With the promotion of new supervision models such as the "two-step declaration" and "advanced declaration" by the General Administration of Customs (with a port coverage rate of over 70% in 2026),the traditional "registration-declaration-customs clearance" linear process is becoming ineffective — 38% of agency enterprises experience customs clearance delays due to process mismatches,and their compliance costs have increased by 22% year-on-year.

The agent’sUnderlying logic:compliance,EfficiencywithCustoms Clearance StabilityWe have obtained the business filing certificate.We are well aware that when importing medical devices,it is necessary to ensure that the products have the corresponding Chinese medical device registration certificates.Even if an enterprise has the business filing,if the product does not have the corresponding registration certificate,it still cannot be legally imported.In addition,the model and specifications of the imported product must be completely consistent with the information on the registration certificate.Any discrepancies may lead to import obstruction.We will ensure that your products meet all registration requirements and smoothly enter the Chinese market.三角博弈

The core conflict in handling enterprises’ import and export business lies in the following three aspects: the requirements of "through-the-glass supervision" by customs (such as increasing the inspection rate to 12%),clients’ demand for "72-hour rapid customs clearance",and the pressure of human cost on agents (with an average daily processing volume of over 20 documents per person).The imbalance among these three factors often leads to a vicious cycle of "insufficient compliance → fines","prioritizing efficiency → errors",and "cost compression → service degradation".

I/E Agency Full Process SOP | 5-step closed loop from filing to verification

Step 1: Enterprise qualification registration (takes 1-3 working days)

Output:

• Preparematerials:RegistrationCertificateoftheCustomsforConsignorsandConsigneesofImportandExportGoodsBusinesslicense(withthebusinessscopeincluding"importandexport"),legalperson’sIDcard,andcustomsdeclarationunitregistrationcertificate(ifnecessarytoconductcustomsdeclarationbusiness)
• Submitonline:Loginto"ChinaInternationalTradeSingleWindow"(https://www.singlewindow.cn),select"EnterpriseQualification"→"FilingApplication",andcheckthe"AgencyImport&Export"type
• On-siteverification(specialcircumstances):involvingfood,Forspecialindustries,itisnecessarytosubmitpapermaterials(suchastheFoodBusinessLicense)tothelocalcustomsoffice
• Obtainthefilingnumber:Afterthereviewispassed,keepthe10-digitcustomsfilingnumber(format:10-digitnumber+enterprisecustomscode)foruseinsubsequentdeclarations.

Step 2: Standardize the construction of the document system

Output:

• Basicdocuments:Contract(whichmustspecifythetradeterms,paymentmethods,anddisputeresolutionclauses),commercialinvoice(whichmustmatchthe"transactionmethod"onthecustomsdeclarationform,e.g.FOBrequiresdeductionoffreightcharges),packinglist(whichmustlistthegrossweight,netweight,andvolumeofeachpackage,withanerrorrateof≤3%),andbilloflading/shippingdocument(forelectronicbilloflading,aguaranteelettermustbeprovidedtotheshippingcompanyinadvance).
• Specialdocuments:(Formechanicalandelectricalproducts,itisnecessarytocompletethe"exemption"or"application"beforedeclaration),quarantinecertificates(foranimalandplantproducts,itisnecessarytoapplytotheGeneralAdministrationofCustoms7daysinadvance),certificatesoforigin(suchasRCEP/FTA,itisnecessarytocompletethevisa24hoursbeforethegoodsareshipped).
• ReviewList:Establishachecklistfor"four-itemmatchingdegree",withthefocusonverifyingtheproductcode(theHScodemustbeconsistentwiththe"ImportandExportTariff"),quantity(withatoleranceof±5%,exceptforbulkcargo),amount(thedifferencebetweentheforeignexchangedeclarationandthecustomsdeclarationshallbelessthan$5,000),andtradingcountry(whichmustbeconsistentwiththecertificateoforigin).

Step 3: Select the declaration mode and proceed with the operation

Output:

Select the optimal declaration method based on the type of goods and time requirements:

• Two-stepdeclaration:Itisapplicabletobulkcommoditiesandhigh-valuecommodities(suchaschipsandmachinery).First,submita"SummaryDeclaration"(containingninecoreinformationitems:commoditycode,quantity,weight,value,trademode,etc.).Within24hoursafterthegoodsarriveattheport,completea"FullDeclaration"(supplementing102detailedinformationitems).
• Advancedeclaration:SuitableforFullcontainerload(FCL)Forthegoods,acompletedeclarationmustbesubmittedthreedaysbeforethegoodsarriveattheport,anditisnecessarytoensurethatthemanifestinformation(suchasthecontainernumberandthesealnumber)isconsistentwiththecustomsdeclarationform.
• Declaration:Todeclarethroughthesupervisioncodesof9610(bondedimportofonlineshopping),9710(directexportofcross-bordere-commerceB2B),and9810(exporttooverseaswarehousesofcross-bordere-commerceB2B),itisnecessarytocompletethe"three-ordermatching"(order,billoflading,paymentorder)atthecustomsinadvance

Step 4: Customs Clearance and Logistics Coordination

Output:

• Chooseacustomsbroker:PrioritizeselectingoneAEOAdvancedCertifiedEnterprise(Thecustomsinspectionratehasbeenreducedby40%),requiringthemtoprovidethedeclarationerrorrateforthepastsixmonths(≤0.5%isconsideredacceptable).
• LogisticsConnection:Forimports,makeanappointmentforportstorageinadvance(suchasbondedwarehouses,wherecustomsdutiescanbetemporarilydeferred).Forexports,confirmthetimedifferencebetweentheshippingschedule/flightscheduleandthedeclarationtime(itisrecommendedtoleaveatimegapofatleast24hourstoavoidchangesinthemanifestinformation).
• Anomalyhandling:Ifthecustomsconductscontrolledinspection,theexporterneedstoprovidesupplementarydocuments(suchastheoriginalcertificateoforiginandtheingredientspecification)within2hoursandcooperatewiththecustomstocompletethe"unboxinginspection"(theinspectionrateshallbe≤3%,exceptforhigh-riskcommodities).

Step 5: Subsequent write-off and tax processing

Output:

• :Within90daysafterthegoodsleavethecountry,thetaxrefunddeclarationmustbesubmittedthroughthe"SingleWindow"andmatchedwiththeactualsituation.SpecialVATInvoice(Theinvoicingdate≤theexportdateonthecustomsdeclarationform),thetaxrefundcopyofthecustomsdeclarationform(whichneedstobestampedwiththecustomsverificationstamp),Certificate(mustbecompletedwithin180daysafterexportation)
• Foreignexchangewrite-off:Completethereceipt/paymentofforeignexchangethroughthebank,andfillinthetransactioncodeintheinternationalbalanceofpaymentsdeclarationsystem(e.g.121010forgeneraltrade,122030forservicetrade),ensuringthatthethreeflowsof"fundflow-goodsflow-documentflow"areconsistentwitheachother.
• CustomsInspectionResponse:Everyyear,organizetheagencybusinessledger,andfocusonretainingtherelevantvouchers(suchasinspectionrecordsheetsandreleasenotices)relatedtothe"ThreeChecks"(checkingorders,checkinggoods,andcheckingaccounts),inpreparationforcustomsinspectionswithinthepastfiveyears

The overlooked hidden benefits: The arbitrage opportunities of the rules of origin in the RCEP

Most agency companies only regard the RCEP as a "tariff reduction and exemption tool",but they ignore its other benefits.Area Cumulative RuleThe value of RCEP.For example,in the industrial chain of China-Vietnam-Thailand,products processed in Vietnam can accumulate the value of Chinese raw materials (with a proportion of ≥40%),thus meeting the RCEP origin standards and enjoying zero tariffs in Japan and South Korea.Suggestion:

• Analyzethe"regionalvaluecomponents"intheclient’ssupplychainanddesignaprocessingtraderouteof"China+ASEAN"(e.g.sourcingrawmaterialsinChina,assemblinginVietnam,andexportingtoJapan).
• Applyforthequalificationof"approvedexporter"(withanannualexportvolumeof≥10millionyuanandnomajorviolationsinthepastthreeyears),andindependentlyissueadeclarationoforigin(withouttheneedforcustomsverification,saving2-3daysoftime).
• Bevigilantagainsttheriskof"falsecertificatesoforigin":ThecustomsinspectionrateofRCEPcertificateshasbeenraisedto15%,anditisnecessarytoensurethefulltraceabilityofthesupplychain(suchasinvoicesforrawmaterialpurchasesandrecordsofprocessingprocedures).

There are three actions that can be implemented this afternoon

• Checkthevalidityperiodoftheclient’s"RegistrationFormforForeignTradeOperators"(itisnecessarytologintotheofficialwebsiteoftheMinistryofCommercetoapplyforanextension30daysbeforetheexpirationdatetoavoidaffectingsubsequentbusinessoperations).
• Organizethecustomsdeclarationsofthepastthreemonths,statisticallyanalyzethecasesof"productcodeerrors"and"documentmismatches",andoptimizethereviewtemplates(suchassettingupautomaticHScodeverificationrulesandmatchingthe2026editionoftheImportandExportTariff).
• Contactthelocalcustomsauthoritytoinquireabouttheapplicationrequirementsforthe"ApprovedExporter"qualification(e.g.theenterprise’screditratingmustbeClassAorhigher,andtheremustbenorecordsofsmugglingortaxevasioninthepastthreeyears).
• (Advancedaction)Downloadthe"CustomsDeclarationErrorRateInquiry"toolof"SingleWindow",enterthenameofthecustomsdeclarationagency,andevaluateitserrorrateinthepastsixmonths(≤0.5%isahigh-qualityserviceprovider).