Manufacturing in China offers tremendous advantages—lower costs, faster production, and access to advanced supply chains—but it comes with serious intellectual property risks. Many Western businesses discover too late […]

Quality control is the most critical—yet most overlooked—process in importing from China. Many first-time importers discover too late that the factory’s promises (“Don’t worry, quality is excellent!”) don’t […]

Choosing the right manufacturing model is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make as an importer. The model you select determines your cost, timeline, profit margins, competitive […]

Import taxes, duties, and VAT are often overlooked in the initial import pricing, yet they can increase your landed cost by 15–50% depending on your product category and […]

Customs clearance is the critical bottleneck where shipments either move smoothly to your warehouse or get held for days or weeks. The difference between a seamless clearance and […]

The honest answer is that importing from China is not a quick process. Most first-time importers significantly underestimate how long it takes from placing an order to receiving […]

Choosing the right shipping method from China is one of the most critical decisions in your import business. Each mode offers distinct advantages and trade-offs in cost, speed, […]

First-time importers face a steep learning curve in international trade. Understanding the most common pitfalls and implementing preventive measures can save significant time, money, and frustration. Here are […]

Negotiating prices with Chinese manufacturers is both an art and a skill. Many importers assume negotiation is simply about pushing prices down as much as possible. In reality, […]

When importing products from China, price negotiations often get most of the attention. However, many costly mistakes happen after the price is agreed—because importers misunderstand Incoterms. In 2026, […]