With online merchants winning the battle for retail, there are new opportunities for retailers to ship individual orders direct from Asia, Europe and South America to the US.
Section import processes to the USA enable duty free import clearance for international online orders.
Traditional Supply Chain versus "Section 321" Parcel Logistics
What is Section 321?
US Customs allows most individual orders valued under $800 USD to be imported duty free into the USA without an H.S.Code using an entry type known as a Section 321. Using this entry type, importers can consolidate all their qualifying orders under one manifest entry and benefit from duty free entry.
Most goods cleared via a section 321 informal entry are imported under Part 128 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). As such, they are imported to facilities with port codes that define them as Express facilities or ECCF's. Many express operators are also able to clear via freight facilities (with section 321 processes) known as a Container Freight Station or CFS.
For importers who have H.S. codes, it may be best to use a Section 321 "type 86" entry. Using this entry type, goods can be imported via traditional methods using the Automated Broker Interface or ABI system.
Jet Worldwide helps companies get inside industry information and build proprietary direct access the US market via ECCF, CFS, and access via Canada.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog is for general information only and is not intended to, constitute legal and/or tax advice. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this site are hereby expressly disclaimed. The content on this posting is provided “as is”; no representations are made that the content is error-free.
Section 321 Port of Entries include:
- Major air freight hubs including JFK, DFW, LAX and ORD
- Border Crossings from Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal
Section 321 Entry Types:
Section 321 is a designated entry type for individual consignments valued under $800. The different types of section 321 include:
- Express consignment / ECCF: Goods imported using an ECCF are granted express clearance privileges and are subject to regulations outlined in Part 128 of the Code of Federal Regulations / CFR. Goods imported via express processes are subject to a per consignment fee mandated by customs to reimburse the cost for express processes.
- Cargo Clearance / CFS: Goods can be imported using express processes but without the per consignment fee (mentioned above). Goods are transferred to an approved Container Freight Station (CFS) and are usually cleared within 1 to 3 days of arrival.
- Type 86 Entry: For traditional brokerage processes that use automated connections to customs (ACE), section 321 type 86 can be used. The key difference is that HS codes are required for each item. An HS Code is not required for ECCF or CFS section 321 mentioned above.
- Canada/ USA Cross Border Clearance: This method is increasingly being used to take advantage of airlift to Canada and trucking cross border directly (usually) to a USPS facility.
Section 321 import entry: American retailers can arrange to have the vast majority of their orders sent directly to the consumer from Asia (or from any other region) duty free.
Express Consignment Direct to USA Parcel Logistics
- Duty fee clearance of most items
- Same day clearance
- Multiple ports of entry for low cost nationwide ground delivery
Jet Worldwide advises retailers on how to set up their own parcel logistics network from Asia to the USA using an Express Consignment Clearance Facility (ECCF), multiple ports of entry, and low cost ground delivery. From order in China to delivery to their American customer be as fast as 2-5 days.
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