CSW Editorial Team

Trade terms

EXW vs FOB vs DDP: Which Incoterm to Use When Buying from China

EXW, FOB and DDP compared for China imports: who pays each cost, where risk transfers, and which term suits first-time buyers vs experienced importers.

Updated 2026-09-26 · 3 min read

Fairs

How to Plan a China Sourcing Trip: Cities, Itinerary, Visas

Plan a 5–7 day China sourcing trip: cities by product, a sample Guangzhou and Yiwu itinerary, visa-free entry rules, mobile payments and a factory checklist.

Updated 2026-09-26 · 6 min read

QC

AQL Explained: How Pre-Shipment Inspection Sampling Works

What AQL means in product inspection, how sample sizes are chosen, and which AQL levels importers typically set for critical, major and minor defects.

Updated 2026-09-26 · 3 min read

E-commerce

China Dropshipping Agent vs AliExpress: Which to Use and When

AliExpress dropshipping vs a China fulfillment agent compared on product cost, delivery time, branding, quality control and stock, plus clear signs it's time to switch.

Updated 2026-09-25 · 6 min read

Private label

Custom Packaging from China: Options, Printing, MOQs and Labels

How to order custom packaging from China: poly bags, colour boxes, mailers and inserts, printing methods, MOQs, dielines, barcodes and origin marking.

Updated 2026-09-24 · 5 min read

Platforms

Alibaba Trade Assurance: What It Covers and How to Claim

What Alibaba.com Trade Assurance covers and excludes, which payments qualify, refund windows, delivery-delay compensation and how to file a claim.

Updated 2026-09-23 · 5 min read

Compliance

CE, UKCA, FCC and CPC: Product Certifications for Imports from China

What CE, UKCA, FCC and the US Children's Product Certificate mean, which products need them, who is responsible, and how to check a supplier's certificate.

Updated 2026-09-22 · 7 min read

QC

Defective Goods from China: What to Do When Your Order Arrives Wrong

Defective goods from a Chinese supplier? How to document evidence, use your PO terms, negotiate a fix, file Trade Assurance or insurance claims, and prevent repeats.

Updated 2026-09-21 · 5 min read

Shipping

Shipping from China to Amazon FBA: Rules, Options and Pitfalls

How to ship inventory from China into Amazon FBA in the US: carton and pallet limits, labels, importer of record, DDP forwarders, AGL and prep centers.

Updated 2026-09-20 · 6 min read

Yiwu

Yiwu Sourcing Agent Fees: How Agents Charge and What to Compare

How Yiwu buying agents charge: commission ranges, flat and per-container fees, what is included, hidden markups, red flags and how to compare quotes fairly.

Updated 2026-09-19 · 5 min read

Private label

How to Negotiate MOQ with Chinese Suppliers

Why Chinese factories set minimum order quantities and practical ways to lower them: stock colours, shared materials, trial orders, mixed SKUs and how to ask.

Updated 2026-09-18 · 5 min read

Compliance

How to Calculate Landed Cost When Importing from China

A step-by-step landed cost formula for China imports: product cost, freight, insurance, duty, VAT, fees and delivery, with why US and EU/UK duty bases differ.

Updated 2026-09-17 · 6 min read

Trade terms

CIF vs FOB: Which Is Better When Importing from China?

CIF vs FOB under Incoterms 2020: who books freight, what CIF insurance really covers, where risk passes, and why CIF can cost more once goods reach your port.

Updated 2026-09-16 · 5 min read

Platforms

How to Verify an Alibaba Supplier Before You Pay

Check an Alibaba.com supplier step by step: what Verified and Gold Supplier badges mean, business license lookups, factory vs trader signals and red flags.

Updated 2026-09-15 · 5 min read

Suppliers

China Manufacturing Hubs: Which City Makes What (Cluster Map)

A verified map of China's industrial clusters by product: where toys, socks, shoes, eyewear lenses, appliances, ceramics, furniture and hardware are made.

Updated 2026-09-14 · 6 min read

Fairs

Canton Fair Guide: Autumn 2026 Dates, Registration and Tips

The 140th Canton Fair runs in three phases from October 15 to November 4, 2026. What each phase covers, how the buyer badge works, and how to prepare and follow up.

Updated 2026-09-13 · 6 min read

Shipping

LCL vs FCL: When to Book a Full Container from China

LCL vs FCL explained for China imports: container sizes and volumes, the 15 CBM rule of thumb, LCL fees such as CFS and deconsolidation, and handling risks.

Updated 2026-09-12 · 6 min read

Private label

Product Samples from China: Types, Costs and How to Evaluate Them

Stock, custom, pre-production and golden samples explained: what they cost, who pays, sample fee refunds, express shipping and how to judge a sample properly.

Updated 2026-09-11 · 5 min read

Yiwu

How to Buy from the Yiwu Market Without Visiting

How overseas buyers source from Yiwu remotely: agents, video-call booth tours, the Chinagoods platform, consolidation warehouses, payment, QC and the main risks.

Updated 2026-09-10 · 6 min read

Platforms

1688 vs Alibaba vs Taobao: Which Platform Should You Buy From?

1688, Alibaba.com and Taobao compared for overseas buyers: who each serves, language, MOQ, prices, payment, buyer protection and shipping abroad.

Updated 2026-09-09 · 5 min read

Compliance

How to Find the Right HS Code for Products Imported from China

How HS codes work, how to classify a product step by step with official tariff tools in the US, EU and UK, and why your supplier's code may be wrong.

Updated 2026-09-08 · 7 min read

QC

Pre-Shipment Inspection Checklist for Goods Made in China

A practical pre-shipment inspection checklist: quantity, AQL workmanship, function tests, measurements, barcodes, carton drop test and markings, and the inspector brief.

Updated 2026-09-07 · 5 min read

Trade terms

How to Pay Chinese Suppliers Safely: T/T, L/C, Trade Assurance and More

Compare the ways to pay a Chinese supplier: T/T bank transfer, deposit terms, letters of credit, Trade Assurance, PayPal and Wise, plus how to stop bank-detail fraud.

Updated 2026-09-06 · 7 min read

Shipping

Sea vs Air vs Rail vs Express: Shipping from China Compared

Sea freight, air freight, China–Europe rail and express couriers compared: transit times, relative cost, chargeable weight formulas and when to use each.

Updated 2026-09-05 · 6 min read

Private label

OEM vs ODM: Which Manufacturing Model Fits Your Product?

OEM, ODM, private label and white label compared: who owns the design, tooling costs, MOQs, lead times and how to protect your IP when manufacturing in China.

Updated 2026-09-04 · 6 min read

Yiwu

Yiwu International Trade City: A Buyer's Guide to the Districts

What each district of Yiwu International Trade City sells, opening hours, the Chinese New Year closure, how to get there and how buying works.

Updated 2026-09-03 · 6 min read

Suppliers

Factory vs Trading Company in China: How to Tell and Which to Use

How to tell a real Chinese factory from a trading company using the business license scope, capital records and audits, plus when a trader is the smarter choice.

Updated 2026-09-02 · 7 min read

Platforms

How to Buy from 1688.com Outside China: A Step-by-Step Guide

How overseas buyers buy on 1688.com: account and payment options, Chinese and image search, shipping to a China forwarder, agents, and supplier checks.

Updated 2026-09-01 · 6 min read