China-based sellers shipping large products to the United States should plan for direct FBA or independent US storage rather than assuming Amazon AWD can hold reserve stock. In an Amazon Global Selling notice published July 11, 2026, Amazon said US AWD would stop accepting new oversize products from July 31. The notice states that each unit must be smaller than 18 x 14 x 8 inches and lighter than 20 pounds. A unit at or above any limit is not eligible for new US AWD inbound.

Amazon said affected large products should be sent directly to FBA. Existing oversize inventory in US AWD can continue replenishing FBA until depleted, and shipments created before July 31 remain accepted even if delivery occurs later. The notice applies to US AWD warehouses; it says GWD is not affected and that FBA capacity rules were unchanged.

This is a US warehouse-policy change, not a general suspension of China to US shipping. The practical effect is that the post-arrival storage plan must be decided before cargo leaves China.

FBA oversize packaging starts with the final packaged unit, and the latest Amazon AWD change makes that measurement more important for China-based sellers. Amazon’s Amazon Global Selling notice, published July 11, 2026, says US AWD would no longer accept new oversize products from July 31. The notice gives a US AWD eligibility threshold of smaller than 18 x 14 x 8 inches and lighter than 20 pounds per unit.

Amazon directed affected large products to FBA. Existing oversize inventory in US AWD can continue replenishing FBA until depleted, while shipments created before July 31 remain accepted even if delivered later. This does not mean every oversized product is automatically accepted into FBA. FBA has its own product, packaging, prep, labeling, capacity and fee rules.

The operational conclusion is simple: measure and package the sellable unit before deciding whether to send it to US FBA, a third-party warehouse or another marketplace fulfillment route.

For direct FBA, the seller must follow the current Send to Amazon workflow and the requirements shown for the destination marketplace and product. Shipment plans may require specific labels, carton data, prep steps, delivery appointments or placement choices. These operational details can change, so sellers should not rely on a saved template from an earlier shipment without checking the live workflow.

Large cartons need special attention at the handoff points between factory, forwarder, port, domestic carrier and Amazon. A mismatch between the physical carton and the shipment plan can create receiving delays, rework or unexpected cost. Photograph final cartons and keep a packing record tied to the ASIN and shipment ID.

For sellers using a 3PL, agree in writing on inspection, relabeling, repacking, palletization, Amazon appointment handling and return processing. The 3PL should not be treated as a substitute for checking Amazon’s current inbound requirements.

For most large-item sellers, FBA oversize or a third-party warehouse is now the more practical route for US inventory. Amazon’s Amazon Global Selling notice, published July 11, 2026, says US Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) will accept standard-size products only from July 31. Each unit must be smaller than 18 x 14 x 8 inches and lighter than 20 pounds. A unit at or above any stated limit is not eligible for a new AWD inbound shipment.

The same notice says affected large items should be sent directly to FBA. Existing oversize stock in US AWD can continue replenishing FBA until depleted, and shipments created before July 31 remain accepted even if delivery occurs later. The notice also says the change applies to US AWD warehouses and does not affect GWD. Amazon said FBA capacity rules were unchanged in that notice.

This is the central point in the Amazon AWD vs FBA oversize decision: AWD is a reserve-storage and distribution layer, while FBA is the customer-order fulfillment network. They are related, but they are not interchangeable services.

Where Amazon has not publicly confirmed a universal amount or rule, the comparison uses “Varies by marketplace and product.” Sellers should treat the table as a planning framework, not a fee quote.

Amazon said the payment represents a significant majority of the tariff refunds it expects to receive. The company had paid the duties when it served as importer of record for certain goods entering the United States.

The refund does not mean every product sold on Amazon generated a recoverable charge. Amazon said vendors are the importer of record for most merchandise sold in its store, while third-party sellers and their logistics partners may hold that role for other shipments.

Amazon announced the update in April and deferred implementation to August 1 after advertiser feedback. The company emphasized that the change does not apply to every Amazon seller or advertiser.

Affected businesses that did not choose a preferred option before implementation will have their default payment method updated automatically. Charges and credits are then processed through the available seller or vendor account balance.

Amazon’s AWD product requirements state that the service now accepts sortable items smaller than 18 by 14 by 8 inches and weighing less than 20 pounds. A unit that reaches or exceeds the stated size or weight limits is not eligible for new AWD inbound shipments.

The restriction applies to the product unit, not simply the master carton. Repacking several units into different export cartons will not make an oversize ASIN eligible if the individual product exceeds Amazon’s threshold.

AWD and FBA serve different functions. AWD holds bulk reserve inventory and automatically replenishes FBA, while FBA stores sellable stock and fulfills customer orders. Oversize sellers have lost the lower-cost AWD buffer, not access to FBA itself.