Sourcing pet products outside China in 2026: what changed and what to check
In 2026 the tariff case for leaving China is narrower than it looks. The USTR notice of July 2026 set a 12.5 percent Section 301 tariff on products of both China and Vietnam, among many other economies. The stronger reasons to move a natural pet product line are product-level: where the material grows, whether origin holds up, and whether a new supplier lets you start small. Our full checklist is in natural pet toys: Vietnam instead of China; this post covers what 2026 changed.
- For importers, brands and Amazon sellers
- US and EU buyers
- About 7 minutes to read
What changed in US tariffs in 2026
On July 28, 2026 the Federal Register published a USTR notice covering "60 investigations" into whether economies enforce a ban on imports made with forced labor (Federal Register 2026-15181). The notice imposes tariffs "on all products of the investigated economy, with certain exemptions as provided in Annexes I and II."
The rate depends on the economy. Where an economy has a forced labor import prohibition, has committed to one, or has a partial regime, the notice sets 10 percent. "For every other economy," it sets 12.5 percent. China and Vietnam both appear in the 12.5 percent group, effective from 12:01 a.m. eastern time on July 24, 2026.
Two things we could not confirm from the notice: whether pet products fall under the exemption annexes, and how this duty combines with older Section 301 duties on Chinese goods. Both are questions for your customs broker, with the HS code of each product.
As of November 2026. US tariffs have changed several times this year; check the current position before you order. More detail: US tariffs on Vietnam pet toys.
Origin follows where the product is made
A move only counts if the goods really come from the new country. US regulations define country of origin as "the country of manufacture, production, or growth" of the article, and say further work in another country must "effect a substantial transformation" to change the origin (19 CFR 134.1(b)).
For a buyer, that turns into practical checks: is the product made, start to finish, in the country on the label? Does the supplier make the material, or buy finished goods from elsewhere? Can they show the place it is made? Marking the origin on the goods is a separate step; see "Made in Vietnam" origin marking.
Natural materials are tied to where they grow
For natural pet products the material question comes first. We make four lines from materials we work with ourselves, plus pet beds:
- Coffee wood chews. Coffee wood sourced from mature Robusta trees (20+ years) at the end of their productive life, cleared to make way for new planting, a byproduct of the natural farm renewal cycle in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
- Loofah toys, cut from mature loofah fruit picked at 6–9 months.
- Hemp balls and knotted ropes, and coco coir balls, bones and ropes.
- Pet beds, including elevated wooden-frame beds and woven beds.
We do not make jute or cotton toys. If your range includes them, you will need a separate source. That is worth knowing before you plan one container for everything.
WINVN INT was founded in 2019, has two factories in Dak Lak and Gia Lai provinces, and exports to 40+ countries. How to check any supplier, including us, is in how to vet a natural pet toy supplier.
Test a new supplier small
Moving a whole range at once is the expensive way to find a problem. A smaller first order tells you more:
- Samples. Your first 3 are free, any items you choose; you pay the shipping.
- Low minimums. 50 pcs per item for coffee wood, hemp, coir and loofah; 100 for beds. Sizes can be split within an item.
- One mixed order. Several lines can go in one order or one container; see mixed orders.
Lead times for plain goods, counted from the day we receive the deposit:
| Quantity | Lead time |
|---|---|
| 50–200 pcs | 8–10 days |
| 200–1,000 pcs | 10–15 days |
| 1,000–5,000 pcs | 25–27 days |
| One 20ft container | 30–45 days |
With your own labels, tags or boxes, we give the lead time after we see the design files.
Documents for US and EU buyers
Every shipment: commercial invoice, packing list, and a bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air). The bill of lading is issued by the shipping line or forwarder. When required: certificate of origin or EUR.1, phytosanitary certificate, fumigation certificate.
For the EU, the certificate of origin is the EUR.1 under the EU–Vietnam trade agreement. Not every item qualifies for a certificate of origin, so we confirm it per item before quoting. Before the originals are issued, we send draft documents for you to check, on every shipment.
A short plan for a 2026 switch
- List the products you want to move and the material each one is made of.
- Ask your customs broker for the duty on each HS code from each origin, including Section 301, as of the month you order.
- Order samples, then a small first order across several items.
- Agree Incoterms (we quote FOB, CIF or DAP) and how import duty is handled before the quote is final.
- Check draft documents before the vessel sails.
Questions about sourcing pet products outside China
Does moving from China to Vietnam avoid the 2026 Section 301 tariff?
Not by itself. The July 2026 USTR notice lists both China and Vietnam at 12.5 percent, with exemptions set out in its annexes. Ask your customs broker how it applies to your HS codes.
What decides a product's country of origin for US import?
Under 19 CFR 134.1, origin is the country of manufacture, production or growth; work done in another country must cause a substantial transformation to change it.
Can I test a Vietnamese supplier with a small order?
With us, yes. Your first 3 samples are free and you pay the shipping, and the minimum is 50 pcs per item for chews and toys, 100 for beds.
Can different product lines ship in one order?
Yes. Coffee wood chews, hemp, coir and loofah toys and pet beds can be mixed in one order or one container.
Do you provide EUR.1 for EU shipments?
EUR.1 is the certificate of origin we use for the EU. Not every item qualifies, so we confirm it per item before quoting.
Start with three samples
Tell us which products you are moving and your market. Your first 3 samples are free; you pay the shipping.