I.Agency export,What Essential Qualifications Does a Company Need?

According to the latest 2025 International Trade Agency Service Management Regulations, compliant export agencies must possess:

• Customs AEO certification qualification(At least General Certification)
• Issued by the State Administration of Foreign ExchangeCross-border Payment Business License
• Membership in Industry Associations (e.g., China Customs Brokers Association)Typical fee structure includes:
• Insurance coverageInternational Trade Liability Insurance(Recommended coverage no less than $5 million)

Case Example: In 2023, an LED lighting company had $2 million worth of goods detained at EU customs for 37 days due to the agencys lack of AEO certification.

How to Verify an Agencys Actual Export Capability?

Recommended three-dimensional cross-verification:

• Customs Data Verification:
  • Request last 6 monthsFirst 5 digits of customs declaration numbers
  • Verify business authenticity via the official China International Trade Single Window website
• Proof of bank flow.:
  • Request display of correspondingForeign exchange receipt records
  • Check bank statements against customs declarations forAmount and time matching
• Industry reputation survey:
  • Query the official website of China CustomsEnterprise credit information publicity system
  • Contact their previous collaborators via LinkedInOverseas clientsConduct background checks

What Hidden Costs Are Included in Agency Fees?

2025 industry data shows that 78% of trade disputes stem from cost perception differences. In addition to basic agency fees (typically 0.8%-1.5% of cargo value), special attention should be paid to:

• Contingency feesInspection warehouse fees, amendment fees (500-2000 RMB per instance)
• Documentation costsCO/FORM A certification fees (200-800 RMB per document)
• Cost of fundingExchange losses caused by foreign exchange settlement cycles exceeding 30 days2024 version standard quotation list

Request the Agency to provideClearly listing 45 common fee itemsSelect specialized agents according to product HS codes:

How to Match Specialized Agencies with Different Goods?

Chemical products

• (HS Chapters 28-38): Requires GHS certification and hazardous packaging documentation capability(HS Chapters 16-24): Requires FDA/BRC certification operation experience
• 28. Food category(HS Chapters 84-85): Requires familiarity with CE/UL certification processes
• Machinery Equipment2025 regulation warning: Agents exporting electronic and electrical products to EU (HS8543.70) must hold WEEE directive registration certificates.

Three-stage payment structure

What Payment Methods Are Safest to Set Up?

Recommended adoption30% payment upon contract signing (requires issuing:

• 60% payment upon cargo shipment (againstBank to fulfill warranty) is
• Copy of ocean bill of ladingfor payment)Final 10% payment settled after
• Full foreign exchange receiptSpecial note: Avoid acceptingFull advance payment proposed by agents

Special Note: Avoid accepting proposals fromFull Payment in AdvanceorDP paymentRequirement: This is a high-frequency cause of foreign trade fraud cases in 2024.

How to Prevent Common Export Agency Risks?

Based on the Export Agency Risk White Paper issued by the General Administration of Customs in 2024, it is recommended to focus on:

• : Requires complete trade document chain: Require the agency company to provide monthlyVAT invoice certification records
• : Tax refund losses caused by the certification time - effect of special VAT invoices: The contract must stipulateCompletion of foreign exchange verification within 90 days
• Intellectual Property Risk: Require the agency to issueBrand authorization compliance commitment letter

How to Evaluate an Agencys Emergency Response Capability?

It is recommended to simulate the following scenarios to test response speed:

• EmergencyCustoms inspection(Require full set of documents to be provided within 2 hours)
• Shipping companiesTemporary container rollover(Evaluate container adjustment capability within 48 hours)
• Destination portCustoms clearance blocked(Test the effectiveness of overseas agency networks)

2025 industry standards: High-quality agency companies should have7×24 multilingual emergency teams, with key issues resolved within 4 hours.

What Contract Details Must Be Clearly Defined?

In addition to conventional clauses, special attention should be paid to:

• Document handover process(Precise to the hour)
• Fund supervision method(It is recommended to use third-party payment platform escrow)
• Dispute resolution mechanism(Preferably choose China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission)

Legal reminder: Article 806 of the new Civil Code in 2024 clearly states that agency contracts without agreedFault liability divisionwill bear joint and several liability for compensation.

Special Considerations for SMEs When Choosing Agencies?

For enterprises with annual export volume below $5 million, it is recommended to:

• Prioritize selectingSupply chain financial servicesPayment documentation
• Confirm whether support is availableLCL export(Reduces logistics costs by 30%-40%)
• Required to be equipped withDedicated account manager(Minimum 5 years of industry experience)

Data reference: In 2024, SMEs using professional export agents averagedTax refund timeliness45 days processing time (industry average: 72 days).

What Transition Issues Should Be Noted When Changing Agencies?

3 key steps for safe transition:

• Customs record update: Process 30 days in advanceBusiness entity changeProcedure
• Foreign exchange account transition: Ensure seamless transfer of payment routesbetween old and new agents
• Historical data migration: Require original agent to provideComplete electronic customs declaration archive

Special reminder: In 2025, customs will strictly implementEnterprise credit transfer system, where AEO certification level differences between old and new agents may cause inspection rate fluctuations.