With the full implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the implementation of Announcement No.88 of 2023 issued by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China,Standard cargo entryRaw materialsThe compliance thresholds and cost reduction opportunities are increasing simultaneously.The traditional model of "selecting agents based on experience and compiling documents" is facing the dual risks of a 30% increase in customs inspection rates and a 15% overpayment of tariffs.

I.Agents for raw materialsThe three core contradictions of the Internet of Things (regulations × processes × costs)

II.Standard Cargo Raw Material Agency Import & Export Full Process SOP (With Compliance Checklist)

Step 1: Select a compliance agent (using the 30-minute screening method)

Output:

• SearchforanagencycompanyAEOQualification(VerifiedbytheofficialwebsiteoftheGeneralAdministrationofCustoms),priorityisgivento"advancedcertification"enterprises(witha40%lowerinspectionrate);
• Itisrequiredthattheagentprovideinformationcoveringthepastsixmonths.Similarrawmaterialservicecases(e.g.chemical,textilerawmaterials),checkCOOtypesandinspectionpassrates;
• Whensigningtheagreement,makesuretoincludeaclausestatingthat"theagentshallbearthetariffs/detentionfeescausedbydocumenterrors".

Step 2: Prepare accurate documents (key action)

Output:

• OriginCertificate:Accordingtothetradeagreement(RCEP/etc.),apply72hoursinadvancetoCCPIT/CustomstoensureHScodeandcargodescriptionmatchthedeclaration100%;
• Packinglist/invoice:Mark"netweight/grossweightperpackage,rawmaterialpurity(suchas99.5%forchemicalproducts),andproductionbatchnumber"toavoidambiguousexpressions(like"inbulk").
• PowerofAttorney:Note:Specifythatthe"agencyauthorityincludes’modifyingthecustomsdeclarationform’"toaddressthecustoms’needforerrorcorrection.

Step 3: “Dual-track Risk Control” for logistics and customs clearance

Output:

• LogisticsSide:Selectthe"door-to-door"service,requiretheagenttoprovideashippingcompany’sbookingagreement(toreducethecontainerabandonmentrate),andstipulatethat"theagentshalladvancepaymentforportcongestionfeesexceeding48hours".
• CustomsClearancePortal:Submitthedeclarationformforpre-entrythreedaysinadvance,andfocusoncheckingthe"validityperiodofthecertificateoforigin(oneyearfromtheissuancedateoftheRCEPcertificate)"and"tariffrates(RCEPrequiresaddingtheregionalvaluecomponent)".
• InspectionResponse:Theagentsynchronouslyprovidesthe"rawmaterialMSDS"and"third-partyqualityinspectionreports",reducingtheinspectiontimetowithin4hours.

III.The "invisible risk control points of agency raw materials" that 90% of enterprises overlook

Most enterprises only focus on "agency fees",but neglect other aspects.The "dynamic compliance" of the certificate of origin: From 2026 onwards,the customs will implement "post-retrospective verification" of RCEP certificates of origin.If the raw material composition is adjusted due to production process changes (such as increasing the purity from 99% to 99.5%),a new certificate will be required.Otherwise,the importer will face additional tariff payments and late payment penalties (up to five times the amount of the tariffs).

It is recommended to review the technical parameters of raw materials every quarter and require agents to update the single document templates in synchronization to avoid the inertial mistake of "using the same certificate for the whole year".

There are three urgent actions that can be implemented today

• ExporttherawmaterialsofthepastthreemonthsFirst,checkwhetherthe"certificateoforigintype"matchesthelatesttradeagreements(forexample,iftheregionalvaluecontentisnotusedundertheRCEP,contacttheagenttosubmitasupplementaryreport).
• AsktheexistingagentforitAEOQualificationCertificatewithServiceCaseList,ifmissing,initiate“AlternativeAgent”screening(refertoscreeningcriteriainStep1);
• Organizethe"TechnicalParameterTable"oftherawmaterials(purity,composition,productionbatch),andsendittotheagenttooptimizethedocumentdescriptioninadvanceandreducetheriskofinspection.