I. How to judgeExport agentDoes the company possess legitimate qualifications?

Customs inspection basis:Export agentWhen selecting service providers, the following core qualification documents must be verified:

• Customs AEO certification certificate(New 2025 regulations require meeting at least general certification standards)
• the Registration Form for Foreign Trade Operators issued by the Ministry of Commerce
• Qualifications for receipt of foreign exchange records by the Foreign Exchange Administration
• International freight forwarding filing certificate (when involving logistics services)

It is recommended to verify the qualifications through the "Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System" on the official website of the General Administration of Customs, with special attention to checking for any records of administrative penalties.

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Standard service modules of professional agency companies should include:

• Trade document processing:
  • Commercial invoices / container production
  • Certificate of origin application (including RCEP and other free trade agreement certificates)
  • Export customs clearanceCertificate of Audit
• Customs clearance services:
  • HS Code Classification (2025 Edition of the Harmonized System)
  • Export tax refundCertificate of registration
  • Cross-border e-commerce B2B declaration
• Value - added services:
  • Destination country compliance consultation (e.g. EU CE certification)
  • Design of Trade Financing Program
  • Exchange Rate Risk Management

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The typical fee structure consists of three tiers:

• Basic Service Costs: Charged at 0.8%-1.5% of goods value (2025 industry guidance price)
• Document processing fee: 200-800 yuan per shipment
• Special surcharge:
  • Expedited customs clearance fee (when exceeding normal processing time)
  • Special category declaration surcharge (e.g. dangerous goods, food products)
  • Exchange Rate Lock Service Fee

It is recommended to request service providers to provide a detailed fee schedule, with special attention to whether loading port surcharges under FOB terms are included in the quotation.

How to ensure fund safety in export agency services?

A triple risk control mechanism should be established:

• Fund supervision:
  • Require the agency to open a supervised account
  • Foreign exchange payments to adopt TT letter of credit dual verification
• Contract terms:
• Specify payment settlement period (recommended not exceeding T+3)
• Agree on overdue payment penalty (recommended daily rate of 0.5‰)

How should an agency company respond to customs inspection?

Professional agents should have complete emergency handling procedures:

• Submit complete accompanying documents within 1 hour
• Complete inspection anomaly handling within 48 hours (new customs regulation timeframe for 2025)
• Provide pre-classification dispute resolution solutions
• Maintain fast-track clearance channels for AEO-certified enterprises

Focus on evaluating the agents on-site coordination capabilities at major ports. Recommend selecting service providers with their own customs clearance teams at target ports.

What are the differences between cross-border e-commerce export agency and traditional models?

Pay special attention to three key differences:

• Declaration methods:
  • Adopt cross-border e-commerce B2B direct export (9710)
  • Require integration with cross-border e-commerce comprehensive service platforms
• Logistics integration:
  • Real-time synchronization of overseas warehouse data
  • Dedicated logistics channel management
• Tax Treatment:
  • Application of tax exemption policy for non-invoiced transactions
  • Accounting for income tax assessed collection

How to evaluate an agency companys international trade compliance capabilities?

Recommend evaluation from four dimensions:

• Trade controls:
  • Experience in handling dual-use item export licenses
  • Case studies of EAR regulation compliance for US exports
• Tariff planning:
  • FTA utilization rate (recommended >85%)
  • Transfer pricing scheme design capability
• Sanctions compliance:
  • OFAC screening system configuration
  • Russia-related business compliance program

What legal risks should be noted in export agency cooperation?

Three key contract clauses requiring special review:

• Liability allocation clause:
  • Clarify responsibility for document authenticity
  • Stipulate joint liability for intellectual property infringement
• Confidentiality clause:
  • Customer information protection obligations
  • Trade data usage restrictions
• Dispute resolution clause:
  • Designate arbitration institution (recommend CIETAC)
  • Clarify applicable laws (recommend Chinese law)