I. to enterExport agentWhat is the legal nature of the service?

According to the Foreign Trade Law of the Peoples Republic of China and the newly revised Regulations on the Administration of International Freight Forwarding in 2025, import and export agency belongs toCommercial service tradeScope. The essence of its service is to replace enterprises that do not have import and export qualifications or professional capabilities to complete the following core businesses:

• Customs declarationAnd customs clearance services (including HS code classification, license application)
• International trade document processing (including letters of credit, certificates of origin, inspection and quarantine certificates)
• Cross - border logistics solution design and implementation
• Foreign exchange receipt and payment and tax compliance management

II. Why do foreign trade enterprises need professional agency services?

The cases I handled during my tenure in a Fortune 500 company show that using professional agents can reduce the trade risks of enterprises by 42%. The specific value is reflected in:

• Qualification threshold: The agency company holds professional licenses such as AEO certification of the customs and non - vessel operating common carrier qualification
• Cost optimization space:
  • Reduce the unit price of sea/air freight through economies of scale (data in 2025 shows an average savings of 15 - 25%)
  • Avoidcustoms clearancePort detention fees caused by errors (the highest single - time record reached 30% of the cargo value)
• Risk control system: Professional teams handle special situations such as CITES control and anti - dumping duty verification

III. How to judge the service ability of an agency company?

Based on 20 years of industry experience, it is recommended to focus on the following six dimensions:

• Qualification certificates: Check the customs declaration unit registration certificate (valid until 2028)
• Information system: Whether it is equipped with a direct connection system to the single window of the customs (mandatory connection requirement in 2025)
• Case database: Require the provision of successful cases in the same industry (at least three complete customs declaration numbers should be available for verification)
• Emergency handling mechanisms: Quick response plan when the inspection rate surges (it is recommended to make a 48 - hour emergency commitment)
• Cost transparency: Whether to distinguish between basic agency fees (0.5 - 1.2%) and contingency expense plans
• Compliance endorsement: Annual trade compliance review report issued by the cooperative law firm

IV. What items are included in the agency service fees?

Industry standards in 2025 show that the full - service agency fees usually include:

• Basic Service Costs: Charged at 0.8% - 1.5% of the cargo value (including document processing, system use)
• Government fees: Reimbursed according to actual expenses (customs declaration fees, commodity inspection fees, etc.)
• Special service fee:
  • Urgent customs declaration: RMB800 - 1500 per ticket
  • Classification dispute review: starting from RMB2000
• The risk guarantee: 3 - 5% of the cargo value (refundable)

V. What legal risks should be noted when choosing agency services?

According to the white paper on trade disputes issued by the Supreme Peoples Court in 2025, special attention should be paid to:

• clearlyLiability attribution clause: Proportion of late fees borne due to customs declaration errors
• verifiedScope of authorization: Whether it includes sensitive operations such as foreign exchange verification and write - off,Export tax refundActing as an agent, etc.
• confirmedCoverage of insurance: Require a minimum liability insurance coverage of 3 million yuan
• RetainCommunication records: Determination of the legal validity of instant messaging records such as WhatsApp

It is recommended that enterprises request service providers to provide a screenshot of the customs credit rating announcement for the most recent quarter (verified through the China Customs Enterprise Import and Export Credit Information Publicity Platform) before signing an agency agreement. This serves as the most direct basis for assessing the compliance and operational capabilities of the agency company. A professional foreign trade agency should not merely function as a "courier service" but should become a strategic partner for enterprises in expanding their international markets.