A sourcing agent in India for US importers should do the usual work of finding and checking factories, but the US adds three things the agent must understand: tariff exposure that has moved repeatedly, product rules enforced by agencies such as the FDA and the CPSC, and the fact that you, as importer of record, carry the legal responsibility.
This is general information as of October 2026, not customs or legal advice. Confirm duty and rules with a licensed customs broker before you commit to an order.
Tariffs: why you cannot rely on a quote
US tariff measures affecting Indian goods have changed several times since 2025, and reports in mid-2026 described an interim US-India trade arrangement as still being finalised. We cannot tell you the rate that applies to your product today. What we can tell you is how to protect yourself.
- Ask your broker for the HTS classification and the current duty, including any additional measures, before you agree a price.
- Ask your agent to quote in a way that lets you compare landed cost, not only the factory price.
- Put a tariff clause in the contract so you know who bears a change between order and arrival.
- Keep a margin in your plan; duty changes in either direction are possible.
Product rules your agent must know
Food from India needs FDA facility registration and a foreign supplier verification programme run by the importer; see FDA rules for importing spices and the FSVP rule for US importers. Children's products need testing under US safety law; see CPSIA for children's textiles. Machinery and metal goods have their own duty history; see importing machinery into the US.
An agent cannot take the legal responsibility off you, but a good one will gather the evidence an FDA or CBP query asks for: test reports, factory records and traceability.
What detention looks like and how to reduce the risk
Goods can be held at the port for documents, testing or label problems. Most of the risk can be cut by correct paperwork, supplier verification and clean labelling before the container sails. Read what happens if a shipment is detained in the EU or US for the process.
Choosing the agent: a US importer's list
- Ask if they have prepared goods for US clearance before, and for which products.
- Ask who draws and sends samples for testing, and to which laboratory.
- Ask how they hand over documents to your broker, and how quickly.
- Check registrations and payment terms. Red flags when choosing a sourcing agent is a quick screen.
- Agree time-zone arrangements for calls; many US buyers want an early-morning India slot.
A worked example
A US food distributor wants a private-label spice range. The agent shortlists processors that already export to the US, checks that each is registered with the FDA, and collects the records the importer's supplier verification programme needs. Sealed samples go to an accredited laboratory for pesticide residues and microbiology.
Before shipping, the agent checks that labels meet US rules, supervises loading and sends photos with seal numbers. The distributor's broker receives a complete document set the same day. Nothing here is exotic; it is the routine that stops a detention.
Mistakes US importers make
The most common is treating the first quote as the landed cost. The next is assuming the supplier's certificates satisfy US rules without checking what the rules actually ask for. The third is letting the agent or factory act as importer of record without understanding the liability. If someone else clears the goods, know who, and under what contract.
Contract points that matter to a US buyer
Write down who is importer of record, who pays duty and demurrage, and who is responsible if a sample fails US testing. Ask for the agent's reports to be addressed to you and kept for the period your broker advises. Check the structure against what a sourcing agent contract should include.
How we work
We work across India and arrange audits and inspections where the supplier is. We find and audit manufacturers, shortlist five to ten real ones, check samples and documents, have lots tested, and supervise production and loading. You pay the factory directly, and we take nothing from factories. Our fee is one written amount agreed in advance. We do not act as your customs broker, so you will still need one in the US. To start, book a free sourcing review.