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Import From China
Import from China Primer (back to top): Importing from China to the United States is not as hard as it may sound. But you will need to plan ahead with logistics (such as getting a China Visa and knowing the product you want to import). China tradeshows are a good start but there is much more in China than tradeshows. Below you will find information on China business agencies that helped us get started and our experiences with them. You may find them helpful and is a good starting place. We believe that you can start with small suppliers at the smaller gift shows and then move on to larger suppliers as your business grows and you inevitably know more about manufacturing your particular set of products with Chinese manufacturers. Many of these are smaller suppliers eager to earn a name for themselves. For the large suppliers, you should attend the smaller more specialized fairs (such as the International Exhibition for Door Manufacturers in early March). You can also find large suppliers through referrals. Your best bet is to contact the U.S. trade embassies or hire a consultant based out of Hong Kong or mainland China. Hong Kong consultants have the added advantages of speaking English fluently, have a western way of doing business, and can have a lot of experience dealing with mainland Chinese manufacturers.
Resources: Trade Shows (back to top) - Check out our Trade Shows page! There are hundreds of tradeshows in China, the best known is the Canton Fair (which is discussed below in detail). Although the larger shows have the glitter, the smaller shows are where the bread and butter are for veteran importers. Canton Fair (back to top) - This is not Canton, Ohio. This is Canton, Guangdong in southeastern China, one of the most prosperous trading states in China. And the Canton Fair is the "granddaddy" of fairs similar to the Rose Bowl's stature for NCAA football. Since the fair started 99 years ago, it has grown into the largest trade show convention in the world. It is usually held in the last two weeks of April and the middle two weeks of October. The fair is so big they need to divide the show into two sessions. You can everything from cement suppliers to toy manufacturers. This is an excellent jumping point if you are not sure what products to sell. Small Business Administraion (back to top) - The SBA has been many entrepreneur's best friend especially when entering a foreign market the size of China's. Through our experience they have been great in providing us not only finances but also invaluable conseling as well. The SBA has 107 branches called Small Business Development Centers that provide export assistance to small businesses such as counseling, training, managerial and trade finance. There is also the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) which has been a great resource to us. You will find executives of all backgrounds and there will be someone who can help you with China. Finally there is the Export Legal Assistance Network (ELAN) which provides free legal consultations for new export businesses. American Chamber of Commerce in China (back to top) - We have come to discover that this local chapter can be a valuable resource for doing business in China. You can call them for more information here in the U.S. at 1-800-USA-TRADE. International Trade Association (back to top) - The most valuable service we found here is that you can find out about export seminars and attend them. These export seminars are fantastic when we were beginners at this game. Although most of these seminars are not entirely devoted to China, you can bet they will have a few lectures and key discussions on China. If not, then that seminar is not worth attending. Check out the lists, we have discovered there are thousands of these seminars happening across the U.S. every year. U.S. Department of Agriculture (back to top) - If you wish to send agricultural products to China be sure to visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Trade Assistance and Promotion Office (TAPO) is the office that handles exporters of agricultural products. With "Mad Cow" disease (BSE), Avian Flu and SARS happening in the early 2000s it is a good idea to check what products can be shipped. The rise of bioengineered food products will surely cause more international discourse as well. You can also call TAPO at (202) 720-7420, fax them at (202) 690-4374 or go to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. National Institute for Standards and Technology (back to top) - NIST provides foreign foreign standards and certification systems for U.S. Product and Services write the National Center for Standards and Certificates Information, National Institute for Standards and Technology, Administration Building, A629, Gaithersburg, MD 20899; telephone 301-975-4040. NIST maintains a World Trade Organization (WTO) hotline (301)-975-4041 with a recording that reports on the latest notifications of proposed foreign regulations that may affect trade. Alibaba (back to top) - There are several trade sites for first time importers and Alibaba is a decent place to start. Our experience has been they are hit and miss, you can really get a bad supplier so "Buyer Beware"!.
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