My wife is an independent apparel designer in the USA. She’s been doing some consulting in China and Hong Kong, and after meeting some producers there, has been considering having a few small runs of her designs made (probably in HK), which she would then carry back to the USA in a suitcase when she flies home and subsequently sell to US customers via wholesale (to boutiques) or retail (via online orders). She’s envisioning goods valued at about $1000 total to start.
What are the procedures for this? What sort of duties will she be likely to pay? She’ll of course make sure the product labeling (country of origin, fiber content) sewn into the clothes is correct.
She needs to talk with a Customs Broker. They know the ropes on all that stuff.
I used to import those hand woven from wool and/or cotton yarn multicolored friendship bracelets that were popular with skateboarders, Dead Heads, and teenagers in general in my luggage on trips from Guatemala. There were restrictions and duties on wool and cotton – restrictions change with time and country.
My customs broker got me a letter from the US Customs Service to carry with me on trips declaring that the bracelets were jewelry and therefore exempt from the textile regulations. Often I just got waved through US Customs but the times I did get checked I just showed them the letter and told them I had paid about $1600 for the 24,000 bracelets in my suitcases and that was that.
Cool. It looks like there are plenty of Customs Brokers to choose from in our hometown.
Thanks!