How to Import Tactical Gear from China: Duties, Shipping and Compliance
The factory price is not the cost. Here is how to import tactical gear from China — HS codes, shipping, Incoterms, documents and the landed-cost math that decides your margin.
How to Import Tactical Gear from China
The factory price is where the cost begins, not where it ends. Duty, freight, insurance and the customs work all sit between the quotation and the warehouse, and the importer who ignores them finds the margin thinner than the plan.
The factory price is the start of the cost, not the end. Duty, freight, insurance and the customs process all sit between the quotation and the warehouse, and the importer who does not model them discovers the margin is thinner than the plan assumed. This guide covers the import process end to end — the classification, the shipping, the terms and the landed-cost math. For the sourcing side, our China manufacturer guide covers finding the factory.
The Import Process at a Glance
The import runs in six stages: quote, order and produce, inspect, ship, clear customs and deliver.
1. Quote in the right term — agree the Incoterm (FOB, CIF, EXW or DDP) so both sides know who pays what.
2. Order and produce — deposit, production, the pre-shipment arrangements.
3. Inspect — the pre-shipment inspection before the goods leave.
4. Ship — choose sea, air or express based on volume and urgency.
5. Clear customs — the HS classification, the duty and the documentation.
6. Deliver — the last mile to your warehouse or the fulfillment center.
The stages are sequential and each can stall the next. The importer's job is to line up the classification and the customs broker before the goods ship, not after they land — that is where demurrage and delay come from.
HS Codes and Duty
Every imported product classifies under a Harmonized System (HS) code, and the code sets the duty rate. Tactical gear spans several chapters.
| Product | HS chapter | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bags, packs, pouches | Ch. 42 | Textile or leather cases and containers |
| Apparel (jackets, trousers) | Ch. 61 / 62 | Knitted vs woven garments differ |
| Other textile articles | Ch. 63 | Webbing goods, made-up textiles |
| Footwear (boots) | Ch. 64 | By upper and sole material |
| Lighting, electronics | Ch. 85 | Flashlights and electrical goods |
The code is country-specific at the last digits: the first six digits are the international HS (maintained by the World Customs Organization), and each country extends them with its own tariff line. Duty rates vary by country and by trade agreement — which is why the importer confirms the rate for their own market rather than assuming a number. The classification also determines restrictions: getting the code right is what keeps a shipment legitimate. Trade data portals such as OEC and national trade resources such as trade.gov are the starting points for the importer's own market research.
Shipping Methods
The method is a trade between speed and cost, set by volume and urgency.
| Method | Best for | Speed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea freight (LCL) | Larger orders, flexible timing | Slow (weeks) | Lowest per unit |
| Sea freight (FCL) | Full container volume | Slow (weeks) | Lowest at volume |
| Air freight | Mid-size, time-sensitive | Days | Mid to high |
| Express courier | Samples, small urgent lots | Days | Highest per unit |
For tactical gear — dense, bulky, heavy — sea freight carries the economics for real orders, with air and express reserved for samples, reorders and urgent stock. The choice also interacts with the Incoterm: an FOB quote leaves the freight to the buyer, which is usually the better position for the importer who wants to control the forwarder.
Incoterms and Who Pays
Incoterms define the point at which cost and risk pass from seller to buyer. The four common ones:
| Term | Seller delivers to | Buyer pays |
|---|---|---|
| EXW | Factory door | Everything after pickup |
| FOB | On board at origin port | Freight, insurance, duty |
| CIF | Destination port | Duty, inland, final delivery |
| DDP | Buyer's door, duty paid | Nothing (all-inclusive price) |
The choice is a control-and-cost trade. FOBDDP is convenience: a single all-in price, useful for first orders and buyers without logistics capacity, at the cost of transparency. The importer who compares two FOB quotes compares apples to apples; comparing an FOB quote to a DDP quote compares nothing.
Landed Cost
The landed cost is the number that decides the margin, and it is more than the product price.
Landed cost = product cost + freight + insurance + duty + customs fees + inland delivery + extras.
Run the math before the order. The product cost comes from the factory quote in FOB terms. The freight and insurance come from the forwarder's quote. The duty comes from the HS classification and the destination's rate. The customs fees and inland delivery come from the broker. The extras — brokerage, storage, packaging for the channel — complete it. A buyer who models the landed cost orders on the right volume; a buyer who orders on the factory price alone discovers the gap at the warehouse. Our MOQ and pricing framework covers the cost upstream.
Compliance and Restrictions
The compliance question has two layers, and most civilian gear sits safely.
The civilian layer covers the ordinary categories — outdoor, hunting, camping and training gear — which trade normally with standard documentation. The restricted layer covers items designed to military specifications or controlled classifications, which some jurisdictions regulate on export and import. The practical rule for the civilian market is that products built for the commercial outdoor and sporting market (the categories our tactical packs and bags and clothing serve) import normally, while anything marketed as military specification requires a check before it ships. A pre-order compliance check — with the supplier and a customs broker — is the cheap insurance.
The Bottom Line
Importing tactical gear from China is a logistics project as much as a purchasing one: the classification sets the duty, the Incoterm sets who pays, the shipping method sets the speed, and the landed cost sets the margin. Model the full cost before the order and line up the broker before the goods ship. For the sourcing step upstream, our factory vs trading company guide covers who to buy from.
FAQ
How much is the duty on tactical gear from China?
It depends on your country and the product's HS code — there is no single rate. Bags and packs classify under HS chapter 42, apparel under 61-62, footwear under 64. Confirm the rate for your own market and trade agreement rather than assuming a number.
What is the cheapest way to ship tactical gear from China?
Sea freight (LCL or FCL) is the cheapest per unit for real orders; express and air cost more but ship in days. Tactical gear is dense and bulky, so sea carries the economics for volume, with air and express for samples and urgent reorders.
Should I buy FOB or DDP?
FOB is the importer's default — you control freight and insurance, and it is the honest baseline for comparing suppliers. DDP is a single all-in price that suits first orders and buyers without logistics capacity, but it hides the cost structure.
What documents do I need to import from China?
Typically a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (sea) or airway bill (air), the HS classification and any certificate of origin. A customs broker handles the filing; the supplier provides the invoice and packing list.
How do I calculate landed cost?
Landed cost = product cost + freight + insurance + duty + customs fees + inland delivery. Model all the components, not just the factory price, because the margin is decided at the landed number.
Plan Your Import
Ask us for FOB terms and documentation and we will help you model the landed cost. Talk to us.