Frequently asked questions

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement replaced NAFTA and entered into force on July 1, 2020. It does not make every shipment automatically duty-free. Eligibility depends on the product’s classification, origin rules, supporting records, and the transaction. White Lion can organize the sourcing and documentation workflow, while your customs broker or trade counsel should confirm the final treatment.

We can help identify the drawings, specifications, materials, tolerances, testing, packaging, and design-for-manufacturing work needed before factories quote. The right starting point depends on how mature the concept is and what must be validated.

Begin with a feasibility and requirements review. We can help turn the idea into a development brief, identify the technical questions, and plan the path to a prototype. Market demand, intellectual property, regulation, budget, and unit economics should be evaluated before committing to production.

We support 17+ industry groups, including construction, industrial products, consumer goods, food and beverage, packaging, furniture, textiles, electronics, medical devices, renewable energy, and aerospace. We review the process, regulation, volume, location, and supplier capability before confirming whether a project fits our network.

There is no responsible universal minimum. Budget depends on engineering, tooling, certification, samples, minimum order quantities, production, packaging, freight, duties, and working capital. We can help build an initial cost model so you can decide whether to proceed, redesign, change volume, or phase the launch.

Do not build a current import plan around the former general $800 duty-free rule. U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that duty-free de minimis treatment for most low-value shipments was suspended effective August 29, 2025. Requirements can change, so confirm the current entry method, duties, fees, admissibility, and documentation with a licensed customs broker before shipping.

Cost depends on whether you use a contract manufacturer, shelter operation, acquisition, joint venture, or owned facility. Real estate, utilities, equipment, permits, labor, tax, customs, environmental obligations, insurance, management, and working capital all matter. A feasibility study should compare the alternatives before a location or operating model is selected.

Timing varies substantially by operating model, facility, process, equipment, permits, hiring, qualification, tooling, and customer approval. White Lion can organize the milestones and dependencies, but a credible date comes only after the specific operation and decision path are defined.

The schedule depends on product maturity, supplier availability, tooling, sample iterations, testing, regulation, order volume, and logistics. After an initial review, we can build a stage-by-stage plan with the known dependencies, decision dates, and supplier lead times.