Long-form, no fluff. The real way to source from China.

Platforms · 16 min read

The Complete Guide to Alibaba Trade Assurance in 2026

What Alibaba Trade Assurance actually covers, the dispute timeline that nobody publishes, the failure modes to plan for, and how to use it alongside independent supplier verification.

Quality Control · 18 min read

AQL Inspection 2.5 Explained: How Pre-Shipment QC Actually Works in China

What AQL 2.5 means, how the ISO 2859-1 sample size tables work, what major/minor/critical defects are, and what an inspection report actually looks like — without the marketing fluff.

Sourcing Agents · 16 min read

Best China Sourcing Agents Compared: Sourcify, Leeline, Easy Imex, Imex Sourcing & Us

Honest comparison of major China sourcing agents — what each does well, what each does poorly, fee structures, and the bottom-funnel question of which to actually hire. Including ourselves.

Events · 14 min read

Canton Fair 2026: How to Attend Effectively (and When Not to Bother)

The world's largest trade fair runs twice a year in Guangzhou. Who should actually go in 2026, what to do in each three-day phase, what to skip, and the practical logistics that determine whether the trip pays off.

Regulatory & Compliance · 16 min read

CE, FCC, RoHS, REACH: Certifications You Actually Need from China Electronics

What CE, FCC, RoHS, and REACH actually require for Chinese electronics imports — testing scope, lab requirements, costs, and the compliance shortcuts that backfire.

IP & Legal · 14 min read

Custom Moulds and Tooling in China: Who Owns It, How to Protect It

If you commission a custom mould in China, who actually owns it — and what stops the factory from running your design for someone else? Practical IP protection for serious importers.

Tariffs & Compliance · 22 min read

China Import Tariffs & Duties 2026: Complete Guide for US, UK & EU Importers

What you actually pay to import from China in 2026 — Section 301 tariffs, the de minimis change, EU CBAM, UK post-Brexit treatment, and the HTS-code lookup process. Honest numbers, not marketing.

Original Data · 14 min read

Quality-Issue Frequency Report: The Top Defects Across 25 Product Categories from China

What defects actually show up in Chinese factory production — by category, with frequency labels and the inspection methods that catch each one.

Original Data · 12 min read

How Long Does Shipping from China Take in 2026? Real Lead Time Data

Real door-to-door lead times from China to major destinations in 2026 — by mode (sea FCL, sea LCL, air, rail), by origin port, and by destination region. Updated quarterly.

Original Data · 14 min read

The 2026 China Sourcing Pricing Report: Average MOQs and FOB Prices Across 25 Categories

Real 2026 MOQ ranges and FOB price ranges across 25 product categories, drawn from active sourcing engagements. The numbers buyers actually pay, not what suppliers list.

Verification · 16 min read

Wire Fraud and China Supplier Scams: 11 Patterns and How to Avoid Them

Eleven specific scam patterns we see attempted on Chinese-supplier transactions every quarter, the tells for each, and the defensive moves that stop them.

Sourcing Strategy · 14 min read

China vs India Sourcing: Where Each Wins in 2026

Where India genuinely competes with China in 2026 — and where it doesn't. Real comparisons across textiles, leather, jewelry, electronics assembly, pharmaceuticals, and IT-adjacent hardware.

Sourcing Strategy · 14 min read

China vs Mexico for US Importers: Nearshoring Math in 2026

When nearshoring to Mexico actually saves US importers money in 2026, when it doesn't, and the USMCA / IMMEX dynamics that determine the answer per category.

Sourcing Strategy · 16 min read

China vs Vietnam Manufacturing in 2026: A Decision Framework for Importers

Honest, category-by-category comparison of sourcing from China versus Vietnam in 2026. Real wage data, real lead-time differences, and the dual-sourcing strategy most serious importers actually use.

Shipping & Logistics · 14 min read

Container Shipping from China: LCL vs FCL Costs, Lead Times & Customs in 2026

When LCL beats FCL, when it doesn't, real $/CBM rates by season, origin-port differences, and the customs steps that catch first-time importers off guard.

Regulatory & Compliance · 14 min read

CPSIA & EN 71 Explained: Children's Products from China

What CPSIA (US) and EN 71 (EU/UK) actually require for children's products imported from China — testing, lab requirements, certifications, and the most common compliance failures.

Tariffs & Compliance · 11 min read

De Minimis & Section 321: The $800 Loophole and What Killed It in 2025–2026

The $800 de minimis exemption that powered cross-border e-commerce is gone for Chinese-origin goods. What changed, what still works, and how Section 321 imports operate in 2026.

Segment Playbooks · 14 min read

How European Brands Source from China After Brexit & CBAM in 2026

EU and UK importers face different regulatory landscapes for China sourcing in 2026 — Brexit-era UK rules, EU CBAM, the EU's CSDDD, and VAT structures. Practical guide.

Verification · 22 min read

The Complete Factory Audit Checklist: 60 Things to Check on a China Factory Visit

What an actual factory audit covers — sixty specific points across legal, capability, quality, ethical and security categories. The checklist we use on every audit, with what each finding means.

Fundamentals · 16 min read

First-Time Importers: 12 Mistakes That Kill 80% of First China Orders

After hundreds of first-time-importer projects, the failure modes cluster. Here are the 12 mistakes that account for most of them — and the fixes that prevent each.

Regulatory & Compliance · 13 min read

FDA, EU 1935/2004 & Food Contact: Importing Food-Contact Items from China

What FDA (US) and EU Regulation 1935/2004 require for food-contact items — silicone, ceramic, plastic, metal — when imported from China. Testing, migration limits, and common failures.

Sourcing Strategy · 11 min read

Hong Kong vs Mainland China Sourcing Companies: Which to Use

When buying through a Hong Kong company makes sense versus going directly mainland — tax, banking, payment-flow, and accountability tradeoffs.

Shipping & Logistics · 14 min read

FOB vs CIF vs DDP vs EXW: Incoterms 2020 Explained for China Importers

The four Incoterms that matter when buying from China — what each one means, who pays for what, where risk transfers, and which to use when. With a worked example showing the dollar difference.

Sourcing Tactics · 12 min read

How to Negotiate MOQ with Chinese Factories: 9 Tactics That Actually Work

MOQs are negotiable. Here are nine specific tactics that get Chinese factories below their stated minimums — without paying premium-per-unit prices that wipe out the savings.

IP & Legal · 12 min read

NNN Agreements vs NDAs: Protecting IP When Manufacturing in China

Why a Chinese-law NNN is dramatically more enforceable than a Western NDA, what NNN clauses to include, costs, and the IP-protection stack that goes around it.

Payments · 12 min read

How to Pay Chinese Suppliers: Wise vs PayPal vs T/T Wire vs Letter of Credit

The five practical payment methods for Chinese suppliers in 2026 — fees, transit times, security, and which to use for orders of different sizes.

Shipping & Logistics · 10 min read

Sea vs Air Freight from China: When Each Makes Sense in 2026

Air freight is 5–10× the cost of sea per kg, but 4× faster. The decision framework that tells you which to use for which shipment, with real 2026 rates.

Segment Playbooks · 18 min read

How to Source for Amazon FBA from China: A 2026 Playbook

Sourcing private-label products for Amazon FBA in 2026 — factory selection, FBA prep requirements, freight forwarding, prep services, and the Section 301 tariff math that makes or breaks margins.

Segment Playbooks · 16 min read

Sourcing for Shopify Brands from China: The 2026 Playbook

Building a private-label Shopify brand from Chinese suppliers — product selection, branding, fulfillment, freight, and the unit economics that work in 2026.

Regional Strategy · 12 min read

Yiwu vs Guangzhou vs Shenzhen: Which Chinese Sourcing City for Your Product

The three biggest Chinese sourcing cities have very different specialisations. Practical guide to which city for which product, with how-to-visit-each notes.

Verification · 22 min read

Supplier Verification: 30-Point Checklist for Importers

A comprehensive 30-point checklist for verifying Chinese suppliers before placing orders. Business legitimacy, factory authenticity, quality systems, and red flags.

Platforms · 18 min read

Alibaba vs 1688 vs Made-in-China: Which Platform Should You Use in 2026?

An honest comparison of the three major Chinese B2B platforms — Alibaba.com, 1688.com, and Made-in-China.com. Pricing differences, scam risks, and when to use each.

Fundamentals · 28 min read

How to Source from China in 2026: A Complete Guide for Importers

A practical, no-fluff guide to sourcing products from China in 2026 — from finding factories to verifying quality, navigating tariffs, and shipping. Written by a sourcing team based in China.