What should be noted when transporting goods by international air freight to the United States?
International air freight to the United States is the most common but also the most prone to customs clearance issues among cross-border trade channels. The inspection standards of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection are strict. Besides basic customs declaration documents, special categories are subject to FDA and FCC-specific compliance audits. Coupled with dynamic tariff policies, multiple factors directly determine the success and timeliness of customs clearance. Foreign trade merchants and logistics practitioners must be familiar with the corresponding compliance requirements to effectively avoid risks such as seizure of goods, return shipments, and fines.
FDA and FCC certifications are the core compliance thresholds for U.S. air freight customs clearance, which directly intervene in the customs clearance process. FDA is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, responsible for regulating food, cosmetics, medical devices, health supplements, and disinfection products, etc. To export such goods, one must complete factory registration and product filing in advance, and submit a prior notification 4 hours before the goods arrive at the port. Failure to file, fail to declare in advance, or non-compliant product testing will result in the direct detention of goods and refusal of entry. In severe cases, the goods will be directly destroyed. Under the 2026 new regulations, FDA's inspection intensity for cosmetics and dietary supplements has significantly increased. Incomplete compliance documents almost prevent clearance.
FCC is the U.S. Federal Communications Commission certification, targeting all electronic products with radio frequency functions, including Bluetooth headphones, routers, smart cameras, wireless remote controls, communication devices, etc. These products must hold valid FCC ID certification or SDoC compliance statements, and the packaging and instructions must indicate the compliance mark and the responsible entity information. Without certification, expired certification, or inconsistent information, they will be judged as non-compliant products and directly seized, preventing clearance and making customs clearance impossible. This is also the most common error point for air freight of electronics to the United States.
U.S. tariff policies have a significant impact on air freight customs clearance. Previously, the general small duty exemption amount has been completely abolished. Regardless of the value of the goods, all air freight must be officially declared and pay the corresponding tariffs. At the same time, the 301 tariffs on Chinese goods have continued to take effect. Most categories are subject to an additional 25% tariff. When declaring, one must accurately classify the HS code. Underreporting the value of goods, false declaration will trigger customs inspections, resulting in high fines. In summary, air freight to the United States requires compliance with categories, complete certifications, and accurate declaration to ensure smooth customs clearance and stable timeliness.