Guide to international shipping requirements

Everything you need to know to import parts from overseas with Fictiv.

We’re proud to offer customers access to a variety of manufacturing location options, with facilities located in the USA, China, India, and Mexico. Our global network ensures you can find the right capabilities, pricing, and lead times to meet your project requirements.

Due to new U.S. global trade tariffs introduced in 2025, it's important to understand any additional duties and taxes you may be responsible for when ordering parts manufactured overseas. To help streamline this process and avoid delays or unexpected fees, we've updated our customs clearance workflow.

This article will guide you through each step to ensure you’re prepared for your shipment.

Please note: Customs details only available AFTER your order.

Once your order is placed, you’ll be directed to a checkout page with two tabs: Order Status and Customs Information.

Important: Please complete the Customs Information section within 48 hours. This helps us expedite the customs process and avoid potential shipping delays. If we don’t receive this information before the parts are shipped, we will classify it as commercial by default and use a generic HTS code based on the part material.

Choose between:

This selection determines which tariffs and duties apply. You’ll need to confirm whether all parts in your order are for prototype use. If they are, read on. If not, skip ahead to "Ordering Commercial Production Parts”.

For international prototype orders (excluding China starting May 2, 2025) that meet the following criteria:

1. Products used exclusively for testing, development, product evaluation or quality control purposes

2. Limited to non-commercial quantities per industry practice

3. May NOT be sold or put into other products to be resold after import

4. May NOT be subject to Anti-dumping/countervailing duties

…Fictiv can serve as the Importer of Record (IOR) to help prevent shipment delays when we prepay the freight. This is part of our DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipment upgrade program.

To qualify for this program, you must also provide:

If your order qualifies, you won’t need to worry about filling out an Importer ID form (CF5106), navigating special customs codes, or paying customs duties. Learn more about Fictiv’s DDP shipment upgrade program.

If you're unsure whether your parts qualify as prototypes, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) defines a prototype as:

At the time of entry (or at a later date), you may be required to provide U.S. Customs with a written statement confirming the actual use of your parts, along with any supporting documentation for prototype certification. If CBP determines that your parts do not qualify as prototypes and sufficient proof cannot be provided, the customer will be responsible for any resulting tariffs or duties.

If your international order includes parts intended for sale (i.e., commercial parts), the shipment will follow Ex Works (EXW) or Delivered at Place (DAP) Incoterms, depending on whether you selected Fictiv’s pre-paid freight. In either case, your company will be listed as the Importer of Record on the import entry.

This means you are responsible for:

Failure to provide this information can result in:

As the Importer of Record, you are also responsible for paying all applicable import duties, taxes, and fees. These are collected by U.S. Customs upon import. A few days after delivery, your carrier (e.g., FedEx, UPS, or DHL) will invoice you for these charges.

Update May 2025: Due to new U.S. trade regulations, low-value shipments (under $800, formerly duty-free under Section 321 or “de minimis”) may now be subject to duties. Additionally, major carriers like FedEx and UPS will no longer act as the Importer of Record for these shipments, which means the importer must take full responsibility for customs compliance and payment of duties.

Fill out the following fields:

Note: Your shipment will not be eligible for Fictiv’s DDP shipping upgrade program if you either (1) fail to provide the required, detailed information needed to comply with U.S. regulations, or (2) choose to use your own shipping account. In these cases, you will be responsible for all import formalities and any customs inquiries related to your shipment.

For commercial production orders, the default Incoterms are Ex Works (EXW) or Delivered at Place (DAP) if you selected pre-paid freight on the Fictiv platform. As the Importer of Record, it is your responsibility to provide the correct HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code for each item in your order.

To help identify the appropriate codes, you can use the Tariff Finder Tool by selecting “Exporting (from Canada to) the United States” and following the guided instructions to obtain the applicable U.S. HTS code(s).

Here are a few common HTS codes used in orders placed through our platform:

If you're unsure of the correct HTS codes:

The following is an example carrier (UPS), a similar process is likely required for other carriers as well.

If you’re unsure if you already have a valid Power of Attorney (POA) on file with UPS, you can directly verify the status by contacting the UPS POA Department.

The UPS POA team typically responds within 24 hours. If no active POA is found, UPS will advise the customer to complete and submit a new POA document to proceed with import clearance activities.

UPS_SCS POA (2).pdf

NOTE: Due to new U.S. trade regulations, low-value shipments (under $800, formerly duty-free under Section 321 or “de minimis”) may now be subject to duties. Additionally, major carriers like FedEx and UPS will no longer act as the Importer of Record for these shipments, which means the importer must take full responsibility for customs compliance and payment of duties.

As the buyer, you are now required to act as the Importer of Record (IOR) for any shipment that may incur duties. To do this, you must have a Power of Attorney (POA) on file with your customs broker (typically the brokerage division of your selected shipping carrier) authorizing them to clear goods into the U.S. on your behalf. If you fail to provide a POA, your shipment may be delayed.

You must also be registered as an importer with your carrier. To register, you must submit CBP Form 5106, which establishes or updates your importer profile with U.S. Customs. CBP uses this form to collect and maintain importer identification information for goods entering the United States.

Note: You cannot submit this form to the express consignment operator until after your goods have shipped and you’ve received a tracking number.

To complete the form, be sure to have the following information ready:

Once all three steps are complete, you’ll see a green checkmark and “Submitted” status.

Fictiv will generate the necessary documents for import. If your order qualifies for our DDP Shipment Upgrade Program, Fictiv will act as the Importer of Record (IOR) and coordinate with our customs broker to handle clearance.

However, if the order is classified as Commercial or a Prototype containing aluminum or steel, you will be the IOR and must work with your own customs broker (or your carrier’s brokerage service) to complete clearance.

Note: Even when you are the IOR, Fictiv will continue to provide support to help mitigate potential delays.

Reminder: Complete the Customs Information section within 48 hours to avoid delays. If we don’t receive this, our team will reach out for the missing details.

If you’re unsure how to classify your parts or need help ensuring you have the correct import information, we recommend consulting a licensed customs broker.

While Fictiv is not a licensed customs broker and cannot provide direct assistance with customs matters, we can refer you to our trusted partner:

American Royal International, Inc.

1021 Washington Street

San Carlos, CA 94070

Tel: +1 (650) 685-7330

Fax: +1 (650) 685-7334

Email: sales@arii.net

Website: www.arii.net

Disclaimer:

Still have questions about importing goods into the U.S. through Fictiv’s international manufacturing services? Talk to an expert.