What Types of Businesses Need Imservice?

Businesses are advised to seek professional agency services under the following circumstances:

• First-timeengagementininternationaltrade:Unfamiliarwithcustomsclearance,taxrefunds,orforeignexchangesettlementprocesses
• Specialtygoods:Involve,regulatedcategoriessuchashazardouschemicals
• Highlogisticscosts:Needintegrated,multimodaltransportsolutionscombininglandandseafreight
• policycompliancerisks:RespondingtothenewdigitaldeclarationregulationsimplementedbytheGeneralAdministrationofCustomsin2025

What Qualifications Must an Import-Export Agency Company Possess?

According to the latest 2025 revised "Regulations onTrade Law,legal agents must meet the following requirements:

• BasicQualifications:
  • AEO(AuthorizedEconomicOperator)AdvancedCertificationqualificationfromcustoms
  • RegistrationwiththeStateAdministrationofForeignExchange
  • ElectronicPortICCardoperationauthority
• Special qualifications:
  • HazardousChemicalsBusinessLicense(wheninvolvingdangerousgoods)
  • MedicalDeviceFilingCertificate(formedicalproductimports)
  • CCCProductCertificationAgencyQualification(forcompulsorycertificationproductcategories)

What Core Processes Are Included in Import-Export Agency Services?

Professional agency companies should provide end-to-end services:

• Pre-shipmentpreparation:HScodeclassification,tariffpre-review,tradetermconsultation
• Customsclearanceservices:Thefullyimplementeddigitaldeclarationsystemwillbeconnectedin2025.
• LogisticsManagement:IncludingcostoptimizationsolutionssuchasFCL/LCLoceanshipping,airchartering,etc.
• Financialsupport:Documentreview,foreignexchangeriskhedging,advancepayment.

How are agency fees calculated in the 2025s?

Agency fees mainly consist of three components:

• Basicservicefee:Typicallychargedat0.8%-1.5%ofcargovalue
• Specialoperationfees:
  • CustomsInspectionSurcharge(theinspectionratehasdroppedto3.2%in2025)
  • Emergencysurchargeforspecialperiods(suchaspre-Christmasairfreightpeak)
• Capital service fee: Calculated at LIBOR+2%-3% when involving tax rebate financing

How to Identify Unreliable Agency Companies?

Watch for the following red flags:

• Committo"tax-inclusivecustomsclearance"andotherillegaloperations.
• Requeststousedesignatedoffshoreaccountsforsettlement
• Inabilitytoprovidecustomscreditratingrecordsforthepastthreeyears
• Contractswithoutclearlydefinedliabilityboundaries(recommendusingthe2025StandardAgencyAgreement)

What Impacts Do Recent Policy Changes Bring?

In 2025,there are two major changes that require special attention:

• Electronicsignaturesystemforcustomsdeclarations:Traditionalcustomsbrokersfacedigitaltransformationpressures
• ExpansionofB2Bexportpilotprogram:Surgeindemandfor9710/9810modelagencyservices

(Note: For specific policy implementation details,please refer to the "Guiding Opinions on Deepening the Reform of Foreign Trade Comprehensive Services" released by the Ministry of Commerce in January 2025)

Is On-Site Inspection Mandatory When Selecting an Agency Company?

Three key elements are recommended for verification:

• Operationteamscale:Premiumagenciesshouldhaveaprofessionalcustomsteamof10+members
• Informationsystemdevelopment:MustpossessAPIdirectconnectioncapabilitywiththeSingleWindowsystem
• Historicalcasedata:Requiressubmissionofsame-categorycustomsclearancerecordsfromthepast12months