🇨🇳 China → 🇻🇳 Vietnam

CCC Certification (3C认证)

China Compulsory Certification is required for products sold in China. For export-only products, CCC is NOT required. However, if the product is also sold domestically, CCC is mandatory. Covers 17 major categories including electronics, appliances, auto parts, toys.

CIQ Inspection (商检)

China Inspection and Quarantine. Required for products in the statutory inspection catalog (法定检验目录). Inspection certificate must be obtained before customs declaration for listed products.

Required Export Documents (China)

Complete set: Trade Contract (贸易合同), Commercial Invoice (商业发票), Packing List (装箱单), Bill of Lading or Airway Bill (提运单), Customs Declaration Form (报关单, filed via Single Window), Power of Attorney (报关委托书, if using customs broker), Export License (出口许可证, if applicable), Inspection Certificate (检验检疫证书, if product is on statutory inspection list).

Enterprise Registration with Customs

Chinese exporters must register with customs (海关注册备案) before conducting trade. Apply through China International Trade Single Window (单一窗口) or local customs office.

Prepare Export Documents

Required documents: Trade contract (贸易合同), Commercial invoice (商业发票), Packing list (装箱单), Bill of lading/Airway bill (提运单), Customs power of attorney if using agent (报关委托书), Export license if applicable (出口许可证), Inspection certificate if applicable (检验检疫证书).

Submit Electronic Customs Declaration (报关)

File electronic declaration via China E-Port (中国电子口岸) system. Must be submitted after goods arrive at customs supervision area and at least 24 hours before loading. Declaration includes: consignee, HS code, quantity, value, trade terms, transport info.

Customs Inspection (查验) if Required

Customs may inspect goods based on risk assessment. Inspection rate varies by product category and exporter compliance history. If selected, goods must be presented for physical examination.

Release and Loading (放行装货)

After declaration accepted and inspection passed (if required), customs issues release notice. Goods can then be loaded onto the vessel/aircraft.

Export Tax Rebate Application (出口退税)

After goods exported, apply for VAT/consumption tax rebate through tax authority. Standard rate for electronics (HS 85): 13%. Process: collect documents → file with tax bureau → receive rebate (1-3 months). IMPORTANT (2026 change): China cut or eliminated rebates for 249 product categories effective April 1, 2026. Solar/PV products: rebate ELIMINATED. Battery products: reduced from 9% to 6% (eliminated entirely from Jan 2027). General electronics (including HS 8517 telecom equipment): 13% rate UNCHANGED as of April 2026.

Enterprise Registration with Customs

Chinese exporters must register with customs (海关注册备案) before conducting trade. Apply through China International Trade Single Window (单一窗口) or local customs office.

Prepare Export Documents

Required documents: Trade contract (贸易合同), Commercial invoice (商业发票), Packing list (装箱单), Bill of lading/Airway bill (提运单), Customs power of attorney if using agent (报关委托书), Export license if applicable (出口许可证), Inspection certificate if applicable (检验检疫证书).

Submit Electronic Customs Declaration (报关)

File electronic declaration via China E-Port (中国电子口岸) system. Must be submitted after goods arrive at customs supervision area and at least 24 hours before loading. Declaration includes: consignee, HS code, quantity, value, trade terms, transport info.

Customs Inspection (查验) if Required

Customs may inspect goods based on risk assessment. Inspection rate varies by product category and exporter compliance history. If selected, goods must be presented for physical examination.

Release and Loading (放行装货)

After declaration accepted and inspection passed (if required), customs issues release notice. Goods can then be loaded onto the vessel/aircraft.

Export Tax Rebate Application (出口退税)

After goods exported, apply for VAT/consumption tax rebate through tax authority. Standard rate for electronics (HS 85): 13%. Process: collect documents → file with tax bureau → receive rebate (1-3 months). IMPORTANT (2026 change): China cut or eliminated rebates for 249 product categories effective April 1, 2026. Solar/PV products: rebate ELIMINATED. Battery products: reduced from 9% to 6% (eliminated entirely from Jan 2027). General electronics (including HS 8517 telecom equipment): 13% rate UNCHANGED as of April 2026.

Shipping Timeline from China

China → US (West Coast): Ocean 15-20 days, $2,800-4,200/FEU. Air 3-5 days, $5-8/kg. China → US (East Coast): Ocean 25-35 days, $3,500-5,500/FEU. China → Japan: Ocean 3-7 days, $500-1,200/FEU. Air 1-2 days, $3-6/kg. China → EU (Rotterdam): Ocean 25-35 days via Suez, $2,500-4,500/FEU. China → Korea: Ocean 2-4 days, $300-700/FEU. Export customs clearance: typically 1-2 days after declaration.

China Import Customs Clearance Timeline [CNI]

Average customs clearance time (from declaration to release): Standard goods: 1-3 business days (Single Window has reduced from 16 hours to ~2 hours for green channel). Goods requiring inspection: 3-7 business days. First-time imports with lab testing: 15-20 business days. Major port processing times (2026): Shanghai (洋山/外高桥): 1-2 days average. Shenzhen (盐田/蛇口): 1-2 days. Guangzhou (南沙): 1-2 days. Qingdao (青岛): 2-3 days. Tianjin (天津): 2-3 days. AEO-certified enterprises: typically same-day or next-day clearance.

Shipping Timeline: US to China [CNI]

Ocean freight: US west coast (LA/Long Beach) → Shanghai/Shenzhen: 15-20 days. US east coast (NY/Savannah) → Shanghai: 25-35 days. Transit via Pacific: most common route for US-China trade. Air freight: 2-4 days (major airports: LAX→PVG, JFK→PEK, ORD→CAN). Ocean container cost (2026): $1,500-3,500/FEU (US→China direction typically cheaper than China→US). Air freight cost: $4-8/kg. Add 1-3 days for China customs clearance (standard goods).

Shipping Timeline from Vietnam

Vietnam → US: 18-25 days ocean. Vietnam → China: 3-7 days. Vietnam → Japan: 5-8 days. Vietnam → EU: 20-30 days.

Shipping Timeline to Vietnam

From China: 3-7 days ocean, $300-800/FEU. From US: 18-25 days. From Japan: 5-8 days. From EU: 20-30 days. Clearance: 1-3 days (green), 5-7 days (red).

Required Import Documents (Vietnam)

Commercial Invoice, Packing List, B/L or AWB, Certificate of Origin (for FTA rates), Contract, Insurance, CoC/CoQ (product conformity), Import License (if controlled).

Import Declaration via VNACCS/VCIS

Electronic customs system (based on Japan's NACCS). Steps: register → submit declaration → auto-classification (green/yellow/red channel) → pay duties → release. Fast processing for green channel.

Vietnam Tariff — Electronics (HS 85)

ITA member: most electronics 0%. Smartphones (8517): 0%. Computers (8471): 0%. TVs (8528): 10-25%. FTA preferential: RCEP, CPTPP, EVFTA, ACFTA (China), VKFTA (Korea), VJEPA (Japan). US: MFN only (no FTA).

Vietnam VAT — 8% (Temporary Reduction from 10%)

Standard VAT rate: 10%. However, Vietnam has enacted a 2% VAT reduction under Resolution 204/2025/QH15 and Decree 174/2025/ND-CP, reducing the rate to 8% for most goods and services from July 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. Eligible sectors include IT products, electronics, logistics, and most manufactured goods. EXCLUDED from reduction (remain at 10%): finance, insurance, telecommunications, real estate, and certain other sectors. Calculated on (CIF + duty). VAT-registered businesses can claim input credit. The 8% rate applies uniformly at importation, manufacturing, processing, and trading stages for eligible goods.

QCVN Technical Regulations (Vietnam)

Electrical products must comply with QCVN standards. QCVN 4:2009 (safety), QCVN 9:2012 (EMC). Certification via CoC (batch) or CoQ (per-shipment). Testing by QUACERT/QUATEST. Timeline: 4-8 weeks.