Eastern Plays — Sourcing and shipping from Asia, for the people buying from it
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- How to Pay a Sourcing Agent or QC Inspector in Asia From the US
Paying people on the ground in China or Vietnam is mostly simple, but a few steps protect you on tax, sanctions and conflicts of interest. Here is the setup I use. - How to Find Your HTS Code and When to Ask CBP for a Binding Ruling
Your HTS code sets your duty rate, your extra tariffs and half the paperwork on an entry. Here is how to classify a product properly and when a free CBP ruling is worth the wait. - CPSC eFiling Is Live: The Test Data You Need From Your Factory
Since July 8, 2026, importers of regulated consumer products must file certificate data at entry. Most of that data starts at the factory, so here is what to collect and when. - Detention and Demurrage Invoices: How to Check and Dispute Them
Federal rules say a detention or demurrage invoice missing key details does not have to be paid. Here is what a valid invoice must show, what a 2025 court ruling changed, and how to push back. - How to Work Out Landed Cost Before You Order From China
The factory price is only the first line. Freight, insurance, duty, import VAT and a handful of fees decide what a unit really costs you on your shelf. Here is how to add them up before you commit. - What an AQL Inspection Report Actually Tells You
A pre-shipment inspection that says "pass" does not mean the order is defect-free. Here is how AQL sampling works, how to read the numbers in the report, and which limits to set before the inspector arrives. - Hiring a Sourcing Agent in China: What to Pay and What to Check
A good agent saves you trips, mistakes and money. A bad one quietly takes a cut from both sides. How agents charge, where the conflicts of interest hide, and the checks to run before you sign. - FOB, EXW or DDP? Incoterms Explained for First-Time Importers
The three letters on your supplier's quote decide who pays for what, and who carries the risk if something goes wrong in transit. Here is what each common term means when you are buying from Asia. - Air Freight or Ocean Freight From Asia? How to Choose
Air is fast and expensive, ocean is slow and cheap, and the right answer depends on weight, volume, value and how much a late shipment would cost you. A practical way to decide shipment by shipment. - How to Vet a Supplier in China Before You Pay a Deposit
A polished catalogue and a quick reply prove very little. Here is the order of checks we run on every new factory, from the business licence to a third-party audit, before any money moves.