1. What role do import and export agency enterprises actually play?

An import-export agency enterprise is an entity approved by the General Administration of Customs and possessesImport and Export RightsA professional service agency. They provide comprehensive services for enterprises that lack independent customs declaration qualifications or have insufficient foreign trade experience, including:

• Handling customs clearance procedures such as customs declaration, inspection, and quarantine.
• CoordinationInternational logisticsTransportation (Sea/Air/Land)
• Manage foreign exchange receipts and payments andExport tax refund
• Assist in handling trade documents such as certificates of origin.

According to the latest 2025 statistics, approximately 67% of small and medium-sized enterprises in China choose to complete their first international trade transaction through agents, saving about 40% in operational costs compared to self-managed import and export.

II. What specific items are included in import and export agency services?

The services of professional agency enterprises can be divided into three levels:

• Basic Services:
  • Clasificación del código HS (la precisión afecta directamente los costos arancelarios)
  • Pre-clearance document review (The error rate for electronic customs declarations must be below 0.8% by 2025)
  • Design of cross - border transportation plan
• Value Added Services:
  • Trade Compliance Risk Assessment
  • Handling of Import and Export Licenses for Special Commodities (e.g., Medical Devices, Hazardous Chemicals)
  • Tariff Planning and AEO Certification Guidance

III. What are the advantages of hiring an agency over building your own team?

• Cost Saving Case Study: A cross-border e-commerce company, through agency services, achieved a 22% reduction in annual logistics costs and shortened the tax refund cycle to 15 business days.
• Risk Control ExampleThe agency assisted a machinery exporter in successfully avoiding anti-dumping duties, saving RMB 1.27 million in tariffs for a single order.
• Efficiency improvement data: On average, professional agents complete customs clearance 2.3 days faster than self-operated enterprises (the 2025 customs clearance efficiency standard is set at 48 hours).

IV. How to Identify the Professional Competence of an Agency?

Recommended evaluation through four dimensions:

• Qualification verification: Check the "Customs Declaration Unit Registration Certificate" and the AEO certification level.
• The industry speech.Please provide at least 3 successful cases of similar products.
• Service networks: Confirm that branches are established at major ports (such as Shanghai Port, Shenzhen Port)
• Emergency response ability: Ask how to handle unexpected situations such as customs inspection anomalies.

5. How to Calculate Agency Fees Reasonably?

Mainstream Charging Models for Agency Services in 2025:

• Proportional value system: Generally charged at 0.5%-1.2% (lower for electronic products, higher for special goods)
• Service item system: Basic customs declaration fee is 800-1500 RMB per shipment, with separate quotes for complex business operations.
• Annual service package: Suitable for enterprises with an annual export volume exceeding $5 million, it can save 15%-20% of costs.

Hidden costs that require special attention: Additional clauses such as demurrage fees, expedited fees, and document amendment charges.

VI. What Are the Legal Risks Associated with Import and Export Agency Services?

According to the 2025 revised version of the "Customs Law," companies must pay special attention to:

• Administrative Penalties for Incorrect Commodity Classification (May incur fines up to 30% of the goods' value)
• Countervailing investigation triggered by fraudulent certificate of origin.
• Risk of Account Freezing Due to Violations in Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments

It is advisable to choose an agency company equipped with a professional compliance team, as they typically hold trade compliance professional qualifications certified by the ICC International Chamber of Commerce.

7. What should be considered when acting as an agent for special products?

Taking medical device exports as an example, professional agents should possess:

• FDA/CE Certification Application Experience
• Cold Chain Logistics Temperature Control System (2-8°C pharmaceutical transportation error must be ≤±0.5°C)
• Temporary Import and Export Qualification for Overseas Clinical Trial Materials

8. What are the new trends in agency services in the digital age?

Three Major Technological Innovations in the Agency Industry by 2025:

• Blockchain Document System (Customs Clearance Time Reduced by 40%)
• AI Intelligent Categorization System (Accuracy Increased to 98.6%)
• Cross-Border Logistics Visualization Platform (Real-Time Tracking of Shipments Across 50+ Countries)