How to Use the Shippo MCP in OpenAI Agents SDK

Q: Can I use Shippo and the OpenAI Agents SDK for customs?

Yup. You can list required items using listcustomsitems or check what declarations are needed with listcustomsdeclarations. This helps your agent prep the necessary paperwork before shipping international goods.

Q: Do I need to list carrier manifests with Shippo and the OpenAI Agents SDK?

You can use listcarriermanifests if you need a daily snapshot of what carriers are processing. This gives your agent extra data points beyond just tracking status.

Automate complex shipping logistics using the OpenAI Agents SDK.

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Connect Shippo MCP to OpenAI Agents SDK

Create your Vinkius account to connect Shippo to OpenAI Agents SDK and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup Shippo with OpenAI Agents SDK

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Get real-time carrier rates.

Need to know the cost before you ship? You can run `create_shipment_get_rates` and get immediate quotes from top carriers. This function takes dimensions and zip codes and spits out a rate comparison, so your agent always knows the cheapest way to send something. It's crucial for decision-making because it doesn't just guess; it pulls live data. Agents can then compare these rates against other costs before recommending an action.

Manage labels and tracking.

The full lifecycle is simple to handle. Your agent can run `purchase_shipping_label` to buy a label instantly, handling payments right within the flow. After that, it tracks everything using `track_package_status`, giving real-time updates on where the package actually is. This pairing of tools means your agent doesn't stop at purchase; it monitors delivery until it hits the destination.

Validate and save addresses.

Don't let a bad address derail a shipment. The `create_and_validate_address` tool ensures that any location data is correct before your agent tries to calculate rates or purchase labels. This saves time and money. Plus, the agent can keep track of known locations using `list_saved_addresses`, so you don't have to re-enter the same stuff over and over.

Setup guide

Set up Shippo MCP in OpenAI Agents SDK

Prerequisites

Python 3.10+ installed
openai-agents package (pip install openai-agents)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Install the SDK

Run pip install openai-agents to install the OpenAI Agents SDK. The MCP integration is built-in — no extra dependencies needed.
2

Connect via SSE transport

Use MCPServerSse with your Vinkius endpoint URL. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. The SDK auto-discovers all Shippo tools at runtime.
3

Create your Agent

Pass the MCP to Agent(mcp_servers=[server]). The agent receives Shippo tools as native definitions — JSON schemas resolve automatically.
4

Run the agent

Call Runner.run(agent, prompt) to execute. The agent invokes the appropriate Shippo tools and returns structured results. Copy the full example on the right to get started.

agent.py

import asyncio
from agents import Agent, Runner
from agents.mcp import MCPServerSse

async def main():
    async with MCPServerSse(
        url="https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    ) as server:
        agent = Agent(
            name="Shippo Agent",
            instructions="You have access to Shippo tools.",
            mcp_servers=[server],
        )
        result = await Runner.run(agent, "List recent transactions")
        print(result.final_output)

asyncio.run(main())

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Common questions about Shippo MCP in OpenAI Agents SDK

The MCP Server exposes all shipping actions as discoverable tools. Your agent treats it like any other function, calling `create_shipment_get_rates` when needed to get quotes or running `purchase_shipping_label` when the user gives the go-ahead.

Yup. You can list required items using `list_customs_items` or check what declarations are needed with `list_customs_declarations`. This helps your agent prep the necessary paperwork before shipping international goods.

The best path is letting your agent handle the whole loop: validate address -> get rates -> purchase label -> track package. This keeps everything contained and traceable within the system.

You can use `list_carrier_manifests` if you need a daily snapshot of what carriers are processing. This gives your agent extra data points beyond just tracking status.

It provides structured, actionable data like real-time rates and package statuses, allowing your agent to make informed choices based on live market conditions.

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