What is DDP
Shipping to the USA?

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) to the USA means you, the seller, take responsibility for the shipment until it reaches the American customer's doorstep.

You handle: clearance by CBP (Customs and Border Protection, the agency that monitors imports into the US).

TSA compliance (Transportation Security Administration, required for air cargo shipments).
Last-mile delivery via carriers like UPS, FedEx, DHL, or USPS.

With DDP, your product enters the US logistics network and often appears to the end consumer as a local shipment.

The Strategic Advantages (The "Section 321" Bonus)

The $800 De Minimis Rule (Section 321)

The US has one of the most generous import thresholds. Under Section 321, shipments valued at $800 or less can usually enter the US duty- and tax-free.

If you sell goods under $800, DDP is fast and cheap because there are no duties to process, just electronic filing.

Speed to Market

Here's something that might surprise you: US Customs is almost entirely automated now. If your paperwork is solid, especially those HS codes, your shipment can get cleared before the plane even touches down. We're talking 3-5 days from Asia or Europe to a customer's door. That's wild when you think about it.

You can actually compete

American shoppers have been trained to expect free shipping. Thanks, Amazon. So when they see shipping charges at checkout, a lot of them bounce. DDP gives you a workaround. You fold everything, shipping, duties, all of it, into the product price. What the customer sees is just one clean number. No "plus shipping" asterisks, no surprise fees later. It's the final price, period. And that kind of simplicity? It sells.

3. How It Works: The DDP Flow to the USA

Let’s say you are shipping high-end apparel from Italy to New York.

Pre-Alert: Your logistics partner sends digital manifest data to US Customs using AMS (Automated Manifest System, an electronic system for sharing shipment details) before the flight departs.
Arrival: The plane lands at JFK or O'Hare.
Clearance:
- If the value is < $800 (Section 321), clearance is almost instant.
- If value > $800: Formal Entry is filed, and duties are paid by your forwarder on your account (Formal Entry is the official declaration process for shipments over $800).
Handover: The cargo is released to a domestic carrier (e.g., FedEx Ground).
Delivery: The customer receives the package without having to sign any customs forms.

4. FAQ: USA Shipping

Q: Do I need a US Customs Bond? A: For shipments valued over $2,500, a Customs Bond is mandatory. For lower-value shipments, your freight forwarder’s bond is often sufficient.

Q: What is the difference between DDP Air and DDP Sea to the USA? A: DDP Air is fast (3-8 days) but expensive. DDP Sea, known as LCL (Less than Container Load, partial container shipping), is much cheaper but takes 25-40 days. Most Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon, Amazon's storage and shipping service) sellers start with Sea to save margin, while dropshippers use Air.

Q: Does DDP cover FDA-regulated products? A: DDP covers the duties, but if you ship FDA-regulated items (sunglasses, food, cosmetics), you must provide FDA registration numbers. DDP does not bypass regulatory compliance.