In?Export Agency?What core functions are they actually responsible for?

Professional?Import/export?Agency companies primarily undertake three core functions:Trade compliance control, document process optimization, and risk mitigationAccording to the latest data from China's General Administration of Customs in 2025, the main reasons why 85% of small and medium-sized enterprises opt for agency services include:

• Handling complex customs declaration documents (HS code classification,?Certificate of Origin?Ming, etc.)
• Comply with special customs supervision requirements of various countries (such as EU REACH regulations, US FDA certification)
• Coordinate logistics and tax processes (?Tax Refund?, cross-border payment and settlement

What are the key steps involved in the complete agency process?

The typical import and export agency process can be divided into five stages:

• Pre - preparation Stage
  • Enterprise Qualification Filing (for?Foreign trade?Filing Registration for Business Operators
  • Product classification and regulatory condition confirmation
• Document processing stage
  • Prepare commercial invoices, packing lists, and shipping contracts.
  • Apply for special permits (such as?CCC?Certification, Endangered Species Certificate)
• Customs declaration and inspection stage
  • Customs Declaration and Tax Payment
  • Coordinate with port inspection and quarantine (37 new quarantine categories added in 2025).
• Logistics execution stage
  • Transportation Mode Selection and Cabin Reservation
  • Special Cargo Supervision (Dangerous Goods/Cold Chain Transportation)
• Follow-up service phase
  • Export tax rebate declaration (average processing time reduced to 45 days)
  • Trade data archiving and compliance audit

How to evaluate the professional qualifications of an agency?

When selecting a proxy service provider, the key considerations should include:

• Customs AEO certification level (priority given to Advanced Certified Enterprises)
• Specific industry operational experience (e.g.?Medical Devices?, chemicals, etc.)
• Information system integration capability (supports direct data connection with the Single Window)
• Emergency Case Database (Solutions for Customs Clearance Delays and Inspection Disputes)

A certain?E-commerce?Real-world corporate cases from 2025 demonstrate that after selecting an agency equipped with an intelligent classification system, the HS code error rate dropped from 12% to 0.8%, saving over 2 million yuan annually in demurrage costs.

What additional costs may arise from principal-agent relationships?

In addition to the basic agency fee (typically 0.5%-1.2% of the cargo value), the following may be involved:

• Documentation fee (200-500 RMB per shipment)
• Customs inspection cooperation fee (800-2000 yuan per time)
• Expedited service fee (30%-100% of standard delivery time)
• Interest on Margin Advance (calculated at the prevailing bank interest rate)

How to Avoid Common Risks in Foreign Trade Agency?

It is recommended that enterprises pay close attention to the following risk points:

• Risk of trade entity misalignment (Never export under the name of an agency company)
• Intellectual Property Infringement Risks (Key Customs Monitoring Categories for 2025)
• Foreign exchange payment compliance risk (ensuring agent accounts align with contracts)
• Risk of improper document retention (legal requirement to retain documents for 5 years)

What special handling is required for the import and export of special goods?

Additional attention is required for specific products:

• Lithium Battery Transportation: UN38.3 Test Report + MSDS Documents
• Food imports: Overseas manufacturer registration + Chinese label filing
• Agent service provider??Equipment Export?: Performance Test Report + Destination Country Access Certificate
• Artwork Import and Export: Cultural Department Approval + Professional Packaging Plan