The short answer: yes. Alibaba.com is a global marketplace: Alibaba Group says it served more than 48 million small and medium-sized businesses from over 190 countries and regions in fiscal year 2024, and each supplier decides whether it ships to your address. What changes for a US buyer is not the ordering. It is what happens after you pay: who arranges the freight, who files the customs entry and who pays the duties. CBP says the importer of record is responsible for the entry documentation and for all applicable duties, taxes and fees, and the rules for low-value shipments changed in 2025, so check CBP's current guidance before you order.
If you have never imported before, the unfamiliar part usually isn't the Alibaba order. It's the words that come after it: freight forwarder, customs broker, entry, duties. You don't have to know all of them to start, but you should know who is responsible for each.
Can a US Buyer Order From Alibaba.com?
Yes, as long as the supplier agrees to ship to you. Alibaba Group describes Alibaba.com as a business-to-business platform (Alibaba Group, read Oct 8, 2026), so the site is set up for business buyers: MOQs, quotes and orders. Before you pay, confirm three things with the supplier: that it ships to your address, which delivery term the price uses, and the specification. If you only want one item for yourself, see How do I buy a single product from the Alibaba website for my personal use?
What Happens After You Pay?
- The supplier ships the goods by express courier, air freight or sea freight, depending on what you agreed.
- The shipment is entered with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CBP's guide for commercial importers says the importer of record — the owner, purchaser or a licensed customs broker designated by them — files the entry documents at the port of entry within 15 calendar days of the shipment's arrival, including a commercial invoice or pro forma invoice and, where appropriate, packing lists (CBP, Importing into the United States).
- Duties, taxes and fees are paid, and the goods are released.
- The goods are delivered to you or to your warehouse.
Who Pays the Duties?
It depends on the delivery term in the quote. Alibaba's seller guide for US-bound shipments says that under most Incoterms the buyer is responsible for duties (Alibaba seller blog). In general terms:
| Term | Who arranges the main freight | Who handles US import clearance, duties and taxes |
|---|---|---|
| EXW (Ex Works) | The buyer | The buyer |
| FOB (Free on Board) | The seller delivers the goods on board at the port of shipment; the buyer arranges the rest | The buyer |
| DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) | The seller | The seller |
These are the general meanings of the terms. Ask the supplier which one the quote uses and have it written into the order. Even when a broker files for you, CBP says you, the importer of record, remain responsible for the correctness of the entry documentation and for all applicable duties, taxes and fees.
Do You Need a Customs Broker?
CBP says some resident importers may file entries on their own behalf, that many first-time importers consult a licensed customs broker, and that customs brokers are the only persons authorized by US tariff law to act as agents for importers (CBP, Tips for New Importers and Exporters). Ask a broker for the tariff classification of your product and an estimate of duties and taxes before you pay the supplier.
What Changed for Small Shipments?
CBP's fact sheet on the suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment (updated Aug 18, 2025) says that from Aug 29, 2025 duty-free treatment for shipments valued at $800 or less is suspended for all countries and all modes, including international mail, unless a separate authority makes an exception (CBP fact sheet). Rules like this have changed more than once and can change again. Check CBP's e-commerce page and ask your carrier or broker before you rely on any rule, including this one.
What Else Should You Check?
- The tariff classification and duty rate for your product. Ask your broker; don't take a rate from a blog.
- Whether another US agency regulates your product. Some goods, such as food, medical products, children's products or vehicle parts, can be subject to other agencies' rules. Ask your broker whether yours is.
- The documents your broker needs: the commercial invoice, the packing list and the specification in the order.
- Timing: allow for production, shipping and customs entry before you promise a delivery date to your own customers.
Is It Safe to Pay?
Alibaba says Trade Assurance applies when you pay through Alibaba.com's secure payment platform. It covers a product-quality or ship-date difference from what was agreed on the order, and you can request a refund within 30 days after delivery (Alibaba's Trade Assurance page for buyers, read Oct 8, 2026). Put the specification, the price and the delivery term into the order. For larger orders, check who you are paying: see Is Alibaba Trustworthy?
What If You Are in Mexico or Latin America?
The ordering is the same; the customs side is different in each country. In Mexico, customs matters are handled by the national customs agency (ANAM) and tax matters by SAT, and commercial imports normally go through a customs broker (agente aduanal). Ask your broker what applies to your product and whether you need any registration as an importer, and don't rely on rates quoted in blogs. Our auto parts guide puts a typical ocean shipment from China to a Mexican port at 30 to 45 days, on top of production time (How to Import Auto Parts from China to Mexico).
What Should You Do Next?
- Confirm with the supplier that it ships to your address and which delivery term (EXW, FOB or DDP) the price uses.
- Ask a licensed customs broker for the tariff classification and an estimate of duties and taxes for your product, before you pay.
- Compare quotes as landed cost: goods plus freight plus duties, taxes and broker fees (see the MOQ guide). If you found the product cheaper on Amazon, read Why are some products on Amazon FBA less than Alibaba?
- Put the specification, price and delivery term in an Alibaba.com order and pay through the platform.
- Decide who files the entry: you, a broker, or the seller under DDP, and make sure the commercial invoice and packing list are ready.
- Before a large first order, check who you are paying: 10 Things to Check Before Paying a Chinese Supplier Deposit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you order from Alibaba.com in the US?
Yes. Alibaba.com is a global marketplace, and each supplier decides whether it ships to your address. Confirm that with the supplier, together with the delivery term the price uses.
Do I need a business to order from Alibaba in the US?
Alibaba Group describes Alibaba.com as a business-to-business platform, and suppliers set their own minimum orders. Some suppliers sell single units or samples. If you only want one item for yourself, a retail platform or a local shop may be simpler.
Who pays import duties on Alibaba orders shipped to the US?
It depends on the delivery term in the quote. Alibaba's seller guide for US-bound shipments says that under most Incoterms the buyer is responsible. CBP says the importer of record is responsible for the entry documentation and for all applicable duties, taxes and fees, even when a broker files.
Do I need a customs broker to import from Alibaba?
CBP says some resident importers may file entries themselves, that many first-time importers consult a licensed customs broker, and that customs brokers are the only persons authorized by US tariff law to act as agents for importers. Ask a broker for the tariff classification and a duty estimate before you pay.
Is duty-free shipping for low-value packages still available?
CBP's fact sheet, updated Aug 18, 2025, says duty-free de minimis treatment for shipments valued at $800 or less was suspended for all countries from Aug 29, 2025. Rules like this change, so check CBP's current guidance.
Summary and Next Step
Ordering from Alibaba in the US is the easy part. The part to plan is the delivery term, the customs entry and the duties, and who is responsible for each. Ask for the term in writing, get a broker's estimate before you pay, and compare quotes as landed cost. You don't have to know everything about importing before you start. You just need to know who is responsible for each step.
In short, ordering is the easy part; plan the delivery term, the customs entry and the duties. If those are not settled before you pay, the realistic outcome is landed costs you did not plan for and a shipment waiting on a missing step. Tell us about your order and we will say which checks matter before you pay, and a $49 remote check covers the supplier basics.
For buyers importing from China, understanding the supplier before investing money can reduce unnecessary risks. SourciaVera helps international buyers verify Chinese suppliers, understand manufacturing capabilities, and make safer sourcing decisions. I provide supplier verification services, so you should treat my recommendation accordingly. If you're not sure where to start, the $49 Remote Check looks at the basics — company registration, manufacturer vs. trader, address, and whether the payment account matches the company name — before you place an order. You don't need to travel to China. We're here, and we handle that part for you.