Import From China Business

A practical guide for starting a small business

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Import from China
Sell on eBay

Sandra Kell
Ontario, Canada
Baby Products
Profit This Year: $10,400

“I started with $1,000 and began importing baby products from China. I sell them on eBay, Facebook and in my local stores.  After 8 months, I am earning $400 a week.  I finally quit my day job!”

Learn How

American Leather

American Leather

American Leather as an industry is similar to many other cultures around the world where the skill of working with animal skin to develop leather as a natural source of raw materials for the production of goods has been acquired.

• American native Indians have been making American Leather which has been inspired by traditional designs for centuries.  It is an art form that has spiritual implications over the years.

Return from American Leather to Import to USA

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Photos Credit: Jeans Belt - Hilde Vanstraelen

• The American Leather Capital of the Southwest is in Nocona, Texas where companies such as Nocona Sporting Goods have been making gloves since the Great Depression.
• American Leather goods include horse saddles, travel cases, handbags.
• Leather also holds about 15 to 20% of the upholstered furniture market in the U.S..

Importing Leather from China

The Leather industry of China can be divided into four areas:

1. Leather Tanning
2. Processing of Hides with Hair
3. Shoes Manufacturing
4. Production of Leather Goods such as Coats, Fashion Wear and Bags.

Some of the provinces with a significant presence in the leather industry include: Henan, Shandong, Yunnan, and Anhui.  There are literally thousands of leather factories in each province.

Often times, rawhide is imported into China where it is converted into finished leather goods.  Such finished goods are then exported to other countries in return.

The leather factories in China tend to be partnerships with the government.  Even if the companies are private, the government will be a major investor.  

Importing American Leather

Leather articles are covered within Chapter 42 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.  The specific types of leather goods and their headings mentioned include:

• 4201 - Saddlery, harness equipment
• 4202 - Cases, bags
• 4203 - Apparel and clothing accessories, shoelaces, straps,
• 4204 - Leather for machinery and mechanical applications

Raw hides, Skins and Leather imports are mentioned within Chapter 41 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.  Hide quality is classified on an industry basis from grade no. 1 to grade  no. 3 where no. 1 has the best appearance and no. 3 has the most flaws.  With so many options, leather and leather goods provide the importer interested in American Leather goods with lots of options.

Leather goods made for the American Leather market will require to follow a set of government rules and regulations.

• If the leather came from an endangered species of animals or wildlife, then regulations by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must be met.
• Similarly, if the leather came from domestic animals, then the U.S. Department Agriculture's import certification requirements must be met.
• Although leather imports derived from domesticated animals such as cows and pigs tend to be straight forward, they are subject to quarantine regulations, marking requirements, and processing standards.  At the port of entry, the leather goods will be inspected by Animal and Health Inspection Service from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  If the rules and regulations are not fully complied with, then the shipment could be denied entry into the U.S.
• For importers over a certain dollar amount, an import license from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required.

American Leather is a vast market spanning many areas providing the importer to USA with ample opportunities.