36. I. How to judge the importExport agentIs the company legitimate?

When selecting an agency company, three key qualifications must be verified:Customs AEO certification enterprise certificateandRecord - filing certificate of international freight forwarderandRegister of Foreign Exchange Administration. According to 2023 General Administration of Customs data, companies with AEO advanced certification experience 47% higher customs clearance efficiency than regular enterprises. Its recommended to request:

• Service cases from the past three years (including at least 3 cases from the same industry)
• Copy of international freight forwarding liability insurance policy
• International certification system certificates (such as FIATA, IATA, etc.)

What hidden costs are included in import-export agency fees?

Professional agency company quotations should include six basic fees:

• Customs Declaration and Inspection Service Fee
• Processing fees
• Tax payment guarantee deposit
• Basic logistics dispatch fee
• Foreign exchange settlement fee
• Basic legal compliance consultation

Special attention should be paid to potential additional fees:Customs inspection surcharge(occurrence rate approximately 12%),Special document certification fee(such as embassy certification),Port demurrage fees(beyond free storage period), etc.

What special requirements exist for import-export in emerging markets?

Taking 2025s popular markets as examples:

• Southeast Asian countries:
  • Indonesia requires SNI certification (mandatory standard)
  • Vietnam requires chamber of commerce certification of origin
• Middle East region:
  • Saudi Arabia SASO certification (including GCC mark)
  • UAE requires Halal certification (for food products)

It is recommended to choose an agency company with localized service teams in the target market. For example, we have a customs clearance service center in Dubai, which helped clients reduce 28% of customs clearance time in the Middle East region in 2024.

IV. How to avoidImport and Export TradeLegal risks in?

Professional agency companies should provide triple guarantees:

• Trade termsAnalysis (focus on clarifying FOB/CIF responsibility division)
• HS code double verification mechanism
• Pre-declaration system (72-hour advance customs declaration simulation)

Taking the auto parts export case handled in 2023 as an example, pre-declaration revealed incorrect HS code application, avoiding potential administrative penalty risks of 1.2 million yuan.

What additional services are required for special commodity import-export?

Different products have special requirements for agency services:

• Medical devices: FDA registration/CE certification + UDI traceability system
• Chemicals: MSDS compliance review + dangerous goods packaging certificate
• Food products: sanitary certificate + ingredient testing report

It is recommended to choose those with4. An industry - specific service teamAgency companies, for example, our chemical products team is equipped with certified safety engineers, successfully handling 86 batches of hazardous chemical exports in 2024.

What are the differences between cross-border e-commerce and traditional foreign trade agencies?

The two show significant differences in three dimensions:

• Customs clearance mode: Cross-border e-commerce adopts the "three-way matching" (order/payment/logistics) system.
• Tax calculation: applicable to cross-border e-commerce comprehensive tax (0% tariff + 70% VAT)
• Logistics requirements: requires overseas warehouse stocking and returns processing capabilities

2024 customs data shows cross-border e-commerce B2B exports grew 37% year-on-year. When selecting an agency, confirm they haveCross-border e-commerce comprehensive service platformIntegration capabilities.

How to evaluate an agency companys emergency response capability?

Focus on three emergency scenario response solutions:

• Customs inspection abnormalities (providing on-site assistance services)
• Transportation delays (alternative route contingency plans)
• Documentation defects (rapid document replacement channel)

It is recommended to check the agency companysCase response time records. Quality service providers should achieve: inspection response ≤2 hours, document replacement ≤24 hours, transportation exception solutions provided within 4 hours.

How do international trade policy changes affect agency selection?

Three major policy trends requiring special attention in 2025:

• Full implementation of RCEP Rules of Origin
• Formal operation of EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
• Strengthened enforcement of U.S. UFLPA Act

Recommend selecting companies equipped withpolicy monitoring teamsFor example, our weekly updated Global Trade Policy Express has helped clients proactively address 23 regulatory changes.