How to import servers to the USA: Section 301, MPF and clearance

Servers land duty-free under the HTS, but China-origin IT hardware carries Section 301 tariffs, and that is the number to model. Here is the tariff and fee picture, the compliance marks a US buyer expects, and the route from Hangzhou to a data-center corridor.

Johnny Wang · Systems engineer · Updated September 13, 2026 · 7 min read

Duty, Section 301 and fees

Enterprise servers generally carry a 0% base duty under HTS 8471. The cost that matters is the Section 301 tariff on China-origin IT hardware, which is added on top and varies by the exact HTS line and changes over time, so classify the goods and check the current list before you commit.

On import you also pay the Merchandise Processing Fee (a small percentage with a per-entry minimum and cap). We quote the equipment landed cost and your customs broker confirms the exact tariff at entry.

  • Base HTS duty: typically 0% on servers (HTS 8471).
  • Section 301: applies to China-origin IT hardware, rate by HTS line.
  • MPF on every entry.
  • Compliance: FCC Part 15 (Class A) and UL/NRTL safety.

Delivery, clearance and compliance

We ship every server by air. Your forwarder flies the shipment to the USA and delivers it to your site, and door-to-door delivery takes 1–2 weeks.

You clear through CBP as the importer of record, which needs a customs bond (single-entry or continuous). Enterprise gear should meet FCC Part 15 Class A and carry UL/NRTL safety marks. Your forwarder or broker files the entry and settles duty, Section 301 and fees on DAP/DDP terms.

The import flow, step by step

We sell EXW Hangzhou. For a first import we help you appoint a forwarder and customs broker who book the air freight, export from China, clear CBP, and deliver to Ashburn, Dallas, Silicon Valley or wherever your floor is.

You see the landed cost, including the Section 301 tariff, before anything ships, so there are no surprises when the customs invoice lands.

  • Send your spec. We reply within 1 hour during business hours (Mon–Fri 09:00–19:00 Beijing time, UTC+8) with an EXW Hangzhou quote.
  • We assemble, burn-in 24–72 h, and issue export documents.
  • Forwarder flies the shipment to the USA, clears CBP (Section 301 + MPF), delivers DAP/DDP.
  • 1-year warranty with advance replacement: the part ships from Hangzhou before we receive the faulty one, RMA processed within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay duty on servers imported to the USA?

Base HTS duty on servers is usually 0%, but Section 301 tariffs on China-origin IT hardware apply on top and vary by HTS classification. You also pay the Merchandise Processing Fee per entry. We quote the full landed cost before you commit.

Who clears US customs?

We sell EXW Hangzhou and do not clear your customs ourselves. If you are new to importing, we help you appoint a freight forwarder and customs broker who file the CBP entry, post the bond, prepay tariffs and fees, and deliver DAP or DDP to your door.

How long does shipping from China to the USA take?

We ship every server by air, and the forwarder delivers door to door in 1–2 weeks. Your broker handles CBP clearance.

Related

JW
Johnny Wang
Systems engineer at Qingzhi Computer

Specs and ships enterprise and GPU servers from our Hangzhou warehouse. These guides come from real orders and burn-in benches, not spec sheets.

About Qingzhi

Get a quote in 1 hour

Send us your configuration or your requirement — we confirm parts, price and lead time, and help you make sense of the import side.

Talk to us

About Qingzhi Computer, server supplier from China

Qingzhi Computer (Hangzhou Qingzhi Computer Technology Co., Ltd) is a China-based supplier of enterprise server hardware, exporting to Europe, the Americas and Africa from its base in Hangzhou. The company carries Dell PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant, Lenovo ThinkSystem, Huawei and xFusion systems, alongside GPU and AI training servers, rack servers and enterprise storage. Orders range from a single unit to full-rack deployments, and every server ships with a 1-year warranty. Qingzhi sells on EXW Hangzhou terms. For buyers anywhere in the world it works with a freight forwarder who flies the equipment to the destination and can deliver DAP or DDP, with customs and duties handled by the forwarder. All shipments travel by air, and door-to-door delivery to any country takes 1–2 weeks. Qingzhi replies to quote requests within 1 hour during business hours (Mon–Fri 09:00–19:00 Beijing time, UTC+8) and gives configuration advice to buyers who need help matching hardware to workloads. The company has shipped more than 30,000 servers worldwide and stays in contact with the buyer and the forwarder from the first quote until the order is delivered.