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Free Tools & Education

Import Resources for U.S. Buyers

Know your duties before you book. Every tool here is free and built from real CBP compliance work.

Interactive Tool

Duty Savings Calculator

Estimate how much you could recover through our §1401a tariff optimization program. Based on real client results using First Sale Rule and transaction value deductions.

Your Estimate
Current annual duty spend
Estimated duty after optimization
Your annual savings (75%)
Fill in the fields to calculate
Tres Rios gainshare (25%)
Setup fee (per container)
Estimates based on §1401a transaction value deductions and First Sale Rule methodology. Actual results depend on your specific invoice structure, supply chain, and CBP approval of valuation methodology. No guarantees implied.
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Reference Guide

Incoterms® 2020

Who pays for what, and when does risk transfer? The Incoterms® rules determine who bears cost and risk at each point in an international shipment. Know them before you sign a contract.

EXW
Ex Works
Buyer pays everything
Seller makes goods available at their premises. Buyer arranges all transport, export clearance, and bears all risk from pickup.
All modes
FCA
Free Carrier
Risk transfers at named place
Seller delivers to carrier at named point. Used when buyer wants a B/L issued for LC purposes. Preferred alternative to FOB for containerized cargo.
All modes
FOB
Free On Board
Risk transfers at vessel rail
Most common for China-US ocean freight. Seller pays origin freight and export clearance. Buyer (or their NVOCC) handles ocean freight and U.S. customs.
Ocean only
FAS
Free Alongside Ship
Risk transfers at port
Seller delivers alongside the vessel at origin port. Buyer handles loading, freight, insurance, and import. Used mainly for bulk and breakbulk.
Ocean only
CFR
Cost & Freight
Seller pays ocean freight
Seller pays cost and freight to destination port. Risk transfers at origin port of loading. Buyer handles insurance and import at destination.
Ocean only
CIF
Cost, Insurance & Freight
Seller pays freight + insurance
Like CFR but seller also provides minimum marine insurance. Important for U.S. customs: freight and insurance are non-dutiable — strip them from declared value.
Ocean only
CPT
Carriage Paid To
Seller pays to named place
Seller pays freight to a named destination. Risk transfers when goods are handed to first carrier. Multimodal equivalent of CFR.
All modes
CIP
Carriage & Insurance Paid
Seller pays freight + full insurance
Like CPT but with all-risk insurance (higher coverage than CIF). Multimodal equivalent of CIF. Common for high-value cargo on any mode.
All modes
DAP
Delivered at Place
Seller delivers to destination
Seller bears all costs and risk to named destination (excluding import duties). Buyer handles import clearance and duties. Common for e-commerce and direct factory shipments.
All modes
DPU
Delivered at Place Unloaded
Seller unloads at destination
Only Incoterm requiring seller to unload at destination. Seller bears risk through unloading. Buyer handles import clearance.
All modes
DDP
Delivered Duty Paid
Seller pays everything incl. duties
Maximum obligation for seller. Seller pays all costs including import duties and taxes. Buyer receives goods cleared and delivered. Caution: seller needs U.S. import authority.
All modes
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Right term for your deal?
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Classification Guide

HTS Code Lookup Guide

Your HTS code determines your duty rate, ADD/CVD exposure, and whether you need special permits. Here's how to find it — and how to verify it's right.

01

Identify your product

What is the article made of? What is its primary function? Is it finished or semi-finished? These three questions drive the first two digits (Chapter) of your HTS code.

02

Look up the Chapter in USHTS

The U.S. International Trade Commission publishes the full HTS schedule at hts.usitc.gov. Navigate to your chapter, then heading, then subheading to find the 10-digit U.S. statistical suffix.

03

Check the duty rate + overlays

Column 1 General rate is the base. Then check for Section 301 (China), IEEPA, ADD/CVD orders, and Section 232 (steel/aluminum). Each adds to your effective rate.

04

Verify with a licensed broker

HTS classification is not always straightforward. Misclassification can result in underpayment (penalty exposure) or overpayment (leaving money on the table). We review every code we file.

Compliance Reference

ADD/CVD High-Risk Categories

Antidumping and countervailing duty orders add significant cost to specific categories of goods from specific countries. These orders are mandatory — CBP will assess them even if your broker didn't catch them. Here are the highest-exposure categories for China-origin imports.

What is ADD?

Antidumping duty (ADD) is imposed when the Department of Commerce determines a foreign manufacturer is selling goods in the U.S. at less than fair market value. ADD rates can range from a few percent to over 200%. They are assessed at the time of entry and can be retroactively adjusted after administrative review.

What is CVD?

Countervailing duty (CVD) offsets subsidies provided by foreign governments to their manufacturers. Both ADD and CVD can apply to the same product simultaneously. They are not included in standard HTS duty rates — you must check separately for each origin country and product category.

High-Exposure Categories — China Origin
7208–7217
Steel Flat-Rolled Products
A-570-979, C-570-980 · ADD up to 265% · CVD up to 256%
7604–7610
Aluminum Extrusions & Products
A-570-967, C-570-968 · ADD 33–374% · CVD 12–374%
8504.23
Large Power Transformers
A-570-909, C-570-910 · ADD/CVD applicable · Verify scope per unit
6201–6210
Certain Apparel (Woven / Knit)
Multiple orders · Section 301 overlay applies separately
7318
Steel Fasteners (Screws, Bolts, Nuts)
A-570-909 scope issues · Verify against binding CBP rulings
3907–3926
Plastics & Articles Thereof
Certain polyethylene / PET categories — scope-specific
8501–8503
Electric Motors & Generators
A-570-084 (certain motors) · Verify HP range and end-use

Important: This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. ADD/CVD orders change through annual administrative reviews. Always verify current order status and applicable rates against the ITA's official order database before booking. We screen every entry against active orders — this is included in our brokerage service.

Interactive Tool

HTS Pre-Screener

Enter your HTS code and origin country. We'll instantly flag your base duty rate, Section 301 / IEEPA exposure, and ADD/CVD risk level. Not a substitute for licensed broker review — but a fast first read.

Rates shown are approximate. Actual classification and duty calculation require licensed broker review. ADD/CVD flags are indicative only.
Enter an HTS code to see your exposure
Interactive Tool

Document Checklist Generator

Select your commodity type and origin country to generate a customized list of documents required for your U.S. customs entry. Print or download it for your supplier.

Select commodity type and origin country to generate your checklist
Education · §1401a

Customs Valuation Exclusions

U.S. Customs uses transaction value as the basis for duty assessment — but not everything in your invoice is dutiable. These are the legally excludable costs under 19 U.S.C. §1401a that most importers are paying duty on unnecessarily.

Buying Commissions

§1401a(b)(1)(A)

If you pay a buying agent in the origin country to source, inspect, or arrange your purchase, those commissions are not part of the price paid or payable for the goods. They are excludable from dutiable value.

Non-dutiable

U.S. Design & IP Fees

§1401a(b)(1)(A)(iv) + (h)(1)

Royalties or license fees paid for the right to reproduce U.S. design, patents, or intellectual property — particularly where the design originated in the U.S. — may be excludable from dutiable value.

Case-by-case

Origin Inland Freight

§1401a(b)(4)(A)

Transportation and insurance costs from the factory to the origin port of exportation are non-dutiable when separately identified on the invoice. Many importers pay duty on these charges unnecessarily.

Non-dutiable

Ocean Freight & Insurance

§1401a(b)(1)(B)–(C)

For CIF or DAP shipments, the cost of international freight and insurance embedded in the invoice price must be deducted before declaring dutiable value. This is a common and expensive oversight.

Non-dutiable

Financing / Interest Charges

§1401a(b)(1)(C)

Financing or interest charges for deferred payment terms are not part of the price of the goods. If your invoice includes a finance charge or credit line fee, it is excludable.

Non-dutiable

First Sale Rule

§1401a(b) — First of Multiple Sales

If your goods pass through an intermediary before reaching you, you may be able to declare the factory-to-intermediary price rather than what you paid. This is typically 15–25% lower. Requires documentation of the supply chain and CBP approval.

–15 to –25%

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Put This Knowledge to Work

Every tool above represents real savings opportunity. Let us show you the numbers for your specific program.