To import from China into the EU, you need an EORI number, a compliant product, a verified supplier, a clear Incoterm, a freight forwarder and a customs declaration that pays the right duty and import VAT. The process usually takes 8-16 weeks for a first order, and most problems come from skipping compliance checks or underestimating landed cost, not from the shipping itself.
Key takeaways
- An EORI number is mandatory to clear goods through EU customs; in France it is free and issued online via the SOPRANO service on douane.gouv.fr.
- The EU importer is legally responsible for product safety, CE marking where applicable, and labelling under the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), in force since 13 December 2024.
- Since 1 July 2026 the 150 euro customs duty exemption has ended; low-value B2C parcels pay a temporary 3 euro flat duty per item category.
- In France, import VAT is self-assessed (autoliquidation) on the CA3 return for VAT-registered businesses, so it does not have to be paid in cash at the border.
- FOB at a named Chinese port with your own forwarder is the most common and transparent setup for first imports.
- Budget roughly 20-50 percent on top of the product cost for freight, duties, inspection and other landed costs.
Step 1: Set up the legal basics (EORI, VAT, company)
Before contacting suppliers, make sure your business can legally import:
- EORI number. Every economic operator that deals with EU customs needs an Economic Operators Registration and Identification number. In France it is "FR" followed by your SIREN or SIRET, it is free, and it becomes active about 24 hours after issue. Apply through SOPRANO on douane.gouv.fr.
- Intra-EU VAT number. Needed to self-assess import VAT and to sell B2B within the EU.
- Product scope check. Some goods need licences or are restricted (weapons, certain chemicals, plant and animal products, medicines, dual-use goods).
Step 2: Validate the product and its EU compliance
Many first-time importers choose a product, pay the supplier and only then discover it needs CE marking, lab tests or specific labels. Reverse the order:
- Identify the HS code to estimate the duty rate (see HS codes explained).
- List applicable EU rules: CE marking directives (toys, electronics, machinery, PPE), REACH and RoHS for chemicals and electronics, GPSR for general consumer products, textile labelling, and food-contact rules.
- Check for anti-dumping duties on that product from China in the EU TARIC database; some categories, such as e-bikes and certain steel products, carry high extra duties.
- Estimate the landed cost and margin before committing.
Our dedicated guide on CE marking and EU product compliance details what to ask suppliers.
Step 3: Find and verify suppliers
Main channels for finding Chinese suppliers:
| Channel | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|
| Alibaba.com | English-speaking exporters, small MOQs | Many trading companies presented as factories |
| Made-in-China.com, Global Sources | Industrial and electronics suppliers | Paid listings rank first |
| 1688.com | Domestic Chinese prices | Chinese only, needs an agent |
| Canton Fair (Guangzhou) | Meeting hundreds of factories in person | Only two sessions per year |
| Supplier databases and directories | Pre-filtered shortlists | Still verify each company |
Verify each supplier: business licence (check the unified social credit code), export experience to the EU, existing test reports, factory photos or video call, and references. See how to find reliable suppliers in China for a full checklist.
Step 4: Order samples and negotiate
Order samples from two or three suppliers. Expect 30-150 euros per sample plus express courier costs, typically 5-10 days by DHL, FedEx or UPS. Test the samples against your specification and, for regulated products, send them to a lab.
Then negotiate price, MOQ, packaging, lead time, payment terms and the Incoterm. Put everything in a written purchase order or contract including product specification, labelling requirements (your EU address, CE mark, warnings), packaging, inspection rights and penalties for delays.
Step 5: Pay securely
The standard structure is 30 percent deposit by bank transfer (T/T) and 70 percent balance before shipment, ideally after a pre-shipment inspection. Alternatives include Alibaba Trade Assurance for smaller orders and letters of credit for large orders. Always check that the bank account belongs to the company named in the contract, because payment fraud via fake bank details is common.
Step 6: Choose the Incoterm and book freight
Agree a precise Incoterm such as "FOB Ningbo, Incoterms 2020". With FOB, you book a freight forwarder who handles the main transport and often EU customs clearance too. Our Incoterms guide compares the options.
Typical transport choices from China to Western Europe:
| Mode | Typical door-to-door time | Best for |
|---|
| Express courier | 3-7 days | Samples, under 100 kg |
| Air freight | 5-10 days | Urgent or high-value goods |
| Rail freight | 18-30 days | Mid-value goods, 1 pallet to full container |
| Sea freight | 30-50 days | Bulky goods, full containers, lowest cost per unit |
Sea transit varies with routing: in autumn 2026, some carriers were gradually returning to the Suez Canal while others still sailed around the Cape of Good Hope. Your forwarder can confirm the current routing for each sailing.
Step 7: Inspect before shipment
A pre-shipment inspection (PSI) by a third-party company such as SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, QIMA or a local inspector typically costs 250-400 euros per person-day. The inspector checks a random sample using AQL tables, verifies labels, packaging and quantities, and reports before you pay the balance.
Step 8: Clear EU customs and pay duties and VAT
When the goods arrive, a customs declaration is lodged in the EU, usually by your forwarder or a customs broker acting as your representative. You provide the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, and certificates if needed. Customs calculates:
- Customs duty: a percentage of the customs value (usually the CIF value), from 0 percent to 12 percent for most consumer goods, more for some categories, plus anti-dumping duties where they apply.
- Import VAT: 20 percent in France for most goods, calculated on the customs value plus duty plus transport costs to the first destination in the EU.
In France, VAT-registered businesses must self-assess import VAT on their CA3 return, so there is no cash outlay at the border. Full details are in our guide to EU customs clearance for China imports.
Step 9: Receive, check and sell
On delivery, check quantities and damage before signing the delivery note, and report any damage within the carrier's deadline (often 3 days for road delivery and 7 days for sea containers under many contracts). Keep all import documents, including customs declarations and compliance files, for at least 10 years for technical documentation and the legal retention periods for tax and customs records.
What changed for importers in 2026?
Several rule changes matter for anyone importing from China this year:
- End of the 150 euro duty exemption on 1 July 2026, replaced by a temporary 3 euro flat duty per item category on low-value distance sales to consumers.
- EU handling fee on small parcels. The Commission adopted a 2 euro per item handling fee for low-value e-commerce imports, expected to apply from 1 November 2026, separate from the 3 euro duty. B2B imports are excluded.
- EU Customs Reform approved by the Council on 3 September 2026, creating an EU Customs Authority based in Lille and a central data hub, mandatory for e-commerce from July 2028.
- French 2 euro small-parcel tax introduced on 1 March 2026 and suspended from 1 July 2026 in favour of the EU duty.
For B2B importers shipping pallets and containers, the core process remains the same; the changes mostly hit small parcels sent directly to consumers.
How Cina helps
Cina gathers the tools for each step in one place: a supplier directory of over 41,000 Chinese suppliers for Step 3, a freight forwarders directory to compare transport quotes in Step 6, and warehouses in China for consolidating orders from several factories. The premium guides and templates in Cina resources cover supplier verification, Incoterms, contracts and inspection checklists, as a lower-cost alternative to paying a sourcing consultant for each mission.
Conclusion
Importing from China is a sequence of manageable steps: register an EORI, validate compliance before buying, verify suppliers, pay safely, agree a clear Incoterm, inspect, then clear customs with the right duty and VAT treatment. Work through them in order, keep every document, and build your price on a full landed cost rather than the factory quote alone.
