How to determine whether an agency company has the legal qualification for export?

It is recommended to verify through the following approaches:

• CustomsRecordInquiry:LogintoChina’sInternationalTrade"SingleWindow",entertheenterprise’sunifiedsocialcreditcodetoverifycustomsdeclarationqualifications.
• ForeignExchangeAdministrationRegistration:Requesttopresenttheregistrationcertificateoftheenterprisedirectoryforforeignexchangereceiptsandpaymentsingoodstrade
• SpecialIndustryLicense:Involve,Sensitivegoodssuchasfoodrequireadditionalverificationofrelevantlicenses.

What essential items should the agency service fee include?

The 2025 industry standard fee structure should include:

• BasicServicePackage:Customsdeclarationandinspection,documentpreparation,foreignexchangedeclaration(usuallychargedat0.8%-1.2%ofthecargovalue)
• Value-addedServiceItems:
  • DestinationCountryCustomsClearanceSupport:Anadditional0.3%servicefeeisrecommendedforRCEPmembercountries.
  • DocumentReview:500-2000RMBpercase
• Contingency Fund: It is recommended to allocate 0.1% of the agreed cargo value as an emergency reserve fund.

How should the clause for the transfer of ownership of goods be set up?

According to the latest interpretation of INCOTERMS? 2025:

• FOBterms:Ownershipofthegoodstransfersoncetheycrosstheship’srail,andthequalityresponsibilitybeforeloadingmustbeclearlydefined.
• CIFterms:Itisrecommendedtoadda"riskretentionclause"tostipulatethemechanismforcargodamagerecovery.
• DDPterms:Thedestinationportoverduehandlingplanmustbeagreedupon,witharecommendedstorageperiodnotexceeding30days.

How to prevent agency companies from misappropriating funds?

In 2025,the No.58 Announcement of the General Administration of Customs requires that:

• Splitaccountmanagement:ExportTheaccountmustbeconsistentwiththeenterprise’scustomsregistrationinformation.
• Electronictrace:Requesttheagenttoprovidereal-timequeryaccesstotheVATinvoiceverificationplatform.
• Phasedpayment：Itisrecommendedtoadopta3:6:1paymentratio,withthefinalpaymenttobemadeafterthetaxrefundisreceived.

What details should be paid attention to in dispute resolution clauses?

It is recommended to adopt a composite dispute resolution mechanism:

• Negotiationperiodsetting:Clearlystipulatethattheformalnegotiationprocessmustbeinitiatedwithin15workingdays.
• ChoiceofArbitrationInstitution:PriorityisgiventotheChinaInternationalEconomicandTradeArbitrationCommission(CIETAC).
• JurisdictionalAgreement:Itisrecommendedtoinclude"ThiscontractisgovernedbytheUnitedNationsConventiononContractsfortheInternationalSaleofGoods."

What scenarios should the force majeure clause cover?

In addition to the regular provisions on natural disasters,special attention should be paid to the following in 2025:

• Digitaltraderisks:ResponsePlanforCustomsSingleWindowSystemMalfunctions
• Geopoliticalrisk:EmergencyResponseforMajorPortsListedonOFACSanctionsList
• CarbonTariffPolicy:ResponsibilityAllocationforCustomsClearanceDelaysCausedbytheEUCBAMMechanism

How to set up intellectual property protection clauses?

According to the 2025 judicial interpretation of the Supreme Court:

• Dualguaranteemechanism:Requesttheagenttoprovidethebrandauthorizationletter+customsrecordnumber.
• :Agreeontheresponsetimelimitforintellectualpropertycomplaintsontheplatform(recommended72hours).SpecialTermsforCross-BorderE-commerce:
• CompensationCalculationBasis:Itisrecommendedtostipulatethatthehigherofeitherthreetimesthevalueofthegoodsor500,000yuanshallprevail.

How should the termination conditions of the agreement be stipulated?

It is recommended to establish a three-tier termination mechanism:

• Rightofimmediatetermination：TheagentlosesOperatingrights,inclusioninthelistofdiscreditedenterprises
• Theremedialperiodhasended.:Threeconsecutivedocumentationerrorswithoutcorrectionwithin5workingdays.Theremedialperiodhasended>.
• Regularevaluationtermination:ExitmechanismforfailingtomeettheagreedannualKPIstandards

How to ensure the agreement complies with the latest trade policies?

It is recommended to include dynamic clauses:

• LegalIndexClause:Automaticallyapplythelatest"ExportAdministrationRegulations"issuedbytheMinistryofCommerce.MeasuresfortheRecord-filingandRegistrationofEasy-to-operateBusinesses
• Exchangeratefluctuationmechanism:TheformulaforadjustingfeeswhentheUSDtoRMBexchangeratefluctuatesbymorethan2%.Exchangeratefluctuationmechanism
• PolicyUpdateNotification:Majorchangesintradepoliciesmustbenotifiedinwritingwithin3workingdays.

What legal points should be considered in electronic signing?

According to the amended version of the Electronic Signature Law in 2025:

• CertificationPlatformSelection:Itismandatorytouseathird-partyelectroniccontractplatformcertifiedbytheNationalTimeServiceCenter.
• BlockchainEvidenceStorage:Itisrecommendedtoagreetousethejudicialchainforcontractdepositcertification.BlockchainEvidence
• Cross-borderlegaleffect:Wheninvolvingoverseasagents,anadditionalHagueApostilleclauseisrequired.