Importing Goods to the USA: A Guide for Manufacturers

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires an importer of record for every commercial shipment, identified by an IRS business number or a CBP-assigned importer number. Most manufacturers importing regularly also carry a continuous customs bond, which covers duties, taxes, and penalties across all shipments for the year rather than posting a single-entry bond each time.

A customs broker can set up both the importer number and the bond before the first shipment moves, which avoids the delay of arranging them reactively once cargo is already in transit.

Every product entering the US needs a Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification, which sets the duty rate and flags whether other agencies (FDA, USDA, EPA, etc.) need to review the shipment before release. Manufacturers should confirm classification with a licensed customs broker in advance, since HTS misclassification is a leading cause of CBP entry rejections and post-entry audits.

Free trade agreements such as USMCA can reduce or eliminate duty on qualifying goods sourced from Canada or Mexico. Confirming eligibility and keeping origin documentation on file is worth doing at the sourcing stage, not after the shipment has already landed.

For ocean shipments, Importer Security Filing (ISF, also called "10+2") must be submitted to CBP at least 24 hours before cargo is laden aboard a vessel bound for the US. This applies even though the shipment itself may still be weeks from arrival, so ISF timing is tied to the loading port, not the US port of entry.

Late, missing, or inaccurate ISF filings can trigger CBP penalties and, in some cases, a hold on the container once it arrives. Manufacturers running recurring Asia-origin lanes typically have their freight forwarder file ISF as a standard step in the booking process rather than a separate manual task.

Manufacturers importing through Southern California typically clear cargo at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the busiest container gateway in North America. CargoLogin's Valencia brokerage team files the CBP entry, handles any FDA prior notice or other agency review, and coordinates drayage from the terminal to inland distribution or production facilities.

Pharmaceutical, food-adjacent, and certain electronics shipments often require additional documentation, such as FDA prior notice, before CBP will release the container. Confirming which additional agency requirements apply to a given product line before the shipment departs origin avoids a surprise hold once it reaches the port.