Every day is a perfect day to say “I love you” to your beloved ones. Although, there is no harm in dedicating entirely at least one day to spend with your significant other to celebrate the relationship. Valentine’s Day is only once a year, and it calls for unique decorations or gifts. Therefore, it is natural to think of importing those goods from the world’s biggest manufacturer, which is China. We present you with a guide to importing Valentine’s Day products from China to the USA.
Valentine’s Day products from China – production areas
The largest concentrations of producers manufacturing goods for Valentine’s Day you can find in cities such as Shenzhen, Suzhou, Jinhua, Guangzhou, and Dongguan. Many companies providing this type of items are in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong, which are highly developed provinces of China. They manufacture various products, from stuffed toys to greeting cards, ready to be signed “From Your Valentine”.
Importing Valentine’s Day products from China – trade fairs
Often, choosing a reliable business partner is a struggle. Therefore, in order to find one, the importer can attend a trade fair. Not only for networking purposes but also to see for oneself the actual products. The following list contains selected shows concentrating on gifts, arts crafts goods and festive decorations, including the ones for Valentine’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 rates on Valentine’s Day products from China
No matter from which country you choose to import from, you mustn’t neglect the fact that you have to pay due duties. The current rates of US duty are in the HTS system, and it is recommended to check it before ordering goods. The table below presents selected products together with their codes and the corresponding amount of duty. The rates of duty are valid in the United States of America. Below you can find goods that are suitable for celebrating Valentine’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%
- 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%
- Other printed or illustrated postcards – 4909.00.40 – 0%
- Folding cartons, boxes and cases, of non-corrugated paper or paperboard – 4819.20.00 – 0%
- A type of and other food preparations containing cocoa – 1806.10.05 – 0%
- Statuettes and other ornamental articles 3926.40.00 – 5.3%
- Sparkling wine – 2204.10.00 – 19.8¢/liter
- Perfumes and toilet waters – 3303.00.30 3%
The list is by no means exhaustive. In addition, as the US-China trade war goes on, some goods imported from China to the US are subject to an additional tariff. For example, the 7.5% tariff applies to subheadings 1806.10.05 (chocolate) and 3406.00.00 (candles). The 25% tariff applies to 4819.20.00 (boxes) and 3303.00.30 (perfumes), as well as many others. If the product has an existing 0% duty, the new rate would be 25% or 15%, depending on which special tariff is applied. When importing from China, you should take into consideration the special tariff.
Importing Valentine’s Day products from China to the US – importer’s responsibilities
A trustworthy supplier is the key to success. You should also prepare and gather the necessary documents. Staying away from loss-making terms and choosing a beneficial Incoterm is also essential, so prepare for the negotiations well. Unless the supplier is making the import declaration, you will be the Importer of Record (IOR). If you are not a corporation, your importer number will be your Social Security Number.
The importer is obliged to place on the market a product that is safe for the consumer. Each category of products is subject to existing regulations. For example, if you import foodstuff, you must comply with the relevant regulations, like FDA ones. Ensure that your product complies with US safety standards and labeling requirements early on to avoid being prevented entry by US Customs.
If you are interested in importing other goods from China, you can also check out our other posts on that topic.