Import planning workflow

1. Start with one product and one route

Do not begin with a full SKU catalog. Start with one product, one origin country, one destination country, and one expected goods value. This keeps the estimate narrow enough to review.

Example: cotton T-shirt, China origin, United States destination, USD 10,000 goods value.

2. Identify the best HS/HTS starting point

Search by product name and candidate code. If you only have a supplier-provided code, treat it as a starting point, not proof. For U.S. imports, open the USITC HTS result and check the description, units, general duty field, and related Chapter 99 notes.

If the product facts are incomplete, keep the code as "needs review" and ask for material, construction, intended use, and technical details before relying on it.

3. Separate the tariff layers

Do not collapse the estimate into one "tariff rate" too early. Keep the layers separate:

• MFN or base duty
• Section 301 or other country-specific tariff
• Section 232 or sector tariff
• Chapter 99, AD/CVD, safeguards, quotas, exclusions, or preference programs
• Import tax, fixed fees, MPF/HMF, broker fees, and logistics charges

Separating layers makes the estimate easier to update when one policy changes.

4. Model landed cost before ordering

Use the calculator to estimate dutiable value, duties, import tax, fees, landed cost, unit cost, and suggested price. Compare the result with your expected selling price before approving a purchase order.

For sourcing decisions, run at least two alternate origins. A lower tariff country can still be more expensive if manufacturing, freight, lead time, or compliance risk rises.

5. Save the source trail

For every important assumption, record the source URL and retrieval date. At minimum, capture:

• HTS source page
• Section 301 / 232 / Chapter 99 source page, if relevant
• AD/CVD or trade-remedy search path
• Supplier product facts
• Broker or counsel notes, if available

This source trail is what turns a quick estimate into a reviewable planning record.

6. Ask the right final-review questions

Before filing or making a binding commercial decision, ask a licensed customs broker or qualified advisor:

• Is this the correct 10-digit classification?
• Does the declared value match the customs valuation rules?
• Is the claimed country of origin supportable?
• Do AD/CVD, Section 301, Section 232, Chapter 99, quotas, safeguards, or exclusions apply?
• Are there product-admissibility, labeling, safety, PGA, or documentation requirements?

7. Recheck when the policy layer changes

Tariff policy changes quickly. Recheck high-margin or high-volume SKUs after Federal Register notices, USTR actions, HTS revisions, exclusion expirations, supplier changes, or origin changes.

TariffsChart helps organize the math and source trail, but the final filing decision belongs with the importer and qualified professionals.