Is it illegal to use an agency company for exports?

According to the latest 2025 revised "Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on "Law of the People’s Republic of China," export agency itself is a legal commercial act.However,it should be noted that:The agency company must have customs AEO certification,qualifications,and be filed with the State Administration of Foreign ExchangeThree core qualifications.In practice,the case of a Shanghai trading company in 2024,where 3 million worth of export goods were detained due to the use of unqualified agents,fully demonstrates the importance of qualification verification.

How to distinguish between legal agency and illegal "buying a declaration"?

The key to identifying a legal agent is to look at the business model:

• Characteristicsofalegalagent:
  • Signsaformalagencyagreement
  • Fundsflowthroughacorporateaccount
  • Thecustomsdeclarationshowstheactualownerofthegoods
• Signs of an illegal purchase of a declaration:
  • Frequentcashtransactions
  • Thenameonthecustomsdeclarationdoesnotmatchtheactualownerofthegoods
  • Refusestoprovideacompletechainofdocuments

What new risks will there be in export agency business in the 2025s?

In light of the latest international trade situation,special attention should be paid to:

• ThedatatraceabilityrequirementsforcarbontariffdeclarationsintheEuropeanUnion(effectivefromJanuary2025)
• TheUSUFLPA’ssupplychainreviewofagencycompanies
• TheRCEP’sdigitalverificationmechanismfordeclarationsoforigin

It is recommended to require the agency company to providea compliance management system audit reportto ensure it has the ability to handle new trade barriers.

How to verify the compliance of an agency company?

Verify qualifications in three steps:

• Step1:Basicqualificationcheck
  • Logintothe"ChinaCustomsEnterpriseCreditInformationPublicitySystem"tochecktheAEOcertificationstatus
  • ChecktheexporttaxrebatequalificationontheofficialwebsiteoftheStateAdministrationofTaxation
• Step 2: Business capability assessment
  • Requestagencysamples(withcommercialsecretsredacted)fromthelasttwoyears
  • Checkthequalificationdocumentsofitscooperativecarriers
• Step 3: Risk control system review
  • Inquireabouttradecompliancetrainingrecords
  • CheckiftheelectroniccustomsdeclarationsystemhasanautomaticHScodeverificationfunction

How to choose between self-operated export and export agency?

Conduct a decision analysis from three dimensions:

• Costcomparison:Forenterpriseswithanannualexportvalueoflessthan$5million,anagentcansave35%onoperatingcosts
• Riskassumption:Self-operationrequiresindependentlybearingtheriskofanincreasedinspectionrateduetoafailedAEOcertification
• Efficiencydifference:Thecustomsclearancespeedofahigh-qualityagencyis2-3workingdaysfasterthananewlyself-operatingenterprise

It is recommended that small and medium-sized exporters prioritizea professional category agent,such as in specially regulated fields like chemicals and.

How to defend your rights when you encounter an illegal agent?

Retaining the following evidence can effectively defend your rights:

• Banktransfervouchers(mustbenotedas"agencyservicefee")
• Originalpurchasecontractandproformainvoice
• Scannedcopyofthepre-entrycustomsdeclarationform
• Correspondencerecords(WeChat/emailneedtobenotarized)

In 2024,a Zhejiang-based enterprise successfully recovered the value of the detained goods and the fines through a complete chain of evidence,demonstrating that preserving evidence is of crucial importance.

What is the Reasonable Range for Agency Service Fees in 2025?

According to industry research data:

• Generalcargo:0.8%-1.2%ofthecargovalue(includingcustomsdeclaration,documentation,logisticscoordination)
• Legallyinspectedgoods:1.5%-2%ofthecargovalue(includingcommercialinspectionagency)
• Dangerouschemicals:startingfrom2.5%(requiresprofessionalMSDSreview)

Special attentionA quote below 0.5%may pose a risk of buying a declaration.It is recommended to ask the other party to explain the cost structure.