re: Need advice for importing container load from China

I wouldn't put anything down sight unseen. You aren't getting very good terms if you have to pay 50% down. You and he would be better off to use a letter of credit from a bank , but they run about 5% of commercial invoice. It puts the money in escrow until you approve the shipment. I pay 100% by wire transfer when cargo reaches port. If it is a new vendor we demand and get 45 days which gives us time to inspect the cargo. Tough but doable if they want repeat business