The data center boom is creating enormous demand for servers, AI hardware, networking equipment, electrical systems, and cooling technology. For companies building these facilities, getting the right equipment to the job site is only part of the challenge. Importing it successfully requires preparation.
If your company is new to importing, here are five important things to understand before your first shipment arrives.
1. Secure a U.S. Customs Bond Before Your Goods Arrive
If you’re importing equipment into the United States, a U.S. Customs import bond is generally required to clear commercial entries, including goods that are duty-free. The bond helps ensure that applicable duties, taxes, fees, and other obligations to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are fulfilled.
For data center builders importing expensive equipment from multiple international suppliers, arranging the appropriate bond early can help prevent avoidable clearance delays.
Read more: When Are Customs Bonds Required for Importing Goods into the United States?
2. Don’t Assume Your Equipment Is Insured During Transit
Servers, GPUs, storage drives, networking equipment, and other data center components can represent substantial financial investments. If a shipment is damaged, lost, or stolen in transit, the financial consequences can extend beyond the value of the equipment itself.
A customs bond does not protect your cargo against physical loss or damage. Marine cargo insurance is designed to protect insured goods against covered losses during transportation.
New importers should evaluate whether shipment-by-shipment coverage or an annual cargo insurance policy better fits their shipping activity. Companies moving equipment regularly across multiple projects may benefit from the convenience of annual coverage, while occasional shipments may warrant individual policies.
Read more: Cargo Insurance Risk Management Options
3. Understand Your Incoterms Before Agreeing to a Purchase
When purchasing equipment from an overseas supplier, it’s important to understand the responsibilities outlined in your sales agreement.
Incoterms help define the buyer’s and seller’s responsibilities for transportation costs, delivery, and the transfer of risk. These details can influence who is responsible for a shipment if something goes wrong along the way.
Don’t assume your supplier’s responsibility for arranging transportation means your equipment is automatically insured for the entire journey. Understand when the risk transfers to your company and verify what insurance, if any, is actually in place.
4. Know Your Importer of Record Responsibilities
Importing isn’t simply a matter of purchasing equipment and arranging transportation. Someone must be responsible for ensuring that the goods are properly declared to CBP.
The Importer of Record is responsible for key import obligations, including reasonable care in product classification, valuation, documentation, and payment of applicable duties and fees. Even when working with a customs broker, importers retain important compliance responsibilities.
For data center projects involving equipment from multiple manufacturers and countries, establishing clear ownership of these responsibilities early can help reduce costly mistakes.
Read more: What Is an Importer of Record?
5. Account for Tariffs and the True Cost of Your Equipment
The purchase price isn’t necessarily the final cost of imported data center equipment. Depending on the product and its country of origin, additional duties and tariffs may apply.
These costs can also affect customs bond requirements and the valuation used for cargo insurance. Before finalizing an order, work with your customs broker to determine the correct tariff classification, applicable duties, and documentation requirements.
Planning for these expenses upfront can help prevent unexpected costs from disrupting your project budget.
Read more: How Tariffs Impact Your Cargo Insurance
Start Your Data Center Project With the Right Importing Strategy
Data center construction depends on expensive, specialized equipment arriving when it’s needed. For new importers, getting customs bonds, cargo insurance, supplier agreements, and compliance processes in place early can help reduce avoidable risks throughout the supply chain.
TRG helps businesses navigate U.S. Customs bonds and marine cargo insurance so they can focus on getting their equipment where it needs to be.
Building a data center and preparing to import equipment? Contact TRG to discuss your customs bond and cargo insurance needs before your next shipment moves.
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