1. Can enterprises fully engage in import and export operations independently?

According to the data from the General Administration of Customs in 2023, among enterprises in China with actual import and export performance,62.7% chose proxy services.。Enterprises engaging in import and export operations must possess:

• Customs Registration of Consignors and Consignees
• Register of Foreign Exchange Administration
• Electronic Port IC Card
• Tax Export Tax Refund (Exemption) Filing

Completing the full set of qualification procedures typically requiresMust possess corresponding business scope, and requires dedicated personnel for annual maintenance and review. A cross-border e-commerce company once had 20 containers of goods stranded at the port due to untimely updates of customs registration information, resulting in daily demurrage fees of tens of thousands of yuan.

II. Under what circumstances must an import be entrusted?Export agent?

The following three types of enterprises are recommended to mandatorily use proxy services:

• Special regulated goods
  • Medical devices (require CFDA filing)
  • Hazardous Chemicals (Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate Required)
  • Food category (requiring CIQ sanitary certificate)
• Enterprises without import and export rights
  • Individual industrial and commercial household
  • New enterprises that have not completed customs registration
• Specific trade mode
  • Processing trade (requiring a guarantee account)
  • Temporary import and export (customs guarantee required)

III. What core issues can professional agents address?

A real case of risk avoidance by a building materials exporter through an agent:

• Dispute over HS Code: The agent successfully reduced the tariff from 12% to 5%.
• Certificate of Origin Authentication：Utilize the RCEP agreement to save 17% in tariff costs.
• Document Compliance: Avoid full container return due to FORM E certificate issues

The Core Value Matrix of Professional Agency:

• The trade dispute handling cycle is shortened to 15 working days
• The error rate in documentation has been reduced to 0.3%.
• Overall cost savings of 15-25%.

IV. How to Choose a Reliable Import and Export Agent?

It is recommended to evaluate agencies from five dimensions:

• Qualification verification: Confirm possession of Customs AEO certification
• Wind control system: Request to present the most recent annual compliance audit report
• Service networks: Major ports must have self-operated facilities.customs clearanceTeam
• Technical capacity: Equipped with an ERP system that interfaces with the Single Window.
• Cost Structure: Reject bundled quotes that include hidden fees.

2025 Industry New Regulations: According to General Administration of Customs Order No. 129, agency enterprises are required to obtain mandatory insurance.Import and Export Business Liability InsuranceThe insured amount shall not be less than 5 million yuan.

V. Common Misconceptions About Import and Export Agency

• Misconception 1:"Self-operation is more cost-effective than agency."

  Actual situation: The average annual hidden costs for self-operated small and medium-sized enterprises amount to approximately 280,000 yuan, including system maintenance, personnel training, compliance audits, and more.

• Misconception 2:"Bigger agencies must be more reliable"

  A certainInternational logisticsIn 2024, the giant was suspended from customs declaration qualifications due to non-compliant operations, proving that scale ≠ professionalism.

• Misconception 3："The agency fee can be bargained at will."

  Customs inspection emergency services, classification advance rulings, and other professional services have a reasonable cost structure.