Most customs delays are entirely preventable  and they almost never start at the border. They start weeks earlier, in a supplier’s factory or a freight forwarder’s inbox, when someone writes a vague product description, enters the wrong HTS code, or assumes somebody else filed the ISF. By the time a shipment is sitting in a US port waiting for CBP review, the mistake that caused it is already ancient history. The good news is that understanding how to avoid customs delays shipping from China doesn’t require being a trade compliance expert. It requires getting about four things consistently right  and this guide walks through each one with specific, actionable steps for eCommerce sellers and importers in 2026. Why Customs Delays