Most US multifamily projects buy cabinets from China on FOB terms and handle tariff, clearance and installation locally. The two decisions that move landed cost most are the compliance route and the port. West Coast routing takes 14–18 days; East Coast via Panama takes 30–35, and the difference in inland freight often decides the port.
CARB P2 and TSCA Title VI are the compliance baseline; ask for a report naming your board grade.
Section 301 adds 25% on Chinese cabinets; model it before comparing quotes.
West Coast is 14–18 days, East Coast 30–35; inland freight often decides the port.
ISF must be filed 24 hours before loading; a late filing is the most common cause of holds.
A 16-week schedule holds only if shop drawings are approved in week two.
1. What US buyers actually verify
US buyers verify three things before deposit: formaldehyde compliance, structural specification and tariff classification. The first is CARB P2 or TSCA Title VI; the second is board thickness and hardware; the third is the HTS code, because it decides the duty line. A factory that can produce all three in writing has usually shipped to the US before.
Ask for the emission report that matches the panel, not just the factory. A certificate naming the plant but not the board grade proves very little when a customs broker or a lender asks for evidence.
2. Four sourcing routes compared
| Route | What you buy | Lead time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct factory FOB | Custom cabinets to your spec | 16 weeks | Projects above 30 units |
| Importer stock | Standard sizes from a US warehouse | 2–4 weeks | Small jobs and fill-ins |
| Local distributor | Branded cabinets, installed | 6–8 weeks | Single-family and retail |
| Hybrid | Factory boxes, local fronts | 12–14 weeks | Design-led multifamily |
The route decides who carries tariff, freight and defect risk. Direct FOB is cheapest per unit but puts compliance and clearance on you.
3. Five documents to request before deposit
CARB P2 or TSCA Title VI test report naming your board grade
Hardware specification with model numbers
Shop drawing sample for one typical unit
Packaging specification for sea freight
Pre-shipment inspection scope and checklist
These five documents are also the ones a customs broker will ask for if an entry is queried. Having them before deposit saves a week later.
4. Where the money goes per unit
| Cost line | Share of landed cost |
|---|---|
| Factory price | 55–65% |
| Freight and insurance | 8–12% |
| Section 301 tariff | 15–20% |
| Clearance and delivery | 5–8% |
| Installation | 10–15% |
The tariff line is the one most often left out of the first quote. At 25% on cabinet value it is larger than freight on most routes. Model both in the landed cost guide before comparing.
5. Shipping and clearance into the US
| Route | Port | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| West Coast | Los Angeles / Long Beach, Seattle | 14–18 days |
| East Coast | New York / New Jersey, Savannah | 30–35 days |
| Gulf | Houston | 28–32 days |
Importer Security Filing must be lodged 24 hours before loading. A late ISF is the most common cause of CBP holds, and the hold costs more than the filing. Check the packaging standard before the container is packed, not after.
6. Installation and defect management
US installation is usually subcontracted, so defect responsibility is split across three parties. Agree before delivery who inspects on arrival, who fixes what, and what counts as a defect rather than site damage. Photograph every damaged carton before opening, because a claim without a photo is a negotiation.
7. Vetting a factory in 12 checks
Business and export licence
CARB P2 / TSCA report
Board supplier invoices
Hardware brand authorisation
Shop drawing capability
Edge banding line
Packing standard
Container loading photos
US shipment references
Inspection history
Lead time record
After-sales response
The checks that matter most are the ones you can verify remotely: the emission report, the hardware authorisation and the loading photos. The rest can wait for a factory visit.
8. A schedule that holds
| Week | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Drawings, approval, deposit |
| 3–9 | Production and in-line checks |
| 10 | Pre-shipment inspection |
| 11 | Loading and ISF filing |
| 12–14 | Sea freight to US port |
| 15 | Clearance and site delivery |
| 16 | Installation and snagging |
The schedule fails at week two, not week twelve. If drawings are not approved by the end of week two, every later milestone moves by the same number of days.
9. Common mistakes on a first shipment
Three mistakes show up on almost every first shipment. The first is a certificate that names the factory but not the board grade. The second is a quote that leaves out the Section 301 tariff. The third is a drawing approved after production starts, which moves every later date. Each is cheap to prevent and expensive to fix.
10. What to put in the purchase order
The purchase order should state the board grade, hardware model, door finish, packing standard and inspection scope. It should also name the Incoterm, the port and the party responsible for CARB P2 evidence. A PO that lists only sizes and colours leaves the important terms to interpretation. Attach the hardware specification and the packaging standard as annexes.
11. Lead time and cash
Most factories ask for 30% deposit and the balance before loading. That means cash leaves your account roughly ten weeks before the container arrives. Model the working capital, not just the unit price, and hold back a retention until the pre-shipment inspection is signed off. The landed cost guide shows how to include the financing cost.
12. A worked example
Take a 60-unit apartment kitchen with a cabinet value of about $180,000 FOB. Freight adds 8–12%, the Section 301 tariff adds its share, and installation adds 10–18% of the installed cost. The factory price is roughly two-thirds of the landed total; everything else is the route. Two ports can move the same cabinet by several hundred dollars per unit, which is why the route decision should come before the factory negotiation. Run the numbers in the landed cost guide before asking for a second factory quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is CARB P2 enough for US projects?
For most residential and multifamily work, yes: CARB P2 is the baseline and TSCA Title VI is the federal rule that mirrors it. Ask for a test report that names the board grade you are buying, not just the factory.
How much is the Section 301 tariff?
The current rate on Chinese-origin cabinets is 25% of the declared value. It is charged at import, sits on top of duty, and should be modelled before comparing factory quotes.
Can I avoid the tariff by shipping from another country?
Only if the goods are genuinely produced there and meet rules of origin. Trans-shipping without substantial transformation risks penalties and is not a compliance strategy.
Which coast should I ship to?
West Coast if the project is west of the Rockies: 14–18 days and lower inland freight. East Coast if the project is in the Northeast or Southeast, where 30–35 days at sea still beats cross-country trucking.
Do I need a US importer of record?
Yes. Either you or a licensed customs broker acts as importer of record. The importer carries duty liability and is responsible for ISF filing and record keeping.
How long does clearance take?
Typically two to five days for a clean entry. Holds add a week or more, and most holds trace to a late ISF, a missing certificate or a valuation query.
