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Toilet paper is an essential commodity that every person in the U.S. requires. Much of it has to be imported to fill consumer demand. To do this, you’ll need to complete certain government requirements.
Key takeaways:
I’ll walk you through information you’ll need to make importing toilet paper into the U.S. a smooth experience.
Toilet paper is one commodity that America produces plenty of within its own borders. However, as a country of nearly 400 million people, we still rely on imports to completely satisfy its need for the ubiquitous bathroom tissue.
It’s estimated that one American household uses an average of 8 rolls of toilet paper per week.
There are numerous countries that produce this vital product and make it available for import. That said, there’s five in particular that are the U.S.’s top suppliers for this product. I’ve included some data on how much toilet paper the U.S. imports from each of these nations.
All the countries listed make for great places to import toilet paper from. Canada, Mexico, and Israel in particular are excellent countries to source from because they share free trade agreements with the United States.
The United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) and the Israel Free Trade Agreement (ILFTA) have numerous provisions that will make the importing process much easier for you. While toilet paper does receive preferential tariff treatment under both FTAs, you won’t need to use this feature of USMCA and ILFTA to your advantage.
Toilet paper is assigned the 4818.10.00 duty rate, which gives it a free duty rate under the General column in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. This makes importing the product cheaper than other bathroom items.
Now that you have a better understanding of just how big a market exists in the U.S. for toilet paper, it’s time to grasp how to import the paper product. To get this product in the country, you’ll need to fill out a variety of paperwork and submit it to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Some of the most important documents required — and short descriptions — include the following:
These are the primary documents you’ll need to include with your shipments. It will be up to you to figure out what additional paperwork may be required. You can also receive the help of a Licensed Customs Broker through this process. Some documents aren’t mandatory, but can be useful when purchasing goods abroad.
For example, a certificate of insurance will also be necessary if you want to protect yourself from financial loss. Customs bonds will be required for toilet paper imports that have a value of $2,500 or more. You can obtain either a single entry bond for one shipment or a continuous bond for multiple shipments for an entire year.
Related: A Commercial Importer’s Guide To Clearing Customs
The three common transportation options that you can use to get your toilet paper shipments into the country are.
If you’re getting your products from overseas, then vessel transport is the cheapest option you can pick. While this method is the slowest, you’ll be able to move extremely large volumes of cargo into the country using this option.
Importing by truck is a good option if you choose to source your products from Canada or Mexico. In 2022, truck transport was used to move 55% of imports from Canada and 71% of imports from Mexico into the United States.
Rail is another way to import cargo overland. This is a very cost-effective method of transporting freight over long distances and good for low risk items.
When importing toilet paper by truck, you’ll need a Pre-Arrival Processing System (PAPS) number. This is essential if you want to track your cargo. To get a PAPS number, you’ll need to file relevant information about your toilet paper when submitting your import documents through Automate Commercial Environment (ACE).
If you decide to import your toilet paper by vessel, you’ll need to complete an Importer Security Filing (ISF). The ISF filing is called a 10+2 because of the 10 requirements for importers and the 2 additional requirements for carriers.
The things that need to be recorded in the ISF are:
The additional carrier requirements are:
You must file this as well. It needs to be sent to the CBP no less than 24 hours prior to your shipment departing its country of origin. If you don’t, your shipment will be delayed, and you can be hit with a $5,000 fine for each individual violation.
We work with you every step of the way to ensure a smooth and stress-free customs experience.
Regulations on the importation of toilet paper are extremely light. If your toilet paper claims to have a therapeutic or cosmetic benefit, it will fall under the jurisdiction of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act. This law is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, the FDA will not oversee the entry of these products if they’ll be used for conventional purposes.
Unless you’re selling medicated wipes or something similar, you should have zero issues with meeting FDA regulations during the importation of toilet paper.
Related: The Complete Guide To FDA Customs Clearance
Toilet paper is a delicate, but important item. The last thing you want is to obtain a low-quality product or have to wait for a long period of time for goods to come in. That’s what it’s critical you know what to look for in a supplier when you source this item.
It’s essential that you import quality toilet paper from a reliable manufacturer. This can be difficult to do when you haven’t even obtained the products. However, there are a few ways you can assess the quality of the products made by a toilet paper manufacturer.
This includes:
Any of these options are great ways to determine if your supplier can provide you with quality toilet paper products.
One thing you should look for in a toilet paper supplier is product variety. Consumers in the U.S. aren’t interested in only one type. Instead, they want to have as many options to choose from as possible. Therefore, you should look for suppliers that make different variants of toilet paper.
This includes:
By finding a supplier that produces multiple variants of toilet paper, you’ll be able to reach a broader audience of consumers.
You need to find a supplier that can sell you large quantities of product. To do this, you’ll need to define your capacity requirements first. This includes reviewing aspects of your business like projected demand and safety stock polices.
To find out if your supplier can meet your order volume, you should conduct a preliminary evaluation. During this time, you can assess their production capacity to determine if they can meet your order volume. Based on their performance, you can decide if the toilet paper supplier will be able to meet your requirements.
It might not seem like it, but importing toilet paper into the U.S. can be quite a challenge. USA Customs Clearance can help you through the process with our world-class expertise. We have Licensed Customs Brokers and importing specialists that are familiar with all regulations you’ll have to follow.
You can also take advantage of our different services:
Start importing today with experts that know the industry. Get started with one of our services or contact our team through the site. You can also reach our team at (855) 912-0406 if you have additional questions or concerns.
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hi i am interest to import tissue papper rolls to usa.thank you