FOBtoDDP
Importing from China
The China row in the table above is the reference case: 3 new electric vehicles, $45,000 FOB, sea freight and FOB terms. Duty is assessed on FOB (transaction value; international freight and insurance are not part of the US duty base), so the customs value is the goods plus international freight plus insurance. There is no federal import VAT at this destination, so duty is the only border tax in this model. The model also applies Section 301 tariff (China-origin vehicles) at 25% on FOB to China-origin goods; no other origin on this page carries that measure.
Landing the container is not the end of the cost. Clearance, port handling, inland delivery and documentation are modelled at $1,130, and cargo insurance at $218. A remote warehouse, a bonded transfer, demurrage or a customs exam pushes those lines higher. The buyer also needs a registered importer of record at the US; a forwarder cannot transfer that status by contract. Replace each assumption with a confirmed figure before contracting.
How the duty band is set
The planning band for vehicles at this destination is 2.5% of the FOB value, and this page uses 2.5% as the expected case. The band belongs to the category, not to a single product: your 8–10 digit national line carries the actual rate and may attract its own measures. The three HS candidates below usually cover the family, and each links to a duty file that compares the same code across the US, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
| HS line | Covers | Duty band |
|---|---|---|
| 8703.80 | Motor cars with electric motors | 2.5% |
| 8704.21 | Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, diesel, gross weight ≤ 5 t | 2.5% |
| 8703.23 | Motor cars with spark-ignition engines, 1,500–3,000 cc | 2.5% |
Vehicle classification depends on propulsion, engine size and use. EV-specific measures are changing quickly.
What changes the total
Freight mode. The comparison table uses a 40HQ reference of $3,350 from the base origin, multiplied by each origin factor. The worked sample instead moves 3 new electric vehicles at 18 CBM and 5400 kg by fcl 40ft, so its freight line is $3,350. Do not compare that line with a container rate: they describe different shipments. Transit is 25–35 days port-to-port to Los Angeles, loading at Shanghai / Ningbo.
The commercial term. This page starts from FOB, so main carriage, insurance, duty, VAT and destination charges sit with the importer. A CIF or DDP quote shifts some of those lines to the supplier, and the totals are no longer comparable line by line. Condition and compliance. Vehicle approval, emissions, battery transport and homologation rules can dominate the cost. This category is a planning floor, not a reliable landed-cost answer. At the sample settings the expected total is $62,285, or $20,762 per unit.
Common questions
How much duty applies to vehicles imported into the US from China?
The category planning band is 2.5% of the FOB customs value, with 2.5% as the expected case. Duty is assessed on FOB (transaction value; international freight and insurance are not part of the US duty base). This is a category band, not a ruling for your exact 8-10 digit line.
What is the all-in landed cost for the sample shipment?
The sample moves 3 units of new electric vehicles with $45,000 FOB value, 18 CBM and 5400 kg by sea. Expected landed cost is $62,285, or $20,762 per unit, with a range of $61,211-$63,574.
Does a Section 301 tariff apply to this lane?
Section 301 tariff (China-origin vehicles) is modelled at 25% on FOB for China-origin goods. EV-specific measures are not modelled and may be materially higher.
How long does sea freight take from China?
The destination file models 25–35 days port-to-port to Los Angeles. Loading is assumed at Shanghai / Ningbo. Actual transit depends on carrier, sailing schedule, congestion and inland routing.
What should I confirm before signing?
Confirm the 8-10 digit national tariff line, the Incoterm and named place, the forwarder quote against the assumed 18 CBM / 5400 kg, and the documents required for your product type. Replace each assumption with a confirmed figure before you commit.