What are the signs indicating a need for replacement?A professional agency company should have the following characteristics:

When any of the following three situations occurs,it is recommended that the company immediately initiate an agency evaluation process:

• Theserviceresponseefficiencycontinuestodecline.：Thedocumentprocessingcycleexceedstheindustrystandardby20%,andcustomsclearancedelayshaveresultedinmissingmorethan3shippingschedules.
• Thecoststructureisopaque.:Unannouncedadditionalchargesoccurredfortwoconsecutivequarters,andcompliantinvoicescouldnotbeprovided.
• Frequentcompliancerisks：AftertheimplementationofthenewAEOcertificationregulationsbycustomsin2023,theagencycompanyhasmadeHScodedeclarationerrorsmorethantwice.

What is the standard procedure for changing an export agent?

Professional agent replacement should follow a four-step method:

• Requirementsassessmentphase
  • Reviewtheexistingagencyservicecontractterms(withspecialattentiontoterminationclauses).
  • Createaservicedeficiencyevidencechain(emailrecords,expenselists,etc.)
• New agent screening phase
  • Requestthecandidatecompaniestoprovidestatisticsoncustomserrorratesoverthepastthreeyears.
  • VerifythetimelinessofitsEDIsystem’sinterfacewiththecustomsofthetargetmarket.

What business risks might be encountered during the transition period?

According to the amendment to the Data Security Law implemented in 2025,special attention should be paid to the following points:

• ComplianceofCustomerDataMigration:Whenchangingexportagentsinvolvescross-borderdatatransfer,writtenauthorizationfromthecustomermustbeobtained.
• Continuityofdeclarationrecords:ThenewagentmustfullyinherittheAEOcertificationenterprisedeclarationrecordsoftheoriginalcompany.
• Disconnectedlogisticslinks：In2023,whenagarmentexportcompanychangeditsagent,thedelayintransmittingthemanifestinformationresultedin40containersofgoodsbeingstrandedattheport.

How to Avoid Legal Disputes During the Handover Between Old and New Agents?

It is recommended to take the following preventive measures:

• TerminationClauseVerification:Focusonreviewingtheearlyterminationcompensationclauseintheoriginalcontract.
• FinancialLiquidationConfirmation:Requesttheoriginalagenttoissueadispute-freesettlementcertificate,coveringallfinancialitemsincludingadvancepayments,deposits,etc.
• IntellectualPropertySegmentation:Clarifythehandoverprocessoftrademarkauthorizationdocumentsforcustomsdeclarationpurposes.

What are the new requirements for agency services in the 2025 era?

In light of the latest international trade trends,a high-quality agent should possess:

• GreenTradeComplianceCapability:FamiliarizewiththedetailedimplementationrulesoftheEUCBAMcarbontariffmechanism.
• DigitalCustomsDeclarationSystem:Supportsreal-timeintegrationwithChina’sInternationalTrade"SingleWindow"Version3.0
• Emergencyresponsemechanism：PreparecontingencyplansforsuddenchangesintherulesoforiginwithintheRCEPregion.

What qualifications must be verified when selecting a new agent?

In addition to the regular qualifications,the following should be additionally verified in 2025:

• FilingforSecurityAssessmentofCross-BorderDataTransfer(ThelatestrequirementsfromtheCyberspaceAdministrationofChina)
• SpecialGoodsEntryandExitPermit(Foremergingindustriessuchasbiomedicine)
• AEOMutualRecognitionCountryServiceCases(especiallyemergingmarketsinASEANandAfrica)

How to ensure service continuity after changing agents?

It is recommended to implement a three-month parallel period:

• Dualfilingofdocuments:Boththeoldandnewagentsreceivethesamebatchofcustomsdeclarationpre-reviewdocumentssimultaneously.
• Systemdatamirroring:RequesttheoriginalagenttoopenanAPIinterfaceforthenewagenttoreadhistoricaldata.
• Keypositiondocking：Arrangefortheoperationssupervisorfromtheoriginalcompanytoparticipateinatleast10practicalteachingcases.