
What types of companies can qualifyAgency export,business?
According to the latest 2025 Foreign Trade Law, legal export agency enterprises must possess all the following qualifications:
- Import-export operation rights filed with the Ministry of Commerce
- Customs AEO certification (priority given to advanced certified enterprises)
- SAFE (State Administration of Foreign Exchange) registration certificate
- Electronic Port IC Card and customs declaration seal registration
- Export tax refundManagement category B or above
Agency export serviceWhat specific contents are included?
Professional export agency companies should provide full-process services:
- Document services:
- Commercial invoices / container production
- Apply for the certificate of origin
- Customs declaration document pre-review
- Customs clearance logistics:
- HS code classification
- Export customs clearanceInspection
- International transportation solution design
- Tax and financial services:
- Foreign exchange receipt and settlement
- Export tax refunddeclare
- Cross-border tax planning
How to verify an agency companys authentic qualifications?
Recommended verification through these official channels:
- China Customs Enterprise Import-Export Credit Publicity System (check AEO certification)
- State Administration of Foreign Exchange Online Government Service Platform
- Electronic Port Law Enforcement System for IC Card status verification
- Requirement to review export tax rebate declaration records for the past 3 years
What items are included in agent export costs?
The 2025 industry standard fee structure typically includes:
- Basic Service Costs: 0.8%-1.5% of cargo value (varies by trade terms)
- Value Added Services:
- Special document certification: 300-800 RMB/copy
- Destination port clearance assistance: Starting from USD150/shipment
- Trade financing services: LIBOR+2%-3%
- The risk guarantee: Approximately 10% of contract value (negotiable)
How to prevent legal risks in export agency?
The following measures are recommended:
- Sign Export Agency Agreement instead of sales contract
- Clearly stipulate goods ownership clauses
- Require the agent to provide performance bond
- Retain complete set of original customs declaration documents and tax rebate certificates
- Purchase export credit insurance (recommended coverage of 80% accounts receivable)
What are the core differences between self-operated exports and export agency?
Risk analysis from liability perspective:
- Liability subject: Under export agency model, customs filing entity is the agency party
- Capital flow: Foreign exchange must be settled through agency company account
- Tax Treatment: Tax rebate certificates are issued by the agency party
- Legal risks: Agency party bears responsibility for customs declaration authenticity
In which situations must export agency be used?
The following enterprises are recommended to choose agency mode:
- 5. Small and medium-sized enterprises with annual export volume below $5 million
- Involving the export of sensitive items (requiring the use of the agents license)
- First-time entry into regulated markets (such as some Latin American countries)
- Export products involving anti-dumping tariff codes (utilizing the agents tariff advantages)
How to evaluate the service capabilities of an agency company?
Focus on three dimensions:
- The response speed.Customs declaration amendments should be completed within 2 hours
- The error rateExcellent agency companies should maintain a document error rate below 0.5%
- Time of CustomsNormal customs clearance should be released within 1 working day
- Case dataRequirement to provide proof of tax refund timeliness for similar product export cases
What clauses must be included in export agency contracts?
It is recommended to hire professional foreign-related lawyers to review the following clauses:
- Dispute resolution clauses (recommended to specify China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission)
- Intellectual property disclaimer
- Definition of force majeure scope
- 9. Quantitative standards for liability for breach of contract
- Document handover acknowledgment process
Impact of 2025 Foreign Trade Policy Changes on Export Agency Services?
Special attention should be paid to the following new policies:
- Changes in cross-border e-commerce B2B supervision under General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 85
- Document requirements after implementation of the new version of Export Tax Refund Management Measures
- Tariff reduction opportunities brought by full application of RCEP rules of origin
- New regulatory requirements from SAFE for offshore resale transactions
(Note: The policies mentioned in this article are valid until June 2025. Specific operations shall be subject to the latest interpretation by the competent authorities. It is recommended to commission a third party for compliance review before cooperation.)