Does the agent possess legal operation qualifications?

According to the latest revised Customs regulations in 2025customs clearanceUnit Registration Management Regulations, legitimate importExport agentMust hold:

• Customs-filed Registration Certificate of Customs Declaration Entity
• International Freight Forwarding Filing Certificate (additional filing required for sea/air transport operations)
• Special qualifications for international trade services (such as hazardous chemicals, medical devices and other special categories)

Verification suggestions:Verify the registration number through the "Enterprise Filing Information Inquiry System" on the official website of the General Administration of Customs, and require the agent to provide screenshots of electronic port operation records from the past three months.

How well does the service scope match my industry?

Significant differences exist in import/export operations across industries:

• Electronic products require attention to3C certification linkage
• Food industry should focus onOverseas registration filing capability
• Chemical transportation requires verification ofHazardous materials operation qualifications

It is recommended to require agents to provide operation cases of similar products from the past 2 years, especially customs clearance examples in emerging markets like RCEP and Africa.

Are there hidden costs in the fee structure?

Under the 2025 compliance trend, be alert to the following fee traps:

• Customs declaration amendment fees (should be waived after 3 times)
• Port demurrage cost transfer ratio (normal should be ≤30%)
• Exchange rate fluctuation compensation clauses (recommend locking ±2% fluctuation range)

Require agents to provideExact cost checklist, with focus on comparing tax differences caused by HS code classification accuracy.

Does the emergency response capability meet the standards?

Referring to the 2024 Red Sea crisis case, high-quality agents should possess:

• Alternative transportation solutions reserve (minimum 3 backup routes)
• Real-time customs alert system (automatically pushing Customs policy changes)
• Crisis handling SOP (4-hour response mechanism)

You may request to review their average customs inspection processing time in 2024. Exercise caution if it exceeds 72 hours.

Can the digital service level meet the requirements?

The requirements for the construction of "Smart Ports" by Customs in 2025 mandate that agents must provide:

• Real-time electronic customs declaration progress tracking
• Automated generation of compliance documents (such as certificates of origin, quality inspection reports)
• API data integration capability (direct connection with enterprise ERP systems)

Recommend on-site demonstration of their operating system, with focus on testing:Automatic customs declaration data verification functionandTimeliness of exception alerts.

How to evaluate the actual business capabilities of agents?

Three core verification dimensions:

• Customs AEO certification level (priority given to advanced certified enterprises)
• Annual customs declaration volume (recommend selecting enterprises handling over 1,000 cases annually)
• Partner shipping company/airline tier (whether contracted with core carriers like Maersk, DHL, etc.)

Preliminary screening can be conducted through the2024 Customs Declaration Enterprise Credit Rankingpublished by the General Administration of Customs.

Does the payment method ensure fund security?

Recommended adoptionPhased payment model:

• 30% advance payment (after contract signing)
• 50% progress payment (before goods arrive at port)
• 20% final payment (after customs clearance completion)

Verify whether the agent has insurance coverageInternational freight forwarding liability insurance, with coverage amount no less than 120% of the goods value.

How to verify emerging market expansion capabilities?

For emerging markets like Southeast Asia and Africa, focus on evaluating:

• Local customs clearance partner qualifications (e.g., VAT registration certificate required in Vietnam)
• Special documentation handling capability (Halal certification for Islamic countries)
• Cultural difference solutions (document notarization requirements in Arab countries)

12. Can request provision ofRCEP member country tariff preference utilization rate statistics, where high-quality agents should achieve over 85%.

Which clauses require special attention for SMEs?

For enterprises with monthly export volumes below $500,000, recommend selecting providers offering:

• Flexible service packages (per-case billing with no minimum charge)
• LCL shipping optimization solutions (reducing logistics costs by over 30%)
• Market Access Fast Track (Utilizing Agents Existing Filing Qualifications)

Key Verification Points for CollectionAnnual Account Management Feeand Other Unreasonable Fixed Expenses.

How to decide between self-operation or agency delegation?

Decision-making from Three Dimensions:

• Annual Shipment Frequency: <20 shipments recommended to delegate to agent
• Product Complexity: Involving more than 3 regulatory documents recommended for agent handling
• Capital Turnover Rate: Agents can save 20-30% margin requirements

Can utilize the newEnterprise Self-operation Capability Assessment Systemlaunched by the General Administration of Customs in 2025 for intelligent calculation.