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In 2024, the total two side trade in goods between the two nations was nearly USD 688.28 billion through ports and airports. China’s major shipping hubs handle millions of deliveries each year. Shanghai Port processed about 47M units in 2024, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port around 38.6M units, Shenzhen Port about 27M units, and Guangzhou Port roughly 25 million units. For air freight, Shanghai Pudong International Airport moved around 3.5 million metric tons, while Beijing Capital International Airport managed about 1.9 million metric tons, mainly working electronics, medical, aviation, and automotive industries. In the USA, Cargo reaches Los Angeles Port, Long Beach Port, New York/New Jersey Port, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Industries such as IT, aviation, medical, and automotive are major suppliers, trading IT equipment, medical devices to aerospace parts, and auto parts. Importers frequently use HS codes and HTS harmonized tariff schedules to categorize goods correctly under trade programs such as the generalized system of preferences, which can reduce taxes on eligible goods.
An Importer of Record is the official business or person responsible for confirming that imported goods follow local laws and regulations in the destination country (USA or China). They handle all import documentation, duties, and customs clearance.
An Exporter of Record is the official person responsible for ensuring that goods are exported legally from the origin country, managing export licenses, documentation, and approval.
A shipping agreement under Incoterms where the seller/exporter is responsible for delivering goods to the buyer’s door, covering all shipping costs, import duties, taxes, and customs clearance.
In a trade and logistics context, companies leverage data centers to securely store, process, and analyze supply chain, shipping, and customer data. Many global freight forwarders and 3PLs maintain dedicated data center infrastructure to support digital supply chains.
For IT products, the USA imports billions worth of laptops, servers, and electronics from China annually.
For high-value and urgent IT cargo, Shanghai Pudong International Airport managed around 3.5M tons, and Beijing Capital International Airport managed about 1.9M tons.
Aviation parts and components, supported by strict certification, contribute hugely to the trade volume, frequently shipped under DAP or DDP shipping terms to simplify delivery.
In the medical sector, equipment and surgical tools are frequently shipped by air for speed, using cheap international shipping solutions to reduce costs.
Automotive parts remain one of the top traded categories, frequently moved under freight forwarding services agreements that simplify logistics and apply accurate HS codes and HTS harmonized tariffs to manage duties.
Combining logistics expertise with proper Incoterms helps businesses in these industries reduce delays and keep costs as expected.
Shipping from China to the USA takes between 12 to 35 days by sea, but air freight averages 3 to 7 days.
The shipping process starts from good packaging, followed by freight forwarding services to move cargo to ports or airports.
Forwarders manage inland logistics, arrange bookings with carriers, and manage documentation such as the Incoterms (e.g., DAP, DAPS, delivery duty paid, and DDP shipping) that define responsibility and costs between buyers and sellers.
Upon arrival in the USA, customs brokers work for the customs clearance, confirming approval with HTS harmonized tariff rules and paying duties.
Fees are charged, depending on cargo type, documentation fees, warehousing, and customs brokerage fees, but competitive options, such as the cheapest post office box, cheap international shipping, or cheap UPS shipping, help lower total costs.
By sea, it generally takes 12–35 days, while air freight usually takes around 3–7 days, depending on route and service.
In China, major ports include Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou; major airports are Shanghai Pudong and Beijing Capital. In the USA, common destinations include Los Angeles, Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, and Chicago O’Hare.
Incoterms define delivery terms and responsibility. DAP (Delivered At Place) and DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) help clarify who handles costs and customs.
Compare services (e.g., freight forwarders, cheap UPS shipping, cheapest international delivery), use correct HS codes, and optimize packaging.
Major industries include IT (electronics, servers), aviation (aircraft parts), medical (equipment and tools), and automotive (car parts).
