What is the first step to importing machinery?

Classify the machine under the correct HTS code. The classification sets your duty rate, flags any other agencies involved, and determines whether trade-remedy or additional duties apply.

Do I need a license to import machinery?

There is no general import license for machinery, but specific equipment can require certifications, permits, or agency clearances depending on what it does — for example, emissions or radiofrequency requirements. Check admissibility before shipping.

Why did my machinery cost more in duties than expected?

Usually because an additional duty applied on top of the ordinary tariff — an anti-dumping, countervailing, or special tariff tied to the product’s origin. These rates change, so confirm the current rate for your exact HTS code and country of origin.

Do I need a customs broker?

It is not legally required, but most commercial machinery importers use a licensed broker to file the entry accurately and on time, given the bond, ISF, and agency requirements involved. The expensive mistakes in machinery imports happen on paper — a wrong classification, a missed certification, an underestimated duty — long before the equipment lands. Reidel Law Firm helps importers classify equipment, map agency requirements, and budget landed cost on flat-fee terms. Get an import compliance memo.

How to Import Machinery into the U.S.: A Guide

To import machinery into the United States, you classify it under the right tariff code, calculate the duties, file a customs entry with a bond, and confirm the equipment meets any safety or agency requirements before it clears. The mechanics are the same whether you are bringing in a single CNC lathe or a full production line — what changes is the dollar stakes of getting a step wrong. This guide walks the process in order. For the regulation-by-regulation detail, pair it with how to comply with import regulations for machinery.

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