In 2023,the full implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) coincided with other factors.Under the backdrop of a scale exceeding 2.11 trillion yuan,traditional import and export service agencies that act as "declaration tools" are facing dual challenges: on the one hand,they need to adapt to the new situation of digitalization and automation in the industry; on the other hand,they need to overcome the impact of the pandemic on the global supply chain and ensure the normal operation of cross-border trade.97% of enterprises still rely on manual processing for 80% of their document processing workflows.On the other hand,new regulations such as the rules of origin in the RCEP and the EU’s carbon border tax have greatly increased the difficulty of compliance.

3-level capability reconstruction: from a "declaration tool" to a "supply chain hub"

The core value of import and export service agents has shifted from a single focus on "customs clearance efficiency" to "end-to-end compliance + supply chain cost optimization".The underlying changes stem from three driving forces:

• Regulatoryupdates:MultilateralrulessuchastheRegionalComprehensiveEconomicPartnership(RCEP)andtheComprehensiveandProgressiveAgreementforTrans-PacificPartnership(CPTPP),combinedwiththedynamiccompliancerequirementsofdestinationcountries(suchastheEuropeanUnion);
• CostStructure:Underthecross-bordere-commerce9610/9710model,small-batchandhigh-frequencyordersforceagentstoimprovetheirdigitalprocessingcapabilities.
• CompetitiveDimension:Shiftfrompricewarstodifferentiatedcompetitionfocusedon"compliance+value-addedservices".

SOP for Parallel Compliance and Efficiency: 5 Steps to Build Agency Competitiveness

Step 1: Upgrade the qualification and compliance system

Output:

• Verifytheenterprise’squalifications:EnsurethattheenterpriseholdsanAEOAdvancedCertification,aRecordofRegistrationforCustomsDeclarationEnterprises,andanNVOCCqualificationforinternationalfreightforwardingservices.UndertheRegionalComprehensiveEconomicPartnership(RCEP),additionalapplicationsarerequired.Record-filingqualifications.
• Buildingacomplianceplatform:Integratecustomsclearance,taxation,andforeignexchangemanagementmodulestoachieveautomaticverificationof"oneinvoice,threereports"(customsdeclarationform,invoice,packinglist).

Step 2: The digital transformation of document processing

Output:

• Eliminatepaper-baseddocuments:Adoptanelectronicdocumentsystemwithblockchain-basedevidencestorage,andintegrateitwiththe"singlewindow"platformtoautomaticallygeneratecustomsdeclarationforms;
• IntelligentPre-ReviewofCertificatesofOrigin:UsingAItoolstoanalyzetheHScodeofthegoodsandautomaticallymatchtheRCEPrulesoforigin(suchasaregionalvaluecontentof≥40%).Completethepre-review72hoursinadvance.

Step 3: Three Leverage Points for Cost Optimization

Output:

• Logisticsside:ByusingtheFCL/LCLconsolidationalgorithm,thelogisticscostofcross-bordere-commercesmallpackagescanbereducedby15%to20%;
• Taxationside:Build9810/9710Themodelensuresthat"taxrefundisavailableupondeparture",improvingtheefficiencyofcapitalturnoverby30%.
• HumanResourcesDepartment:Replace80%ofrepetitiveoperations(suchasinvoicecreationanddeclaration)withRPA,reducinglaborcostsby40%.

Invisible risks: The overlooked dynamic traps of rules of origin

Most enterprises only focus on "the processing of certificates of origin",but ignore the dynamic adjustment of rules.Starting from 2026,RCEP member states will implement new regulations on the certification of origin of goods.Electronic information products,The origin standards for categories such as clothing,footwear,and leather goods will be revised.The requirement for regional value content may be increased from 40% to 45%.If the agency company fails to establish a rule tracking mechanism,it will result in the client’s goods being subject to anti-dumping duties.

There are three actions that can be carried out today.

• ImmediatelychecktheAEOcertificationstatusoftheagencycompany.Ifitisageneralcertification,starttheupgradeplan(whichrequiresa6-monthcycle);
• Downloadtheelectronicdocumenttemplateofthe"SingleWindow"systemandreplacetheexistingpaperversiontoreducetherateofmanualerrors;
• ConnectwithatleasttwolawfirmsthathavetheabilitytointerprettherulesoforiginoftheRegionalComprehensiveEconomicPartnership(RCEP),andestablishadynamiccompliancedatabase.