TikTok Shop US Implements 'Whitelist System' for Cross-Border Direct Shipping: Stricter Access Requirements and Performance Monitoring

[Ebrun Exclusive] January 31st – TikTok Shop US has officially released new regulations for cross-border direct shipping, announcing that starting February 1, 2026, it will implement stricter, unified controls for all direct-shipping orders from China to the United States. This adjustment focuses on the logistics system and merchant access mechanisms, involving changes to multiple governance rules.

According to the new regulations, the platform is introducing an 'invitation-only whitelist' system for logistics. Direct shipping orders will only be permitted to use third-party logistics service providers designated by the platform.

The standard service providers total eight, including JD Logistics, YunExpress, Yanwen, 4PX, SF Express, BEST, Jisu, and Yidai. These primarily cater to small and medium-sized parcels and standard delivery time needs, covering the daily shipping scenarios for the majority of cross-border direct-shipping sellers. The oversized/overweight service providers are DHL and FedEx, which mainly handle large items, special categories, and orders requiring faster delivery times, such as high-value or fragile goods with a 3-5 day delivery promise. The platform will no longer accept logistics channels not included on the list for US direct shipping fulfillment.

Simultaneously, TikTok Shop will implement ongoing performance monitoring and a dynamic elimination mechanism for logistics service providers. Assessment dimensions include four core metrics: scale, timeliness, fulfillment experience, and tracking completeness.

For the first three quarters starting February 1, 2026, the platform will execute a quarterly bottom-elimination system. Each quarter, the logistics provider ranked last in comprehensive score, or any provider with a quarterly comprehensive score below 6 points (primarily based on timeliness, tracking, and experience), will be eliminated until the number of logistics providers is reduced to the platform's target range.

Starting from the fourth quarter of 2026, logistics providers with a single-quarter comprehensive score below 6 points will first receive a warning and be required to rectify within a deadline. If improvements are not made within one month, they will be directly removed. Providers ranking last for two consecutive quarters will also face removal. Logistics providers removed from the platform will be barred from reapplying for access for six months from the date of removal.

Furthermore, the platform has established several operational red lines that result in immediate disqualification. These include: logistics providers must not have records of major violations such as administrative penalties from customs or other import/export regulatory agencies, or smuggling; they must possess and practically demonstrate the capability to handle a daily average of over 500 orders from TikTok Shop merchants; if there are three or more valid complaints from different merchants in a single month, and the platform's investigation confirms the logistics provider is at fault, they will be directly removed.

Additionally, logistics providers must ensure complete fulfillment tracking, including but not limited to (warehouse-in/pickup, export customs declaration, departure, arrival, import customs clearance, last-mile handover, successful delivery). If the completeness rate for any single tracking event falls below 90% in a month and the platform's investigation confirms it was caused by the logistics provider, the platform reserves the right to remove them.

On the merchant side, the access mechanism for TikTok Shop US cross-border direct shipping is also being tightened.

Under the new rules, direct shipping permissions are shifting from a relatively open model to an 'industry-specific approved whitelist' system. This will only target merchants with special category attributes, scarce products, or those aligned with the platform's key support directions, requiring an official invitation from a TikTok client manager. Small and medium-sized sellers will no longer have a self-application portal, significantly raising the overall threshold for direct shipping business.

Regarding actual fulfillment cooperation, the platform has set clear requirements for the relationship between merchants and logistics providers.

During the direct shipping fulfillment process, packaging or customs documents must not display any TikTok or TikTok Shop related wording. Logistics providers must complete official configuration in the TikTok Shop backend and act as the direct fulfillment entity for merchants; shipping through intermediate proxy service providers is prohibited. If a logistics provider is involved in serious violations such as fake orders, water-running orders (using unofficial/cheaper shipping methods deceptively), or tracking fraud, they will be permanently banned from cooperating with TikTok Shop merchants. If merchants are involved, their stores will be directly shut down.

After obtaining direct shipping permissions, merchants must still pass stricter ongoing assessments.

Firstly, the platform is adding a mandatory requirement for FBT (Fulfilled by TikTok) store-wide penetration rate. Merchants must increase their usage ratio of the official warehousing and fulfillment model within specified cycles and meet target values set by the platform based on category. Those failing to meet the targets will have their direct shipping permissions directly revoked. This assessment is expected to officially launch mid-year.

Secondly, merchants must achieve a merchant level upgrade to T3 standards within three months of activating direct shipping permissions. According to common industry standards, T3 level typically corresponds to monthly sales exceeding $65,000. Merchants failing to meet this standard within the deadline will have their direct shipping fulfillment qualifications revoked. This rule is also expected to start mid-year.

Thirdly, the platform will introduce a constraint mechanism based on comparing customer negative feedback rates against the platform average. The first instance of exceeding the standard within 90 days will result in a warning and notification to the industry. A second occurrence will lead directly to the revocation of direct shipping fulfillment permissions. These related rules are expected to take effect starting in April.

Additionally, TikTok Shop has further detailed several direct shipping fulfillment metrics and clarified corresponding penalties, also planned for implementation starting in April.

For instance, if false tracking is discovered, including situations where the actual operation location does not match the tracking data location, the platform will forcibly close direct shipping permissions and impose a fine of $5 per order. Monthly tracking completeness must not fall below 90%; otherwise, the same penalty standard applies.

If the on-time delivery rate falls below 80%, the delayed fulfillment rate reaches 4% or higher, the merchant-canceled order rate reaches 2.5% or higher, or the valid tracking rate falls below 95%, triggering any one of these conditions will result in varying degrees of punishment for the merchant, including order limits, point deductions, fines, and extended payment terms.

Industry insiders believe that the full implementation of this direct shipping 'whitelist system' signifies that TikTok Shop's US cross-border business is transitioning from a phase of rapid expansion to a refined operation stage emphasizing compliance, stability, and fulfillment quality. For both logistics providers and merchants, the barriers to entry and ongoing operational requirements have significantly increased. The cross-border direct shipping model will further concentrate towards top-tier resources and high-performing entities.

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