Is China Still the Top U.S. Import Source?

Is China Still the Top Exporter to the USA? 

China's decade-long grip on the US import market has slipped — and the numbers make it official. According to the latest US Census Bureau trade data, here's where America's imports actually come from today: 

Top import sources by share of total U.S. imports: 

• Mexico — 17.3%

• Canada — 11.2% 

• Taiwan — 7.8% 

• China — 7.5% 

• Vietnam — 7.2% 

• India — 2.8% 

Mexico now holds the #1 spot by a wide margin, driven by nearshoring (relocating production to geographically nearby countries instead of distant ones), automotive manufacturing, and USMCA trade advantages. China has fallen to third or fourth place, overtaken by both Mexico and Canada, and now sits close to Taiwan and Vietnam rather than dominating alone. 

USMCA (United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement which replaced NAFTA on July 1, 2020) is the modern free-trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. It's the trade framework behind much of Mexico and Canada's rise on this list — goods that meet USMCA rules of origin move duty-free between the three countries. 

Cross-Border Trucking Is Now the Backbone of US Trade 

With Mexico and Canada now supplying nearly 30% of all US imports combined, cross-border trucking has become one of the most strategically important freight modes in North America — arguably rivaling transpacific ocean freight in overall trade impact. 

Unlike ocean shipments that take 30–35 days from Asia or even longer, cross-border trucking from Mexico or Canada typically moves in 1–5 days, making it the default choice for more imported goods to the USA. 

This growth is being driven directly by nearshoring: manufacturers moving production closer to the US to reduce tariff exposure and transit risk. As more factories open in Mexico, landbased freight capacity and border clearance speed are becoming just as critical as ocean carrier reliability. 

What Importers & Exporters Should Watch For: 

• Border crossing delays at high-volume ports of entry (Laredo, Otay Mesa, Detroit– Windsor) 

• USMCA rules-of-origin documentation — required for duty-free treatment 

• Driver and equipment shortages during peak nearshoring demand

• Dual-registered carriers who can operate on both sides of the border without a costly cross-dock handoff 

Causes for Border Crossing Delays

Common causes: 

• Rising cargo volume from nearshoring, pushing traffic at major crossings like Laredo and Otay Mesa beyond original capacity 

• Incomplete or incorrect USMCA rules-of-origin paperwork, which can trigger manual CBP review instead of automatic clearance 

• CBP staffing shortages and random or targeted customs inspections

• Driver and equipment shortages on the carrier side
  Seasonal peaks, particularly Q4 and pre-holiday shipping 

• Periodic labor actions or strikes at border facilities  

How to overcome them:

• Pre-file customs entries in advance using ACE or PAPS 

• Double-check USMCA rules-of-origin documentation before the shipment departs 

• Schedule crossings outside peak hours where possible 

• Work with dual-registered carriers who know both sides of the border 

• Use real-time tracking to reroute around known congestion 

• Build a 1–2 day buffer into delivery timelines as a safeguard against the unexpected