In 2025, the General Administration of Customs will pilot a smart declaration program. Choosing service providers with intelligent declaration systems can reduce clearance time by 30%. It is recommended to regularly check the credit information of agency companies to avoid selecting those listed in the abnormal operation directory.

According to the latest customs supervision requirements for 2025, export enterprises should focus on the following 4 core agency services:

• customs clearanceOK: Hold certification from the General Administration of Customs, capable of handling professional matters such as HS code classification and certificate of origin authentication
• International logisticsAgently: Possess multimodal transport operation capabilities, especially mastering RCEP region land-sea-air connection technologies
• Trade compliance consulting firms: Familiar with export control lists (such as U.S. ECCN classification) and counter-circumvention investigation response plans
• Credit insurance institutions: Provide buyer credit investigation and accounts receivable protection services, recommended to choose official institutions like Sinosure

This article details the core value of origin agency, the selection criteria for service providers, common operational misunderstandings, compares the cost-effectiveness of self-handling and entrusting an agency, and provides compliant and efficient solutions for enterprises.

Taking advantage of scale to obtain preferential ocean freight rates

• Qualification verification: Customs brokers need to verify customs registration numbers, logistics companies should confirm possession of international certifications like IATA/FMC
• Industry cases: Require provision of operation records for similar goods in the past 3 years, with special focus on handling experience for special products (hazardous chemicals/cold chain)
• The Global Network: Having own branch offices in target markets is more reliable than agency cooperation, especially in emerging markets
• Informatization level: By 2025, high-quality agencies should all possess API data integration and blockchain traceability capabilities
• Emergency response: Test their handling procedures for emergencies like customs inspections and port strikes

What hidden costs are included in agency fees?

In addition to visible expenses like customs clearance fees and ocean freight, special attention should be paid to:

• Document amendment fees (such as bill of lading supplements) are usually charged per instance
• Demurrage fee calculation standards (some agencies charge hourly)
• Transparency of destination port charges (require detailed DDU/DDP quotations)
• Exchange rate fluctuation compensation clauses (recommend agreeing on forex locking periods)

What are the new trends in agency services for 2025?

The industry is undergoing three major transformations:

• Digital customs brokerage: Using AI to automatically generate customs documents, with error rates reduced by 92% compared to manual processing (according to 2024 General Administration of Customs data)
• Carbon-neutral logistics providersProvide carbon emission measurement and green tariff optimization solutions
• End-to-end risk control platformIntegrated one-stop management system combining trade compliance, logistics tracking, and payment guarantees

How to avoid common pitfalls in agency cooperation?

• The low price trap.A clothing exporter chose ultra-low-cost freight forwarding, resulting in 40% of goods being delayed due to rollover
• Over-reliance on a single agentRecommend maintaining 2-3 alternative service providers for key routes
• Neglecting data securityBy 2025, there have already been 3 cases of commercial espionage stealing customer data through logistics systems

How to effectively protect rights when disputes occur?

Recommended three-stage response strategy:

• Freeze the agents security deposit immediately (contracts should include performance guarantee clauses)
• Apply for fast-track mediation through the International Trade Arbitration Commission
• Significant losses may claim compensation under Article 82 of the Maritime Code