Practical guides for sourcing and evaluating Chinese manufacturers.

Shipping dates · Estimated and actual · 10 min read

Published 21 October 2026

ETD vs ETA vs ATD vs ATA: Reading Shipping Dates From China

Read estimated and actual shipping dates by port, leg, event, time zone and source version before planning collection or customer delivery from China.

Photo inquiry · RFQ inputs · 10 min read

Published 20 October 2026

Requesting a Quote from China with Only a Product Photo: 5 Checks

Turn a product photo into a usable sourcing brief by confirming its role, functional requirements, quantities, unknowns and the next supplier response.

Cargo release · Status handoff · 10 min read

Published 19 October 2026

Cargo Release from China: 5 Status Checks Before Pickup

Confirm document type, authority, carrier processing and destination requirements before treating a release request as pickup-ready cargo from China.

Test evidence · Product match · 10 min read

Published 18 October 2026

How to Check a China Supplier’s Test Report Against Your Product

Check the report’s identity, issuing laboratory, tested scope and exact product revision before relying on a China supplier’s test evidence.

Receiving · Count reconciliation · 10 min read

Published 17 October 2026

How to Reconcile a Short Shipment from a China Supplier

Reconcile order quantities, packing details, transport handovers and receiving counts before assigning a cause to a reported short shipment from China.

MOQ · Trial order · 10 min read

Published 16 October 2026

How to Clarify a Chinese Supplier’s MOQ Before a Trial Order

Clarify whether a China supplier’s minimum order quantity applies per order, model, color or packaging run before comparing trial-order offers.

Paid samples · Cost scope · 10 min read

Published 15 October 2026

Paying for Samples from China: Costs, Scope and Credit Conditions

Before paying a China supplier for samples, confirm the exact deliverable, one-time charges, shipping scope and any order-credit conditions in a versioned written record.

Canton Fair · Buyer shortlist · 10 min read

Published 14 October 2026

After the Canton Fair: A 7-Step Supplier Follow-Up and Shortlist

Turn Canton Fair conversations into a supplier shortlist with comparable requirements, evidence gaps, owners and agreed next steps before requesting samples or placing an order.

EU-China trade · 12 min read

Published 11 October 2026 · Updated 13 October 2026

EU-China Trade Consultation Outcomes: A 6-Step Business Tracker

Separate political signals, technical dialogue, procedural facilitation and implemented measures before changing a sourcing or import decision.

U.S. FTZ · 12 min read

How to Build a Country-of-Origin BOM for U.S. FTZ Component Sourcing

Separate part facts, origin, HTS, trade measures and admission status before accepting an FTZ cost assumption.

Trade remedies · 12 min read

U.S. CVD Critical Circumstances: 7 Checks for the 90-Day Entry Lookback

Map written scope, the producer-exporter pair, entry date and liquidation status before applying the preliminary deposit or lookback.

Trade policy · 11 min read

U.S. Section 301 Actions Continue: 7 Landed-Cost Checks for China Imports

Keep the control in place while checking the product, HTS classification, action list, exclusion and entry date.

Trade remedies · 11 min read

U.S. CVD Rate Correction: 7 Record Checks for Importers and China Suppliers

Trace the corrected sunset-review figure without turning it into a universal current entry rate.

Trade remedies · 12 min read

USITC Preliminary Injury Investigation: A Timeline for China Imports

Separate institution from duties, then assign participation, evidence and decision checkpoints.

Trade remedies · 12 min read

U.S. CVD Cash Deposit vs Final Assessment: An Import Review Guide

Match scope, entity combination and entry date before treating a deposit or review rate as the final import cost.

Trade remedies · 11 min read

U.S. AD/CVD Circumvention Inquiry: 8 Evidence Checks for China Suppliers

Connect product construction, entity records, entry status and current case documents before accepting a duty assumption.

Supply-chain compliance · 11 min read

Forced-Labor Due Diligence: A 7-Step Evidence Pack for China Suppliers

Connect supplier identity, upstream inputs, labor risk and order-level traceability in one reviewable evidence pack.

Trade remedies · 10 min read

U.S. AD/CVD Scope Check: 7 Steps Before Importing From China

Check product scope, producer and exporter identities, and entry requirements before importing from China. The China air-compressor case illustrates the process and includes a blank review worksheet.

Container planning · 10 min read

20GP vs 40GP vs 40HQ: Container Dimensions and How to Choose

Compare standard external dimensions, then confirm the actual equipment, packaged cargo, weight and loading limits.

Origin documents · 9 min read

Certificate of Origin From China: 8 Checks Before Claiming Tariff Preference

Confirm the arrangement, product rule and accepted proof before relying on lower duty.

Container control · 8 min read

Demurrage vs Detention: 7 Free-Time Checks for Containers From China

Confirm where each container clock runs, which event starts it and what evidence supports a charge.

Shipping quotes · 8 min read

Ocean Freight Surcharges in a China Shipping Quote: 7 Checks Before Acceptance

Before accepting a China ocean freight quote, reconcile the included charges, floating items, validity dates, units and approval record.

Holiday planning · 8 min read

Chinese Supplier Holiday Handover: 7 Checks for Open Orders

Confirm open-order status, supplier and forwarder cutoffs, approved versions, backup contacts and restart actions before a Chinese supplier holiday.

Payment verification · 8 min read

Chinese Supplier Bank Details Changed? 6 Checks Before Payment

Verify changed Chinese supplier bank details through an independent callback, beneficiary checks, version control and a second approval before payment.

Packaging control · 8 min read

ISPM 15 Wood Packaging: 6 Checks Before Exporting From China

Check scope, treatment and mark evidence, destination requirements and a traceable hand-off before loading.

Payment preparation · 8 min read

Pro Forma Invoice From China: 7 Checks Before You Pay a Deposit

Align the goods, price, payment terms, Incoterm and version before treating a PI as the prepayment baseline.

Label verification · 9 min read

How to Check Product Barcodes and Logistic Labels Before Shipping From China

Confirm data ownership, packaging level, printed-label readability and the exact hand-off before dispatch.

Quotation control · 8 min read

Export Quotation Change Control: 4 Steps to Keep a Verified Record

Keep the request, verification, revised quotation and buyer confirmation in one checkable order record.

Delivery planning · 8 min read

How to Backward Plan an Export Delivery Date: 6 Buyer-Ready Milestones

Work backward from the buyer’s required arrival date and keep every hand-off visible, owned and checkable.

Delivery control · 8 min read

How to Handle an Export Order Delay: 7 Steps for a Buyer Recovery Plan

Turn a confirmed delay into a verified recovery plan, buyer options and a controlled delivery record.

Sample control · 9 min read

How to Ship Commercial Samples from China: 8 Checks Before Dispatch

Align the sample revision, physical package, commercial records, delivery evidence and written feedback before collection.

Supplier readiness · 14 min read

Buying from a Chinese Factory That Has Never Exported

Confirm the exporter, bank instructions, trade registration, document owners and unresolved risks before payment or shipment.

Quality control · 11 min read

AQL Inspection Sampling in China: 8-Step Buyer Checklist

Define the lot, defect classes and sampling plan, then draw a random sample and apply the agreed accept-or-reject rule.

Freight calculation · 10 min read

How to Calculate CBM and Chargeable Weight from China

Measure packed cartons, calculate by carton type and confirm the carrier's divisor, rounding and minimums.

Supplier change control · 11 min read

Supplier Change Control in China: 9-Step Buyer Checklist

Review impact, match verification to risk, define the approval boundary, update controlled documents and verify the first changed lot.

Freight booking · 10 min read

Freight Booking from China: 8-Step Handoff Checklist

Separate booking estimates, shipping instructions and final verified shipment data, then control owners, versions and cut-off times.

Payment control · 10 min read

Final Payment Before Shipment from China: 8-Step Checklist

Verify the agreed trigger, released lot, balance calculation, documents, loading record and beneficiary before payment.

Loading control · 11 min read

Container Loading Inspection in China: 8-Step Buyer Checklist

Connect the released shipment, empty-container condition, count, stowage, securing, seal and VGM into one traceable handoff.

Packaging control · 11 min read

How to Check Export Packaging, Labels and Shipping Marks from China

Freeze measurable pack data, validate a complete trial carton, approve the first production pack and reconcile shipment records before release.

Production control · 11 min read

How to Track Production Progress with a Chinese Supplier

Replace vague completion percentages with eight milestones, traceable evidence, variance triggers and a verified next action.

Inspection disposition · 11 min read

What to Do When a Pre-Shipment Inspection Fails in China

Hold the lot, verify the report basis, contain defects, implement corrective action and release only against identified evidence.

Shipping documents · 10 min read

Invoice, Packing List & Bill of Lading: 8 Checks

Reconcile the commercial invoice, physical packing and carrier record before departure without forcing three different documents to look identical.

Purchase order · 9 min read

China Purchase Order Checklist: 10 Checks Before Production

Align product revisions, price, payment, Incoterms, packaging, inspection, documents and changes before releasing production.

Product specification · 11 min read

How to Create a Product Specification Sheet for a Chinese Supplier

Control the product revision, materials, dimensions, performance, packaging, acceptance evidence and change rules before comparing prices.

Sample approval · 10 min read

How to Approve a Pre-Production Sample from a Chinese Supplier

Freeze measurable specifications, retain the same approved reference, control changes and keep compliance and production-lot inspection separate.

Quotation comparison · 11 min read

How to Compare Quotations from Chinese Suppliers

Normalize the product revision, quantity, Incoterm, packing, lead time, payment and change assumptions before ranking supplier prices.

AI workflow design · 10 min read

What Is an AI Agent? A Practical Explanation for Small Export Teams

Understand the difference between a chatbot, a fixed workflow and an agent—then choose a narrow first pilot with clear permissions, checks and human takeover.

Quotation & delivery · 13 min read

FOB vs EXW vs DDP When Importing from China: Control, Cost and Customs Risk

Compare the hand-off, customs responsibilities and hidden assumptions behind three common China sourcing quotations.

Supplier discovery · 12 min read

Where to Find Manufacturers in China: 7 Sourcing Channels and a Shortlist Method

Compare search engines, B2B platforms, trade fairs, shipment data, industry networks, referrals and local sourcing partners—then turn the results into a focused shortlist.

Manufacturing strategy · 10 min read

Why China Manufacturing Remains Competitive Beyond Low Wages

Compare supplier density, automation, engineering response and total delivery cost instead of treating hourly labor cost as a complete sourcing strategy.

Supplier evaluation · 13 min read

China Supplier Evaluation: 8-Step Buyer Checklist

Use this checklist to review the company behind a quotation, understand factory capability, compare the complete commercial offer, approve samples and match verification depth to order risk.

Factory audit & PSI · 12 min read

Factory Audit or Pre-Shipment Inspection in China: What Buyers Should Book

Choose the right verification service, define the inspection scope, understand AQL sampling and turn the report into a release or corrective-action decision.

Trade-data evidence · 11 min read

How to Use Public Trade Data to Check a Sourcing Market and Supplier Claims

Separate market statistics, U.S. ocean records and public trader directories—then turn their limits into supplier-verification questions.