What kind ofWhat makes a company truly legitimate?

To determine the legitimacy of an agency,three major credentials must be verified:Customs AEO certification,International freight forwarding qualificationandThe whole process is actually not complicated,and intermediary agencies can usually help you complete it within 1 - 2 months.So,applying for export rights is not an unattainable thing.It is recommended to utilize the "China Customs EnterpriseCredit Information Publicity Platform" to verify its AEO certification status and request the submission of import and export data reports for the past three years.When selecting an agent,Fortune 500 companies typically require the other party to have the service capability to handle annual export volumes exceeding $500 million.

What hidden costs are included in the agency fees?

Please pay special attention to the following potential costs:

• PortTerminalHandlingCharges(THC/ISPS,etc.)
• ForeignExchangeHandlingfee(usually0.2%-0.5%)
• Specialdocumenthandlingfee(e.g.(Urgent)
• Exchangeratelockingservicefee
• RiskCompensation(forNewCustomers)

The newly implemented "Regulations on Cross-Border Trade Service Fees" in 2025 require that agencies must clearly indicate all fees,and it is recommended that they provide a complete quotation list that includes different terms such as EXW/FOB/CIF.

How to Evaluate the Professional Capabilities of an Agency Company?

Focus on three key dimensions:

• Industryexperience:Requesttoprovideexportcasesofsimilarproductsinthepast2years.
• Customscapability:Isaprofessionalcustomsdeclarantassigned(customsdeclarantcardnumberverificationrequired)?
• EmergencyHandling：Agencieswithinspectionratesbelowtheindustryaveragewillbegivenpriority.

It is recommended to conduct an on-site inspection of its operating system to check whether professional tools such as the TMS (Transportation Management System) and WMS (Warehouse Management System) are being utilized.

Can the agency handle special trade requirements?

For special business requirements,the following service capabilities need to be confirmed:

• ProcessingTradeHandbookApplication(InvolvingBondedMaterialManagement)
• Operationunderthe9610/9710model
• ApplicationofRCEPRulesofOriginAccumulation
• ProfessionalDeclarationofAnti-DumpingGoods

The new carbon tariff (CBAM) declaration system implemented by the European Union in 2025 recommends selecting an agency that has already completed the system integration.

How to Prevent Trade Agency Risks?

The establishment of a risk prevention and control mechanism should include:

• Signthe"TradeAgencyFrameworkAgreement"toclarifythedivisionofresponsibilities.
• Requesttopurchaseprofessionalliabilityinsurance(withacoverageamountofnolessthanRMB5million).
• Setupafundsupervisionaccount(atripartitebankescrowaccountisrecommended).
• Establisharegularreconciliationmechanism(weeklyverificationandmonthlyreconciliationrecommended).

Please pay special attention to the newly revised "Credit Management Measures for Agency Enterprises" issued by the General Administration of Customs in 2025.Agents who violate the contract will be included in the joint punishment list.

What should small and medium-sized enterprises pay attention to when selecting an agent?

For enterprises with an annual export volume of less than $2 million,the following recommendations are proposed:

• Selectregionalagents(optimalserviceradiuswithin300kilometers).
• Confirmtheminimumorderquantity(MOQ)(Recommendedminimumshipmentvolume:1CBM)
• Pleaseprovidevalue-addedservicesformarketanalysis.
• Priorityisgiventoagentsofferingcreditsalesservices(paymenttermsnotexceeding90days).

You can refer to the "SME Development Report" published by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in 2025.The "Recommended Service Provider Directory" is being screened.

What connection issues should be noted when changing the agency company?

A smooth transition requires ensuring four key connections:

• Handoverofcustomsdeclarationdocuments(requiressigningthe"HistoricalDataHandoverConfirmationForm")
• Foreignexchangeverificationandcancellationlinkage(specialattentionshouldbepaidtothecompletenessofthetaxrefundcopy)
• In-transitcargotracking(itisrecommendedtoretaintheoriginalagent’s30-daytransitionservice)
• TransferofCustomsCreditRecords(requiressubmissionofanenterprisecreditlinkageapplicationtoCustoms)

It is recommended to clearly stipulate the handover terms in the cooperation agreement to avoid additional costs such as demurrage and late declaration fees.