Customs Broker in Los Angeles

Name: Greenwich Mercantile — Los Angeles
Telephone: +14157185722
Price range: $100 per filing

The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach together form the largest container port complex in the Western Hemisphere, handling approximately 40% of all U.S. containerized imports and over $300 billion in cargo annually. If you are importing through LA/Long Beach, you need a customs broker who understands high-volume container operations, FDA clearance procedures, and the enforcement environment at the nation's busiest seaport.

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Why Los Angeles Is America's Busiest Port

$300 billion+ in annual cargo.

The San Pedro Bay port complex — Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach combined — moves more containerized cargo than any other gateway in the Western Hemisphere. This is where the Trans-Pacific trade lane meets the U.S. consumer economy. Goods from China, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the broader Asia-Pacific region arrive here in massive volumes every day.

~40% of all U.S. containerized imports.

Nearly half of all containers entering the United States flow through the LA/Long Beach complex. This concentration means CBP, FDA, CPSC, and other government agencies maintain some of their largest and most active enforcement operations here. The sheer volume also means that processing delays, examination holds, and terminal congestion have outsized impacts on supply chains nationwide.

Gateway to the Inland Empire.

Southern California's Inland Empire — Riverside and San Bernardino counties — is the largest warehouse and distribution cluster in the United States. Goods arriving at LA/Long Beach are trucked or railed to fulfillment centers throughout the region, feeding e-commerce and retail supply chains that serve the entire country.

Multi-agency enforcement hub.

FDA, CPSC, EPA, FCC, and USFWS all have significant enforcement presence at the LA/Long Beach port complex. Products subject to partner government agency requirements — food, cosmetics, electronics, children's products, chemicals — face inspection and testing programs that are more active here than at nearly any other U.S. port.

What We Handle for LA Importers

Container Clearance

We file entries for ocean containers arriving at LA/Long Beach, managing the full customs clearance process from pre-arrival filing through CBP release and terminal pickup coordination.

FDA Food & Cosmetic Imports

Los Angeles is one of the highest-volume ports for FDA-regulated food and cosmetic imports. We handle prior notice, FSVP documentation, FDA hold resolution, and import alert monitoring to keep your products moving.

Electronics Classification

Consumer electronics are one of the largest import categories through LA. Proper HTS classification of electronics — distinguishing between components, subassemblies, and finished goods — determines duty rates and can trigger FCC compliance requirements.

Apparel & Textiles

LA is the largest apparel import hub in the country. Textile classification is notoriously complex — fiber content, knit versus woven construction, garment type, and country of origin all affect duty rates. We classify textiles accurately to avoid costly reclassification penalties.

Furniture & Household Goods

Large volumes of furniture, home decor, and household products enter through LA from Asia. We handle classification, Lacey Act declarations for wood products, CPSC compliance for children's furniture, and anti-dumping duty applicability for wooden bedroom furniture from certain origins.

Auto Parts & Components

Automotive parts arriving from Asia-Pacific manufacturing centers require precise classification under the HTS. A single subheading difference can change duty rates significantly, especially with Section 301 tariffs layered on top of standard MFN rates.

LA-Specific Compliance Considerations

Importing through the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach presents compliance challenges that are distinct from other U.S. ports. The scale of operations, concentration of enforcement resources, and the types of goods flowing through the complex create a regulatory environment that demands precision.

Elevated CBP examination rates. The volume of containers moving through LA/Long Beach means CBP's National Targeting Center flags a substantial number of shipments for examination. Intensive exams — where containers are devacked at a Centralized Examination Station — can add 5 to 10 business days and significant costs. Accurate entry data, consistent classification history, and compliant import patterns reduce your probability of examination.

FDA enforcement is concentrated at LA. FDA's Los Angeles district is one of the most active in the country for import enforcement. Food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, drugs, and medical devices all face heightened scrutiny. FDA import alerts — which automatically detain products from specific manufacturers, shippers, or countries — are aggressively applied at LA. If your product is on an import alert, you need a broker who understands the detention, hearing, and reconditioning process.

CPSC targeting of consumer products. The Consumer Product Safety Commission actively targets shipments at LA/Long Beach, particularly children's products, electronics with lithium batteries, and household goods. Products that fail CPSC testing face seizure and destruction. Proper testing certificates, children's product certificates, and tracking labels must be in order before goods arrive.

UFLPA detentions are concentrated at LA/Long Beach. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act has resulted in a significant number of detentions at the LA/Long Beach complex, reflecting the volume of goods arriving from or through China. Importers of cotton, polysilicon, tomatoes, and other products linked to the Xinjiang region must prepare detailed forced labor compliance documentation or face cargo detention that can last weeks or months.

Demurrage and detention costs. Terminal congestion at LA/Long Beach can result in significant demurrage and detention charges. When CBP holds or examinations delay container pickup, those costs compound. Filing entries accurately and pre-arrival — rather than waiting for vessel discharge — reduces dwell time and the financial exposure that comes with it.

The E-Commerce Supply Chain Through Los Angeles

The growth of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer brands has transformed Los Angeles into the epicenter of fulfillment logistics. Understanding this ecosystem is critical for importers using the LA corridor.

Inland Empire fulfillment. The Inland Empire region east of Los Angeles contains the highest concentration of warehouse and distribution center square footage in the United States. Goods arriving at LA/Long Beach are trucked to fulfillment centers in Ontario, Riverside, Moreno Valley, and surrounding cities, where they are stored, picked, packed, and shipped to consumers nationwide. Efficient customs clearance at the port is the first link in this chain.

Amazon and major retailer consolidation. Many of the largest Amazon fulfillment centers and retail distribution facilities are located within 60 miles of the port. Delays at customs directly impact inventory availability, stockout risk, and sales velocity for e-commerce sellers.

Section 301 tariff exposure. A large percentage of consumer goods arriving through LA from China are subject to Section 301 tariffs. Proper classification determines which Section 301 list applies, and incorrect classification can mean significant underpayment or overpayment of duties. We review HTS classifications to ensure accurate duty calculation and identify exclusion opportunities where they exist.

For a deeper understanding of how customs brokerage costs are structured, see our customs broker cost guide.

Industries We Serve Through Los Angeles

Consumer Electronics

Classification and clearance of smartphones, laptops, displays, peripherals, and electronic components. FCC compliance verification, Section 301 tariff management, and proper valuation for goods with software or IP components.

Apparel & Fashion

Textile classification across the full range of garment types, fiber compositions, and construction methods. Country of origin verification, quota monitoring, and UFLPA compliance for cotton-containing products.

Food & Beverage

FDA prior notice filing, FSVP compliance documentation, import alert monitoring, and coordination with FDA for detained or held shipments. Specialty food products, snacks, beverages, and ingredients from Asia-Pacific sources arriving through our food import program.

Furniture & Home Goods

Classification of furniture, lighting, home decor, and housewares. Lacey Act declarations for wood products, AD/CVD assessment on wooden bedroom furniture, and CPSC compliance for children's furniture and nursery products.

Automotive Parts

Precise HTS classification for the thousands of distinct auto part categories. Section 301 tariff applicability, end-use provisions, and proper documentation for parts destined for assembly operations throughout the western United States.

E-Commerce & DTC Brands

Customs brokerage for e-commerce importers shipping to Inland Empire fulfillment centers. Fast clearance to minimize demurrage, proper classification for duty optimization, and scalable operations for growing brands.

Pricing & How to Get Started

Greenwich Mercantile charges a flat $100 per filing for entries at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach — any product, any value, any government agency. There are no surcharges for FDA filings, CPSC-regulated products, examination coordination, or after-hours processing. For a full breakdown of how our pricing compares to other brokers, see our customs broker cost guide.

No minimum volume. Whether you are importing 5 containers per month or 500, the rate is the same. We work with importers of all sizes at LA/Long Beach.

30-minute consultation. Book a free consultation and we will review your LA import operations, identify compliance risks, and show you exactly how we can help. Most importers are fully onboarded within an hour.

Fast onboarding. We handle your power of attorney, continuous bond procurement, and ACE setup. If you are switching from another broker, we manage the transition so there is no disruption to your shipments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does customs clearance take at LA?

Standard ocean container clearances at the Port of Los Angeles or Long Beach typically process within 3 to 5 business days from vessel arrival. This includes vessel unloading, terminal availability, and CBP release. Shipments with FDA-regulated products or those selected for CBP examination can take longer. Pre-filing entry documentation before vessel arrival significantly reduces dwell time and demurrage charges.

Do I need an LA-based customs broker?

No. A licensed U.S. customs broker can file entries at any port in the United States, including the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. What matters is your broker's experience with LA-specific operations — high examination rates, FDA hold procedures, terminal logistics, and the sheer volume of documentation required at the busiest port complex in the hemisphere. Greenwich Mercantile files entries at LA/Long Beach remotely with the same speed and expertise as a locally based broker.

What products come through the Port of LA?

The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach together handle approximately 40% of all U.S. containerized imports. Major product categories include consumer electronics, furniture, apparel and textiles, automotive parts, toys, footwear, food and beverage products, cosmetics, household goods, and e-commerce shipments. The port complex processes over $300 billion in cargo annually, with goods arriving primarily from China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and other Asia-Pacific nations.

Can you handle FDA clearance at LA?

Yes. FDA has a major presence at the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and a significant percentage of FDA-regulated imports enter the U.S. through this port complex. We handle prior notice filings, FDA hold resolution, FSVP documentation, cosmetic and drug registration issues, and coordination with FDA import alerts. Our experience with FDA procedures at LA/Long Beach helps minimize detention time and avoid product refusal.