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Trade & import playbooks

Real numbers, freight breakdowns, and supplier verification protocols. Written for B2B importers who actually wire money.

guide · 2026-05-04

FOB vs CIF vs DDP — which Incoterm protects a first-time importer?
Three Incoterms cover 80% of B2B imports. Each shifts cost, risk, and customs paperwork onto either you or the seller. Pick wrong and you eat surprise bills.
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playbook · 2026-04-22

How to verify a Chinese factory before your first $50K wire
Alibaba 'Gold Supplier' badges mean almost nothing. Here's the 6-step verification protocol used by professional sourcing agents — costs $200, prevents losing $50K to a phantom factory.
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data · 2026-04-15

The hidden cost of LCL ocean freight nobody warns you about
Less-than-Container-Load freight quotes look cheap until destination charges land. Here's the typical $480 LCL quote that becomes $1,840 — and how to predict it.
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data · 2026-04-08

USMCA in 2026: tariff status for avocados, automotive, textiles & steel
USMCA is up for joint review in July 2026. Here's the actual 2026 tariff status across the highest-volume product categories — and what 'qualifying for USMCA' actually means at customs.
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playbook · 2026-04-01

Korean K-beauty wholesale: who actually sells direct vs middleman
K-beauty importers waste 30-50% margin to middlemen pretending to be brands. Here's how to identify true brand-direct vs reseller — and the 6 brands that publish direct wholesale terms.
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