Core components of import equipment agency fees

Professional?Foreign trade?Agency service fees typically consist of three major components: basic service fees, customs duty prepayment deposits, and logistics surcharges. Following the implementation of the 2025 revised version of the "Customs Tariff," there have been 23 adjustments to the equipment classification rules, which directly impact the basis for customs duty calculations. The typical fee structure exhibits the following characteristics:

• Basic service fee: Accounting for 35%-45% of the total cost, including basic services such as document processing, customs declaration, and compliance review.
• Tariff deposit: Prepay customs duties at 110%-130% of the HS code rate, with an additional provisional anti-dumping duty on three categories of equipment in 2025.
• Logistics surcharge: Special transportation requirements (such as constant temperature equipment) will incur an additional cost of 15%-20%.

Identification and Avoidance of Common Hidden Costs

?Equipment import?There are three typical types of hidden costs during the process, which must be explicitly stated in the agency agreement:

• Port demurrage: Additional storage costs incurred due to documentation discrepancies.
  • The daily demurrage fee at major ports will increase to $85 per cubic meter in 2025.
• Additional Technical Certification: CE/FCC Certification Conversion Service Fee
• Exchange Rate Fluctuation Compensation: Sharing of exchange rate losses exceeding the agreed range.

Professional Negotiation Strategies and Cost Control

Based on the summary of 500+ equipment import cases, we recommend adopting a tiered negotiation strategy:

• Batch Import Equipment Service Fee Cap Agreement
• Combo Service Package Discount (Logistics + Customs Clearance + Tax Refund) can reduce total costs by 12%-18%.
• Request the agent to provide customs pre-ruling services (new free declaration item added in 2025).

2025 Tariff Policy Adjustment Response Plan

Regarding the adjustment of the 7-digit HS code in the new version of the Harmonized System, professional agencies should provide:

• HS code dual confirmation mechanism
• Provisional Anti-dumping Duty Pre-declaration Service
• Application for Tariff Reduction under Regional Trade Agreements (e.g., Zero Tariff for 15 Categories of Equipment under RCEP)