Although St. Patrick’s Day is not celebrated all over the world, it still catches the interest of many. It is a global celebration of Irish culture on or around March 17. On that date, in 461, died St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Similar to other holidays, St. Patrick’s Day has its customs, like wearing green, drinking Irish beer and Irish whiskey, as well as going on a parade. On the market, there are a lot of St. Patrick’s Day-themed goods, many of which are made in China. Below, we present you a characteristic of importing St. Patrick’s Day decorations from China to the United States of America.
Importing St. Patrick’s Day decorations from China – production areas
The most significant number of manufacturers of St. Patrick’s Day-themed goods is in such cities as Putian, Jinhua, Ningbo, and Zibo. As the holiday is not as popular as other holidays that evolved from Christian practice, the numbers are not that impressive. Despite this, there are a lot of options to choose from.
Importing St. Patrick’s Day decorations from China – trade fairs
Attending trade fairs is beneficial to the buyer, as he can meet in person the producer’s representative and see the products by himself. The following list contains selected shows, where exhibitors will display festive goods, such as the ones used for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
China International Gifts Premium & Houseware Exhibition
Location: Beijing – China International Exhibition Center, Chaoyang, Beijing, China
Official website: giftsbeijing.com
CAC Fair
Location: Guangzhou – Nan Fung International Convention & Exhibition Center, Guangzhou, China
Official website: cacfair.com/en/index.html
Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair
Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, Hong Kong
Official website: event.hktdc.com/fair/hkgiftspremiumfair-en/HKTDC-Hong-Kong-Gifts-and-Premium-Fair
Shanghai International Gifts & Home Products Expo
Location: Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), Shanghai, China
Official website: cghe-expo.com
Asian Festive, Christmas & Seasonal Show
Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, Hong Kong
Official website: asianchristmas.com/en-index.php
Asian Gifts & Premiums Show
Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, Hong Kong
Official website: asiangnp.com/en-index.php
China Yiwu International Commodities Fair – Yiwu Fair
Location: Yiwu International Expo Center, Yiwu, China
Official website: en.yiwufair.com
Canton Fair – China Export And Import Fair Autumn Phase 2
Location: Guangzhou – China Import and Export Complex, Guangzhou, China
Official website: cantonfair.org.cn/en/index.aspx
US duty on St. Patrick’s Day products from China
If you import, payment of due duties is unavoidable. The current rates of duty are in the HTS system, and it is recommended to check it before ordering goods. The list below presents selected goods together with their codes and the corresponding amount of duty. The rates of duty are currently in force in the USA. It contains products that can come in handy when celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
- Festive, carnival or other entertainment articles, other (9505.90.60) – 0%
- Confetti, paper spirals or streamers, party favors and noisemakers; parts and accessories thereof (9505.90.40) – 0%
- Other printed or illustrated postcards (4909.00.40) – 0%
- Candles, tapers and the like (3406.00.00) – 0%
- Artificial flowers, foliage and fruit and parts thereof; articles made of artificial flowers, foliage or fruit of plastics (6702.10.20) – 8.4%
- Statuettes and other ornamental articles (3926.40.00) – 5.3%
- Beer made from mal (2203.00.00) – 0%
- Non-alcoholic beer (2202.91.00) – 0.2¢/liter
The list could go on and on. As long as the US-China trade war goes on, some goods imported from China to the US are subject to an additional tariff. The 15% tariff applies to, for example, subheadings 2202.91.00 (non-alcoholic beer) and 3406.00.00 (candles). The 25% tariff applies to, among many other goods, subheading 2203.00.00 (beer). If the product has an existing 0% duty, the new rate would be 25% or 15%, depending on the applied special tariff.
Importing St. Patrick’s Day products from China – importer’s responsibilities (US)
A credible supplier is essential for the business to flourish. The necessary documents should be prepared and gathered for clearance formalities. It is better to choose a favorable Incoterm, so prepare for the negotiations to persuade the second party to agree with your terms. The supplier can make the import declaration, or you can be the Importer of Record (IOR). Your importer number will be your Social Security Number unless you are a corporation.
Placing on the market a product that is safe for the consumer is the importer’s obligation. You should be mindful of the existing regulations regarding the specific type of product. For example, foodstuff, including beverages, must comply with FDA regulations. Overall, ensure that your product complies with labeling requirements and US safety standards before importing to avoid being prevented entry by US Customs.
If, besides importing St. Patrick’s Day decorations, you are also interested in importing other goods from China, check out our other posts on that topic.