customs authorities.

Keep reading, and learn what you must know about import permits and licenses in the European Union, United States, Australia, and many other countries.

Continue reading Permits and Licenses When Importing from Asia: A Complete Guide

Payment Methods when Importing from China: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 49 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

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Asia Import Platform: General Products

About to pay a manufacturer in China? How and when you pay your supplier has a major impact on the outcome. If managed the right way, your payment method of choice can reduce the risk of scams, delays, and quality issues. In this guide, we explain what importers must know about bank transfers, letter of credit, supplier credit, and trade financing.

We also cover payment services, including PayPal, Alibaba Trade Assurance, Neat Commerce, and Payoneer.

Payment Method Overview

  • Telegraphic Transfer (T/T)
  • Letter of Credit (L/C)
  • Supplier Credit
  • International Trade Finance Services
  • Alibaba Trade Assurance
  • PayPal
  • Neat Commerce
  • Payoneer

FAQ

  • Payment terms
  • Payment scams
  • Currencies

Continue reading Payment Methods when Importing from China: A Complete Guide

How to Make Telegraphic Transfers (T/T) to Chinese Suppliers

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 48 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

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Asia Import Platform: General Products

Telegraphic Transfer (T/T) is the most common way to pay manufacturers in China, and elsewhere in Asia. That said, Telegraphic Transfers are irreversible once the payment is made, and the bank is not responsible for ensuring that you don’t get scammed or pay to the wrong account.

In this guide, we explain what can go wrong when paying Chinese suppliers by Telegraphic Transfer, and what you can do to prevent common issues.

Overview

  • Bank account details
  • Paying the right company
  • Payment fraud risks
  • Transaction fees
  • Payment records and documents
  • Using Wise.com
  • Paying using a Hong Kong account
  • Alibaba telegraphic transfer options

Continue reading How to Make Telegraphic Transfers (T/T) to Chinese Suppliers

List of Quality Control and Inspection Companies in China

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 44 Comments

china quality control

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Quality control is a mandatory part of the process when importing products from China, regardless of the order volume. Hence, finding the right quality control partner is crucial. In this guide, you will find some of the leading quality inspection companies, with offices in China.

We compare them based on capability, pricing, and customer focus – to help you choose the right partner for your quality assurance needs in China.

Listed Companies

  • Sofeast Limited (Qualityinspection.org)
  • QIMA (Formerly Asiainspection)
  • Asia Quality Focus
  • Bay Source Global
  • InTouch Manufacturing Services
  • V-Trust
  • SGS
  • KRT Audits
  • HQTS
  • Pro QC International
  • ATI
  • Tetra Inspection
  • China Inspection Service
  • STC Group
  • Bureau Veritas InSpec

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Buying Private Label Products in China: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 27 Comments

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Asia Import Platform: General Products

Importing private label products from Chinese manufacturers is often seen as a faster and easier way to launch new products. This is sometimes true, but only if done correctly. In this guide, I share everything I have learnt about manufacturing private label products in China – including which products are better suited for private labeling, specifications, making design changes, quality control, compliance, and much more.

This is covered
  • What is private labeling?
  • Product categories suited for private labeling
  • Product categories not suited for private labeling
  • Creating a private label product specification
  • Making design changes to private label products
  • Logo and labeling costs
  • Logo and printing specifications
  • Product packaging
  • Quality inspections for private label products
  • Private labeling products and safety standards
  • Questions & Answers

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How to Find a Design Freelancer for Your Customized Products

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 2 Comments

design freelancer

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In the age of Amazon brands, Aliexpress and Wish, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to succeed with generic private label products. Creating unique, custom designed, products is the only way forward for smaller E-commerce businesses that can’t compete on price alone.

Yet, while many E-commerce businesses have great ideas for custom designed products they want to bring to market, they lack the in-house design expertise, or budget, to turn their visions into practical 3D design files and technical drawings.

But, as I explain in this article, the creation of a custom-designed product is not nearly as complex or difficult as you might think. Continue reading How to Find a Design Freelancer for Your Customized Products

What’s the Difference Between OEM and ODM Products?

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 11 Comments

Difference OEM and ODM

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Many suppliers on Alibaba.com, and other supplier directories, claim to offer Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) products. In this article, we explain what OEM and ODM mean in the context of manufacturing in China, and other Asian countries.

Whether you decide to get an OEM or ODM product manufactured impacts the entire process, from supplier sourcing and RFQ to product samples and manufacturing. Continue reading What’s the Difference Between OEM and ODM Products?

Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) Requirements in China: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 29 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

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Asia Import Platform: General Products

The Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) requirement sets the minimum number of units that you can buy from a supplier. For example, an MOQ of 500 pcs means that you cannot order anything less than 500 units of a certain product. The MOQ requirement can therefore be an obstacle for small buyers, especially as it tends to be set on a per-product basis rather than on a per order basis.

That said, there are ways to reduce the MOQ requirements, while also allowing the supplier to keep a fair profit margin. This, and much more, is explained in this guide covering everything importers must know about MOQ requirements in China.

Overview

  • MOQ Examples
  • What is the Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)?
  • How to confirm the MOQ requirement
  • Minimum Order Value (MOV)
  • MOQ and COVID-19
  • Why the MOQ exist
  • Different types of MOQs
  • How to reduce the MOQ
  • MOQ in China VS Vietnam & India
  • Issues when buying below the MOQ
  • MOQ reduction strategies

MOQ Examples

Continue reading Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) Requirements in China: A Complete Guide