How to determine whether an agency company has legal operation qualifications?

Customs inspection basis:Agency export serviceWhen selectingPriority verification of three fundamental qualifications:

• Customs-filed import/export license documents (latest version must include 2025 customs filing code)
• Foreign exchange receipt/payment qualification certificate issued by SAFE
• International freight forwarding filing registration certificate

It is recommended to request the following certification documents:ISO9001 Quality Management System CertificationandCustoms AEO certification(Priority given to AEO-certified enterprises). When assisting a medical device company in selecting an agency, I discovered their potential supplier lacked AEO certification, ultimately avoiding EU customs clearance risks.

What key aspects should the agency service scope cover?

High-quality agencies should provideEnd-to-end services:

• Basic services:
  • Customs declaration and inspection (including special qualifications for hazardous chemicals)
  • Foreign exchange verification and tax rebate processing
• Value - added services:
  • Destination country compliance consulting (e.g. REACH, RoHS regulations)
  • L/C document examination and negotiation
  • Supply chain financial support

Special reminder for 2025: Verify whether the agency hasCross-border e-commerceCustoms clearanceandRCEP origin certificationService capabilities, which have emerged as core competitiveness in recent years.

How do different fee models affect corporate costs?

Comparative analysis of current mainstream fee models:

• Fixed rate system(1%-3% of cargo value)
  • Advantage: Predictable costs
  • Risk: Poor cost-performance for small orders
• Segmented pricing system
  • Separate quotes for customs clearance/logistics/documentation
  • Suitable for large projects but requires guarding against hidden charges

Requested ProvisionExport quotation samples for the past six months, focus on verifying the following cost traps:

• Exchange rate difference calculation method (real-time or fixed rate)
• Port demurrage allocation ratio
• Document certification surcharge

How to evaluate an agency companys risk control capabilities?

Key areas requiring scrutinyRisk management indicators:

• Trade compliance review mechanism (especially EAR regulations for U.S. export controls)
• Credit insurance coverage (claim ratio not less than 80%)
• Dispute resolution response time (recommend contractually specifying 48-hour response)

Practical suggestion: Require agents to provideBreach case handling reports from the past two years, focusing on their handling procedures for high-frequency risks such as customs inspections and payment defaults.

What key terms need to be agreed upon in the cooperation process?

Must be clearly definedEight key contract clauses:

• Title transfer timing (pre/post-shipment)
• Tax refund advance payment period (recommend not exceeding 45 working days)
• Force majeure liability allocation
• Confidentiality obligations (including cross-border data transfer clauses for customer data)

Based on 2025 best practices, it is recommended to addDigital currency settlement clauses, clearly defining liability attribution for emerging payment methods like USDT.

Summary selection strategy:Startups should prioritize full-process managed agents, while enterprises with annual exports exceeding $5 million should adopt customized service solutions.. Conduct regular service provider performance evaluations, focusing on three core metrics: customs clearance time, error rate, and capital turnover efficiency.