InWhat core functions are they actually responsible for?

Professional agency companyMainBearThree major ones核心職能:Trade compliance control,document process optimization,and risk mitigationAccording to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China for 2025,85% of SMEs choose agency services mainly for the following reasons:

• Handlingcomplexcustomsdeclarationdocuments(HScodeclassification,Ming,etc.)
• Complywithspecialcustomssupervisionrequirementsofvariouscountries(suchasEUREACHregulations,USFDAcertification)
• Coordinatelogisticsandtaxprocesses(,cross-borderpaymentandsettlement

What are the key steps involved in the complete agency process?

The typical import and export agency process can be divided into five stages:

• ThePreparationStage
  • EnterpriseQualificationFiling(forFilingRegistrationforBusinessOperators
  • Productclassificationandregulatoryconditionconfirmation
• Document processing stage
  • Preparecommercialinvoices,packinglists,andshippingcontracts.
  • Applyforspecialpermits(suchas,EndangeredSpeciesCertificate)
• Customs declaration and inspection stage
  • CustomsDeclarationandTaxPayment
  • Inaccordancewiththeportinspectionandquarantine(with37newquarantinecataloguesaddedin2025)
• Logistics execution stage
  • TransportationModeSelectionandCabinReservation
  • SpecialCargoSupervision(DangerousGoods/ColdChainTransportation)
• Follow-up service phase
  • Exporttaxrebatedeclaration(averageprocessingtimereducedto45days)
  • Tradedataarchivingandcomplianceaudit

How to evaluate the professional qualifications of an agency?

When selecting a proxy service provider,the key considerations should include:

• CustomsAEOcertificationlevel(prioritygiventoAdvancedCertifiedEnterprises)
• Specificindustryoperationalexperience(e.g.chemicals,etc.)
• Informationsystemintegrationcapability(supportsdirectdataconnectionwiththeSingleWindow)
• EmergencyCaseDatabase(SolutionsforCustomsClearanceDelaysandInspectionDisputes)

A certainThe real case of the enterprise in 2025 shows that after choosing an agency company with an intelligent classification system,the HS code error rate dropped from 12% to 0.8%,and the annual savings in port congestion fees exceeded 2 million yuan.

What additional costs may arise from principal-agent relationships?

In addition to the basic agency fee (typically 0.5%-1.2% of the cargo value),the following may be involved:

• Documentationfee(200-500RMBpershipment)
• Customsinspectioncooperationfee(800-2000yuanpertime)
• Expeditedservicefee(30%-100%ofstandarddeliverytime)
• InterestonMarginAdvance(calculatedattheprevailingbankinterestrate)

How to Avoid Common Risks in Foreign Trade Agency?

It is recommended that enterprises pay close attention to the following risk points:

• Riskoftradeentitymisalignment(Neverexportunderthenameofanagencycompany)
• Intellectualpropertyinfringementrisks(customskeymonitoringcategoriesin2025)
• Foreignexchangepaymentcompliancerisk(ensuringagentaccountsalignwithcontracts)
• Riskofimproperdocumentretention(legalrequirementtoretaindocumentsfor5years)

What special handling is required for the import and export of special goods?

Additional attention is required for specific products:

• LithiumBatteryTransportation:UN38.3TestReport+MSDSDocuments
• Foodimports:Overseasmanufacturerregistration+Chineselabelfiling
• Agentserviceprovider?:PerformanceTestReport+DestinationCountryAccessCertificate
• ArtworkImportandExport:CulturalDepartmentApproval+ProfessionalPackagingPlan