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GFA 493 July 14, 2026 22:55

Smarter Global Sourcing and Shipping Strategies

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Show Notes

Show Notes

Mike Michelini sits down with Justin Lin, CEO of Easy China Warehouse (ECW), for a frank look at what is happening in global logistics in 2026. From rising shipping rates and tightening US customs requirements to inventory strategy differences between Western and Chinese sellers, Justin shares ground-level insights from inside the China supply chain. If you are shipping product to the US this year, this episode has some timely advice on timing your shipments before Q4.

Episode Timeline

  • Logistics in 2026 and the Trump Effect: Justin explains how ongoing policy and geopolitical pressure is still driving up fuel and shipping costs globally, affecting sellers across every channel and region.
  • Western vs. Chinese Seller Inventory Strategies: Chinese sellers tend to ship small, frequent batches from China on demand. Western sellers often over-ship upfront. Justin breaks down why cash flow is the real reason this matters.
  • Temu and New Channel Trends: Some ECW customers are still testing Temu, focusing on new product listings rather than existing catalog, and routing inventory through third-party 3PLs that work with Temu in key markets like the US, EU, UK, Germany, and Japan.
  • US Customs Policy Changes: Justin walks through new CPSC requirements coming into effect, including CPC certification for children's products, GCC for general products, MSDS documentation, and the tightening IOR (Importer of Record) rules via US CBP.
  • Q4 Shipping Forecast and What to Do Now: ECW is forecasting shipping rates will continue rising through November before dropping in mid-December. Justin's advice: ship your Q4 inventory as soon as possible.

Topics Covered

Why Inventory Management Is the Real Game
Justin makes the point that for any e-commerce seller, the money you make is tied directly to how well you manage inventory. Buying too much and holding it too long kills cash flow. Shipping just-in-time from a China warehouse keeps capital moving and reduces risk on seasonal or slow-moving products.

Tightening US Import Requirements
New CPSC rules are requiring more documentation before products can enter the US. CPC certification for children's products, GCC for most general products, and MSDS are all becoming standard requirements. On top of this, US CBP is pushing Amazon sellers to register their own company as the Importer of Record, with AGL being one of the faster and more accessible ways to do this at around $350 USD.

Shipping Rate Forecast for Q4 2026
ECW is projecting rates will keep climbing monthly through the peak season and only start dropping around mid-December. For sellers planning Q4 stock, Justin recommends preparing roughly three months of inventory now. Transit time to the US is around 1 to 1.5 months, so the window to act is tight.

Global Rate Increases Beyond China-US
It is not just the China-to-US lane. Rates to Australia and EU are also climbing as shipping lines redirect vessel capacity toward higher-demand US and EU routes, compressing availability everywhere else.

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