Yes, American merchants can completely achieve compliance through DHgate. The key lies in adopting the platform’s innovative “intelligent order splitting + flexible supply chain” solution. 

After the US President announced a new round of tariffs of 145% on Chinese goods , an interesting phenomenon is happening – the Chinese B2B cross-border e-commerce platform DHgate has suddenly become popular in the United States. The latest data shows that the DHgate App has soared to the second place in the Apple US App Store’s free iPhone app rankings, with a single-day download volume surge of 940%. Behind this is the urgent need for small and medium-sized businesses in the United States to find new solutions under the pressure of tariffs. This article will take the purchase of bearings as an example to deeply analyze how DHgate can help American buyers achieve the dual goals of “compliant customs clearance + low-cost procurement” through innovative models.

“Saving the country by taking a roundabout way” under the tariff stick: Why are American merchants flocking to DHgate?

After the implementation of the new tariff policy, small and medium-sized American businesses that traditionally import industrial parts (such as bearings) from China are the first to bear the brunt. Take the common 6205 deep groove ball bearing as an example. The original import cost was about US$1.2 per piece. After the 145% tariff was imposed, the cost jumped to US $ 2.94 . For repair shops or distributors that need to purchase in bulk, the profit margin has been greatly compressed.

It is in this context that Dunhuang.com’s innovative “tariff splitting” model shows its unique advantages. The platform intelligently splits large orders into multiple small packages that meet the $800 tax-free threshold (de minimis value) and delivers them directly to American buyers via the China-US dedicated line. For standardized industrial products such as bearings, one package can carry about 500-700 pieces (depending on the specific model), which is just within the tax-free limit.

Decoding the triple guarantee of Dunhuang.com’s “compliance clearance”

1. The ingenious design of the intelligent order splitting system

DHgate’s algorithm will automatically generate the optimal order splitting solution by comprehensively considering factors such as product category (such as the HS code of bearings is 8482.10-8482.80), volume and weight, and current tariff policies. For example:

– For high-priced precision bearings (such as NSK 6304ZZ), the system may recommend not more than 200 pieces per order

– For general purpose bearings (such as 6200RS), the quantity per pack can be increased to 600 pieces

All order splitting operations comply with the U.S. Customs’ “reasonable quantity for own use” principle to avoid being identified as commercial circumvention.

2. Rapid response of flexible supply chain

Different from traditional B2B platforms, the factories connected by DHgate.com have the ability to “quickly respond to small orders”. Take the purchase of bearings as an example:

– Bearing manufacturer VKUKEN can complete sorting, packaging and labeling within 48 hours after receiving an order through the DHgate platform

– The system automatically matches the nearest bonded warehouse (such as Shenzhen Qianhai warehouse) to achieve “fragmentation” of cargo shipment

This model reduces the traditional trade delivery time of 2-3 weeks to 5-8 working days.

3. Localized compliance support

DHgate has a customs clearance service team in the United States that specializes in:

– Provide a complete commercial invoice (with correct HS code and declaration of origin)

– Pre-declaration of ISF (Importer Security Filing)

– Anti-dumping duty warning service for bearing products (e.g. certain Chinese-made bearings are subject to 92.49% anti-dumping duty)

Actual case: How a Chicago maintenance company purchases bearings through DHgate

Background: Windy City Bearings is an industrial equipment maintenance service provider located in Chicago. It needs 2,000 6204-2RS bearings per month for customer equipment maintenance.

Traditional procurement pain points:

– Full container imports are subject to a 25% tariff + 2.5% basic tariff, which increases costs by nearly 30%.

– High minimum order quantity requirement (usually 5,000 pieces)

– Long delivery time (4-6 weeks)

Dunhuang Network Solution:

1. The platform splits the order into 4 packages, each with 500 pieces, with a total declared value of $795/package

2. The Zhejiang factory directly ships to the Los Angeles overseas warehouse, and then distributes via USPS Priority Mail

3. Actual delivery time: 6 working days

4. Cost comparison:

– Traditional import: $1.35/piece (tax included)

– DHgate purchase: $1.05/item (duty-free)

– Monthly savings: $600

Risk Warning and Compliance Suggestions

Although the DHgate model works well under current policies, U.S. buyers should still be aware of the following:

1. Customs inspection risk: Too frequent “duty-free small packages” may cause concern. Suggestions:

– Keep the single purchase value between $600-$800

– No more than 3 imports with the same HS code per month

2. Product quality control: Bearings and other industrial parts require special attention:

– Require suppliers to provide ABEC grade certification

– Sample testing for the first batch of orders

3. Record keeping: Keep at least 3 years of purchase records for customs audit

Future Outlook: Can short-chain distribution become the new normal?

The explosive growth of Dunhuang.com reveals a trend: in the context of the decline of globalization, the short-chain model of “Chinese factory-overseas warehouse-local distribution” is reshaping the international trade system. Take the bearing industry as an example:

– Bearing warehouses that specialize in serving cross-border e-commerce have appeared in Shenzhen, Ningbo and other places

– The bonded warehouse established by DHgate in the western United States can realize “tariff deferral” distribution

– The social media-driven “group purchasing” model (such as the Facebook bearing purchasing group and DHgate linkage) is taking shape

This model is not only applicable to bearings, but is also rapidly expanding to industrial products such as fasteners, motors, and hardware tools. As the cost of “nearshore outsourcing” in the United States remains high, the “flexible supply chain + compliant customs clearance” combination solution provided by China’s cross-border e-commerce platforms is likely to become a long-term choice for small and medium-sized businesses to deal with trade barriers.

conclusion

When tariff barriers meet digital trade innovation, the most important lesson from the Dunhuang.com phenomenon may be that the resilience of the global supply chain does not lie in resisting change, but in quickly adapting to change. For small and medium-sized businesses in the United States, the key is to understand the rules, make good use of tools, and find the optimal solution for cost and efficiency within the compliance framework.