Is it necessary to findcustoms clearancea customs broker?

According to Article 47 of the revised Customs Law of 2025, all import and export goods must be declared through customs-registeredprofessional customs declaration enterprises. In practice, enterprises can choose to:

• Cultivate their own customs declarants (who must pass the annual assessment by the General Administration of Customs)
• EntrustAEOcertified customs brokers (recommended for cross-border trade enterprises)
  • Case: A mechanical and electrical export enterprise was fined 380,000 yuan in 2024 due to incorrect declaration elements, and after switching to an AEO customs broker, customs clearance efficiency improved by 40%

What is the difference between a freight forwarder and a shipping company?

The roles of the two in the logistics chain are significantly different:

• Shipping companies(such as Maersk, COSCO Shipping) are actual carriers, responsible for maritime transportation
• Freight forwardersintegrate transportation resources and provide:
  • Multimodal transport solution design
  • Cabin price negotiation (with a fluctuation of ±15% on the European route in 2025)
  • Destination portCustoms clearanceconnection

How to choose a reliable export credit insurance agent?

It is recommended to evaluate from three dimensions:

• Underwriting institution qualifications (prefer official cooperative agents of China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation)
• Claim response speed (the industry standard in 2025 is to intervene within 72 hours after reporting)
• Buyer credit investigation capabilities (especially focusing on the update timeliness of buyer databases in RCEP member countries)

What pitfalls should be wary of with third-party testing and certification agents?

Recent common risks include:

• Mismatched certification scope (such as CE certification not covering the latest EMC directives)
• False qualifications (6 testing institutions had their qualifications revoked by the EU in 2025)
• Time traps (promising certification in 3 weeks but actually taking 8 weeks)

Proposal to passVerify the agencys filing information on the official website of the National Certification and Accreditation Administration, and request to provide past cases of similar projects.Different from traditional foreign trade, cross-border e-commerce needs to pay special attention to:

What special agency services are needed for cross-border e-commerce?

Overseas warehouse operation agents (optimizing inventory turnover rate)

• Cross-border payment license agents (meeting new regulations of multiple central banks)
• VAT tax agents (real-time tax declaration implemented in the EU from 2025)
• Customs declaration services: 0.12%-0.3% of the cargo value

What is a reasonable proportion of agency service fees?

According to 2025 Industry Research Data:

• Freight forwarding: 8%-15% of the sea freight (including additional fees)
• Credit insurance: 1.2%-3.5% of the insured amount
• Testing and certification: project-based fees (single certification 5,000-80,000 yuan)
• It is recommended to establish a triple guarantee mechanism:

How to avoid hidden risks in agency services?

It is recommended to establish a triple guarantee mechanism:

• Contractual Constraints (Clear Minimum Service Level Agreement)
• Dynamic Evaluation (Quarterly KPI Assessment Includes Error Rate, Response Speed)
• Risk Reserve (Recommend Reserving 20% of Service Fee as Quality Assurance Deposit)

What special considerations are there for choosing agents in emerging markets?

For Emerging Markets Such as Africa and Latin America:

• Require Agents to Provide Proof of Local Customs Clearance Capability (e.g., Nigeria SONCAP Certification Practical Case)
• Verify Foreign Exchange Settlement Channels (Response Plan for New Foreign Exchange Control Policies in Argentina and Other Countries)
• Confirm Jurisdiction Clause (Recommend Agreeing to Arbitration in Singapore or Hong Kong)

Will traditional foreign trade agency models be replaced by digital platforms?

2025 Industry Development Trends Show:

• Basic Services Online Rate Has Reached 75% (Customs Declaration, Booking, etc.)
• Complex Services Still Require Manual Intervention (e.g., Special Equipment Customs Clearance, Bulk Commodity Futures Delivery)
• Recommended adoptionBlending Mode: Digital Platform + Professional Agent On-site Services