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Exporting from the UK to the USA

The United States is the UK's single largest export market, with total trade in goods and services worth £202.5 billion in the four quarters to Q4 2025 (ONS). Section 321 de minimis, continuous customs bonds, and FDA/CBP requirements decide whether your shipment clears in hours or sits at the border — we handle all of it, plus the sea and air rates to get your goods there.

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£202.5B
UK–US Trade (2025)
10–14 Days
Sea Transit (East Coast)
1–2 Days
Air Transit
$800
Section 321 De Minimis

Why do UK businesses export to the USA?

The USA absorbed £202.5 billion of UK trade in goods and services in the four quarters to Q4 2025 (ONS), making it the UK's single largest export market by a wide margin. Machinery, pharmaceuticals, aerospace components, whisky and precision instruments lead outbound cargo, moving through Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway by sea or Heathrow and Manchester by air.

The United States is the UK's largest single-country export market, and the transatlantic lane is one of the busiest and most closely regulated in world trade. Machinery, pharmaceuticals, aerospace components, scientific instruments, and Scotch whisky are consistently among the highest-value UK exports to the US, alongside a fast-growing technology and services trade.

Getting goods into the US is not simply a freight booking. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires a correctly classified entry under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS), and many product categories — food, cosmetics, medical devices, electronics with radio components — trigger a second regulator (FDA, EPA, or FCC) before CBP will release the shipment. 2025's tariff actions under Section 232 and Section 301 also mean duty rates on some categories have moved more in the last eighteen months than in the previous decade, so a rate checked last year cannot be assumed current.

Gxpresss arranges the UK export declaration, books your sea or air freight, and coordinates with a US-licensed customs broker on formal or informal entry, so your shipment clears CBP on the first attempt rather than sitting in a bonded warehouse while paperwork is fixed retrospectively.

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Should you use sea freight or air freight to the USA?

Sea freight is cheaper for palletised and containerised cargo where a 10–14 day transit is acceptable; air freight costs more per kilo but is the only realistic option for time-critical, high-value or short-shelf-life goods.

Sea Freight — East/West Coast

FCL and LCL sailings from Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway reach US East Coast ports (New York, Savannah, Charleston) in 10–14 days; West Coast ports (Los Angeles, Long Beach) take 20–25 days via the Panama Canal. The default for machinery, bulk goods and anything not time-critical — freight cost per unit drops sharply at full-container volumes.

Air Freight

Daily direct services from Heathrow, Manchester and East Midlands reach major US hubs in 1–2 days. The right choice for pharmaceuticals, electronics, spare parts against a production line, or any shipment where the cost of a stockout exceeds the air freight premium over sea.

As a rule of thumb: below roughly £15–£20 per kg of value density, sea freight usually wins on total cost; above it, air freight's speed typically justifies the premium once warehousing and stockout risk are priced in.

What documents do you need to export from the UK to the USA?

Six documents clear a UK export to the USA: commercial invoice, UK export declaration (EX1 via CDS), bill of lading or air waybill, certificate of origin, Electronic Export Information (EEI) where required, and FDA prior notice for food, cosmetics or medical products.

Essential documents for exporting commercial goods from the UK to the United States.

Commercial Invoice

Full description of goods, HS/HTSUS code, quantities, unit values, total value, currency and Incoterms — must match every other document exactly.

UK Export Declaration (EX1 / CDS)

Filed through the Customs Declaration Service before the goods leave the UK. Mandatory for all commercial exports regardless of value.

Bill of Lading / Airway Bill

Transport document from the carrier confirming shipment details, consignee, and routing from the UK port or airport to the US destination.

Certificate of Origin

Confirms UK/EU origin of the goods. Some US importers request a Chamber of Commerce-stamped certificate for their own compliance records.

Electronic Export Information (EEI)

Required in the US Automated Export System when a single commodity's value exceeds $2,500, or the goods are subject to an export licence. Filed by the exporter or their agent.

FDA Prior Notice / USDA Certificates

Required for food, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural goods before they can enter the US market. Missing prior notice holds the shipment at the border.

What import duty will your customer pay in the USA?

US import duty follows the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) and is generally moderate for manufactured goods, but 2025 Section 232 and 301 tariff actions have raised rates sharply on specific categories including steel, aluminium and some Chinese-linked supply chains — a rate checked in 2024 may no longer apply.

Shipments valued under $800 can often clear as an informal Section 321 entry with no duty and minimal paperwork, which is why many UK sellers structure direct-to-consumer US shipments to stay under that threshold. Above it, a formal entry is required: your US buyer (as importer of record) needs a customs bond — either a single-entry bond for occasional shipments or a continuous bond, typically a minimum of $50,000, for regular importers. Bond cost and HTSUS classification are the two variables that most affect whether a shipment clears smoothly or gets held for examination.

Rates and the informal-entry threshold are current as of 2026 but change without notice under active US trade policy. Gxpresss checks the live HTSUS rate and bond requirement against your exact product before you quote a US customer.

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How do you export from the UK to the USA?

Exporting to the USA takes six steps: agree Incoterms with your US buyer, file the UK export declaration, book sea or air freight, confirm US import compliance (FDA/EPA/HTSUS classification), arrange a customs bond for formal entry, then clear CBP and deliver.

How Gxpresss manages your export from the UK to the USA.

1

Agree Incoterms

Confirm terms with your US buyer — FCA is usually cleanest, since US buyers often use "FOB" to mean ex-works under the Uniform Commercial Code, not an Incoterm. Get it in writing.

2

UK Export Declaration

File the EX1 declaration through CDS and, where the shipment value requires it, the US Electronic Export Information (EEI) in AES.

3

Book Transatlantic Freight

Sea or air freight is arranged from Felixstowe, Southampton, Heathrow or Manchester, matched to your buyer's required delivery date.

4

US Import Compliance Check

Confirm HTSUS classification, and whether FDA, EPA, or FCC registration applies to your product before it reaches the US border.

5

Customs Bond & Entry

For formal entries above the Section 321 threshold, a US customs bond is arranged through our broker network — continuous for regular shippers, single-entry for one-off consignments.

6

CBP Clearance & Delivery

Cleared goods move to final delivery via US domestic trucking, with tracking from UK collection to US door.

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What does it cost to export a shipment from the UK to the USA?

A real shipment structure — industrial machinery, FCL sea freight, Felixstowe to New York, formal customs entry.

Goods value (FCA Felixstowe)£20,000
Sea freight (20ft FCL, Felixstowe–New York)£2,100
Marine insurance (0.4%)£80
Shipment value (CIF)£22,180
US customs duty @ 2.5% (machinery, HTSUS dependent)£554.50
Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF, 0.3464%, capped)£76.85
Continuous customs bond (annual, amortised)£95
US customs brokerage fee£110
Total landed cost (US side)£23,016.35

There is no de minimis relief above $800, so formal entry applies at this value. HTSUS duty is typically lower than UK Global Tariff equivalents for machinery, but the Merchandise Processing Fee and bond cost are US-side charges UK exporters often miss when costing a quote. Figures are illustrative — exact duty depends on the correct 10-digit HTSUS code for your product.

Which Incoterm should you use exporting to the USA?

US buyers frequently use "FOB" to mean ex-works under the Uniform Commercial Code — the opposite of the Incoterms definition. Confirming the term in writing before shipment is the single most common cost dispute on this corridor.

"FOB Origin" — the US domestic meaning

A US buyer asking for "FOB our dock" or "FOB destination" is often using the UCC meaning, where risk and cost transfer at a US location, not a vessel. If you accept this without clarifying, you may be quoting to cover freight and US-side costs you did not intend to include.

FCA (Free Carrier) — the term to use

FCA names an actual place in the UK and puts the export declaration and freight-to-carrier handover on you, with the buyer responsible for the US import side. It works for both sea and air and avoids the FOB ambiguity entirely.

DAP (delivering to the buyer's US address, duty unpaid) is workable but exposes you to US clearance delays you cannot control unless a customs bond and broker are arranged in advance. Gxpresss prices and arranges both so your DAP quote is not a guess.

What can't you export from the UK to the USA?

Six categories cause problems exporting to the USA: dual-use and defence goods needing a UK export licence, sanctioned end-users, food and agricultural products without FDA prior notice, firearms and ammunition, certain chemicals, and cultural or antique items needing an export licence.

  • Dual-use and defence-related goods — anything controlled under the UK's Export Control Order needs an ECJU export licence before it leaves the UK, regardless of the US end-use.
  • Sanctioned end-users or destinations — screen every US buyer against OFAC and UK sanctions lists before shipment; a compliant buyer can still be on a restricted-party list.
  • Food, beverages and agricultural products — require FDA facility registration and prior notice before arrival; shipments without it are refused entry at the US port.
  • Firearms, ammunition and related parts — need a UK export licence and, in most cases, a corresponding US import permit from ATF.
  • Certain chemicals and cosmetics — may need EPA (TSCA) or FDA registration depending on composition; check before, not after, the goods are made.
  • Cultural goods and antiques — items over a certain age or heritage significance need a UK export licence from Arts Council England.

Unsure if your product needs a licence before it ships? Get a free pre-shipment compliance check before you commit to a delivery date with your US buyer.

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Every declaration is filed by an HMRC-registered customs broker and backed by BIFA and FIATA/IATA network membership — the accreditations UK freight forwarders are judged on.

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Exporting to USA — FAQ

Common questions about exporting goods from the UK to the USA.

No. As of 2026 there is no comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between the UK and the USA, so UK exports clear under the standard US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) rather than a preferential rate. A limited Atlantic Declaration trade dialogue exists but has not produced a full FTA. Gxpresss tracks tariff policy changes affecting UK exporters, including the 2025 Section 232 and 301 actions.

Section 321 lets shipments valued at $800 or less clear as an informal entry with no duty and minimal paperwork. It is widely used for direct-to-consumer parcels but does not apply to commercial consignments above that value, which need a formal entry and, usually, a customs bond.

Your US buyer, as importer of record, needs the bond — not you as the UK exporter. For occasional shipments a single-entry bond covers one consignment; regular importers use a continuous bond, typically a minimum of $50,000 depending on estimated annual duty and fees. Gxpresss coordinates this through our US broker network.

A correctly classified and documented formal entry typically clears CBP within 24–48 hours of arrival. Missing FDA prior notice, an unregistered facility, or an incorrect HTSUS code are the most common causes of multi-day holds.

Yes. We arrange the UK export declaration and freight, and coordinate directly with a US-licensed customs broker for HTSUS classification, bond arrangement, and CBP clearance, so you are not managing two separate agents on either side of the Atlantic.

Yes. A GB EORI number is required on every UK export declaration, regardless of destination or value. If you already import goods you likely have one; if not, registration is free through HMRC and usually completes within a week.

The EX1 is the UK export declaration filed through CDS and is required on every commercial export. The Electronic Export Information (EEI) is a separate US filing in the Automated Export System, required when a single commodity is valued above $2,500 or is subject to an export licence — both may be needed on the same shipment.

An incorrect code means your buyer pays the wrong duty, which CBP can flag on a post-entry audit going back up to five years, with penalties. It also increases the chance of a physical exam, which holds the shipment and generates demurrage. Gxpresss classifies goods before shipment so the code is settled in advance.

Section 301 tariffs target specific supply chains, mostly linked to China, so most UK-manufactured goods are unaffected. Section 232 covers steel and aluminium regardless of where the finished product is assembled if those materials are a significant input, so metal-heavy UK exports should be checked against the current list before costing a shipment.

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Importing from USA instead of exporting there? See our USA import guide →


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