Declaring skills and avoidance guide for customs clearance of small parcels from China to foreign countries

I. Core declaration skills
Fill in the product name accurately

Skills: Use specific and common English product names (such as “Men’s Cotton T-shirt” instead of “Clothing”) to avoid vague words.

Reason: The customs code (HS Code) relies on the classification of product names, and vague descriptions are easy to trigger inspections.

Reasonable declared value

Suggestion: Declare according to the actual transaction amount (invoices can be provided for reference) to avoid “under-reporting” and penalties or “over-reporting” and increased tariffs.

Exception: The duty-free amount of some countries (such as $800 in the United States) can be appropriately optimized, but it must comply with local laws.

Matching quantity and weight

Key points: The declared quantity and weight must be consistent with the actual object (for example, a 100g mobile phone case declared as 10g will trigger a red alert).

HS Code selection

Tools: Query through the official website of each country’s customs (such as the US HTS, the EU TARIC), or use third-party tools (such as cross-border customs clearance software).

Strategy for split-ticket shipment

Applicable scenarios: high-value goods can be shipped in multiple tickets to ensure that the amount of a single ticket is lower than the tax-free threshold of the destination country.

2. Guide to avoiding pitfalls (common minefields)
   Low declaration risk

Consequences: minor tax fines, serious confiscation of goods (such as strict inspections in Brazil, Russia, India and other countries).

Case: A package declared at $20 contains an iPhone, which may be seized by customs.

List of sensitive product names

High-risk items:

Products with batteries (UN38.3 certification required)

Liquids/powders (MSDS report required)

Counterfeit brands, medicines (authorization required)

Solution: Confirm the restricted list of the destination country in advance (such as Australia’s ban on wood products).

Commercial Invoice is missing

Required content: sender and consignee information, product name, value, quantity, HS Code, origin (Made in China).

Ignore Duty Prepaid (DDP) Option

Advantages: The shipper bears the tariff (such as DHL/UPS’s DDP service), avoiding the recipient’s refusal to pay and resulting in returns.

Logistics Channel Selection

Small Parcel Line: Suitable for low-value general goods (such as postal parcels).

Commercial Express: Suitable for high-value, time-sensitive goods (but customs clearance is more stringent).

3. Special requirements of countries/regions
   Country Key considerations
   United States Pay attention to FCC certification (electronics), FDA (food/drugs)
   European Union EORI number is required, CE mark and VAT are strictly checked
   Japan PSE certification (electrical appliances), prohibition of import of counterfeit brands
   Middle East Arabic invoice is required, some products require Halal certification
   Brazil Customs clearance is very slow, it is recommended to prepay tariffs (such as “Remessa Conforme” plan)
4. Practical tool recommendation
   HS Code query: World Customs Organization official website (WCO Trade Tools)

Tariff calculation: Cross-border Easy (for European and American markets)

Logistics tracking: 17Track (multi-channel coverage)

5. Emergency handling
   Customs withholding: Contact the logistics company immediately and submit the documents (such as import license, proof of payment) as required.

Recipient refuses to pay tariffs: negotiate responsibilities in advance, or choose Duty Prepaid (DDP).

Tips: Policies of various countries change dynamically. It is recommended to confirm the latest rules through logistics companies or customs official websites before shipment. For high-frequency shipments, you can consider cooperating with professional customs clearance agents.