Your Supplier’s HS Code Is Not Your HS Code
Six digits of an HS code are global. Everything after that is national — and that is where your duty rate lives.
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Customs & Compliance
Your Battery Cargo Can Ride the Rail. Your Battery Storage Probably Cannot.
China’s lithium battery rail rules changed on 1 November 2026. What the new standard now classifies, and why storage containers still stay at sea.
Your Battery Cargo Can Ride the Rail. Your Battery Storage Probably Cannot. Read More »
The Tax Refund Hidden in Your Chinese Supplier’s Price
China’s export VAT rebate refunds input tax already paid, not tax waived at export. Cut the rate and your supplier’s cost rises by more than the refund.
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An Apostille Proves the Notary, Not the Document
China issues apostilles now, so documents travel with two stamps instead of three. What the stamp proves is narrower than most buyers assume.
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Whoever Holds the Paper Holds the Cargo
Four payment terms, one set of documents, four different risk profiles. Which paper actually controls your cargo, and what to settle before the deposit.
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The Export Declaration You Never See
The declaration your supplier files is the one document you never read, and it decides whether your cargo clears.
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Transit vs Customs Transfer: The Question China Customs Asks First
Two procedures, two regulations, two different sets of clocks. How to tell transit cargo from customs-transferred cargo in China, and where shipments fail.
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EXW vs FCA vs FOB vs DAP: Choosing Terms When Buying from China
EXW, FCA, FOB and DAP split cost, risk and customs duty differently. How to pick the right term for a China purchase, and which ones to stop using.
EXW vs FCA vs FOB vs DAP: Choosing Terms When Buying from China Read More »