Shipping to the US
Shipping custom flash memory to the US is mostly a paperwork and responsibility question, not a product question. Our default term is FOB Shenzhen: you are the importer of record, you pay the freight and the duty, and your broker clears the shipment. We provide the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of conformance and the compliance documents we hold. If you want one delivered price, we can quote DDP — but the importer of record and the duty treatment still have to be agreed in writing.
What to settle before the order
- Importer of record — who clears the shipment and owns the customs liability (usually your US entity or your broker acting for you).
- HTS classification — your broker confirms the subheading; we describe the product accurately on the invoice.
- Duty treatment — base duty plus any Section 301 action; confirm the current rate with your broker, not from a blog.
- Delivery address — warehouse, FBA or end customer; this decides the last-mile leg and labelling.
- Incoterm — FOB Shenzhen (default) or DDP; the term decides who pays each leg and who carries risk.
Documents in a typical US shipment
| Document | Purpose | Who provides |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Customs value, HTS description, origin, terms | WINTEL |
| Packing list | Carton count, weights, dimensions | WINTEL |
| Bill of lading / air waybill | Transport contract and release | Carrier / forwarder |
| Certificate of Conformance | Confirms the batch meets the agreed spec | WINTEL |
| Test reports / certificate scans | Buyer or channel compliance file | WINTEL on request |
| Lacey Act declaration (wood packaging) | US import requirement for certain wood products | Buyer/broker with our material data |
Compliance questions US buyers ask
USB flash drives and memory cards are not intentional radio transmitters, so the FCC question is usually about the supplier's declarations rather than a radio approval. Buyers in California may ask for a Proposition 65 statement, and wooden gift boxes can trigger Lacey Act questions. We state the certifications we hold and share the actual documents on request — we do not put logos on a page without the paperwork behind them.
Read more: certificates and compliance, why the importer of record decides duty recovery, and Lacey Act declarations for wooden boxes.
FOB or DDP?
FOB Shenzhen keeps you in control of freight and usually costs less if you already have a forwarder. DDP gives you one delivered price, but it only works when the importer of record, duty and delivery address are explicit. The same product can be quoted either way; ask for the term you need and compare the total delivered cost, not the unit price.
Frequently asked questions
What HTS code applies to USB flash drives and memory cards?
Solid-state non-volatile storage devices generally fall under HTS heading 8523.51. The exact subheading depends on the product and on how your broker classifies it; we put the product description and material composition on the commercial invoice so your broker can classify it consistently.
Do you pay the US tariff under DDP?
Under DDP the seller is responsible for the destination charges agreed in the quotation, which may include duty and import charges. The exact scope is written into the DDP offer. We do not guess the rate: duty depends on the HTS code and current Section 301 treatment, so the quote states what is included.
Which compliance documents can you provide?
We can provide a certificate of conformance, test reports and certificate scans for the standards we hold (SGS, RoHS, CE, FCC). If your channel requires a Proposition 65 statement or a Lacey Act declaration for wooden packaging, ask for it with the order and we will confirm what we can issue.
Can you ship to an Amazon FBA warehouse?
Yes, provided the delivery address, appointment process and labelling requirements are agreed before production. FBA shipments usually need carton labelling and a delivery window; send them with the purchase order so they are built into the packing plan.
How long does US shipping take?
Express air is typically the fastest, air freight is cheaper for larger volumes, and sea freight is the lowest cost for pallet-scale orders. Transit time depends on the mode, the port and the season; we quote it with the freight option rather than promising a fixed number.