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Exporting to the USA — HTS classification, entry and product gatekeepers

Last reviewed 2026-10 · 5 sections

The United States is a large, transparent market with a lot of reachable information — and more than one agency that can stop your shipment. Customs clearance is only the first gate.

More than one gatekeeper

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) clears the entry and collects duty.
  • The importer of record must be US-established, or must post a customs bond so that a broker can act on its behalf. For a first shipment, this is often the single biggest practical hurdle.
  • Product regulators — the FDA, USDA/APHIS, FCC and CPSC among others — can detain goods that clear customs. Their requirements depend entirely on the product, not the value.

Classification and duty

  • HTSUS is 10 digits. The first 6 are the international HS; the US adds its own statistical suffixes. The duty rate attaches to the full line.
  • Duty is normally ad valorem on the customs value (typically the transaction value, FOB-based rather than CIF).
  • Preference: preferential rates come from a trade agreement or a unilateral programme, and those programmes change — check the current position for your goods rather than assuming a historical preference still exists.
  • Additional instruments: anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders, Section 301-style measures and quotas can apply on top of the tariff line.

Entry mechanics and user fees

  • An entry is filed by a licensed customs broker; the importer needs a bond.
  • Ocean shipments require an Importer Security Filing before loading, so the documentation clock starts earlier than many exporters expect.
  • The US also charges user fees (the merchandise processing fee and the harbour maintenance fee) in addition to duty. They are separate from the tariff and change periodically — check CBP for the current basis.

Product-level rules that surprise exporters

  • Food, cosmetics and drugs — FDA requirements including facility registration, prior notice for food, and specific regimes for certain canned goods.
  • Plants and animal products — USDA/APHIS permits and phytosanitary certification before shipment.
  • Radio and electrical devices — FCC rules; consumer products — CPSC safety and labelling rules; chemicals — TSCA.
  • Labelling — country-of-origin marking is mandatory on most goods, and food has its own labelling regime.

Confirm before you ship

US requirements are publicly documented, which is an advantage — but they are split across several agencies, and the rule that stops your shipment is usually the one you did not read. Check the specific agency guidance for your product and HTS line, and work through a broker on the entry side.

Use the tools

Sources & further reading

U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Food and Drug Administration USDA APHIS

These guides summarise public material from the bodies named above. They are general information, not advice on a specific shipment, and they are not a substitute for a ruling from your customs authority or a qualified customs broker / consultant.

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