1.What is the essential difference between export agency and self-operated export?

Export agency refers to the process where a manufacturing enterprise exports its products through a company that possessesThe business model where a licensed trading company completes export procedures.The core difference lies in the legal entity.Self-operated export enterprises independently handle customs declaration,In the case of direct export,the production enterprise assumes full-process responsibilities such as customs declaration,foreign exchange settlement,and tax refund.In contrast,in the case of export by proxy,the production enterprise (the entrusting party) signs an agreement with the proxy company,which serves as the executing entity of the contract.

II.What are the main operational processes of export agency in the 2025s?

The typical agency export process consists of six key steps:

• Signtheagencyagreement(responsibilitydivisionandsettlementtermsmustbeclearlydefined)
• Thegoodswillbeprocessedaftertheyarefullyprepared.
  • ThenewHScodedeclarationrequirementsintroducedbythecustomsin2025
  • RCEPApplicationspecificationsforMing
• Foreign exchange receipt,settlement and tax handling
• The validity period has been shortened from 45 days in 2024 to 30 days.

III.How to Evaluate the Professional Competence of an Agency?

Recommend assessing from five dimensions:

• QualificationVerification:ChecktheAEOcertificationlevelofthecustoms(thenewcertificationstandardswillbeimplementedfrom2025onwards).
• Industryexperience:Nofewerthan20exportcasesofsimilarproducts
• Riskcontrolsystem:Atradecomplianceauditreportisrequired.
• ServiceNetwork:Majorexportingcountriesmusthavelocalcustomsclearancepartners.
• Technicalcapabilities:Doesithaveanautomatedcustomsdeclarationsystem(referencingthe2023caseofaShenzhencompanyfinedduetomanualcustomsdeclarationerrors)?

IV.What Are the Hidden Costs of Export Agency?

In addition to the agency service fee (typically 0.8%-1.5% of the cargo value),special attention should be paid to:

• Costofcapitaloccupation:Cashflowpressurecausedbytaxrefundcycles
• DocumentProcessingCost:DifferencesBetweenProformaInvoiceandCommercialInvoiceConversion
• Compliancecost:ThenewEUregulationsin2025requiretheprovisionofcarbonfootprintcertificates.
• Emergencyhandlingcost:additionalchargesforunexpectedinspectionatthedestinationport.

V.Under what circumstances is the agency export model mandatory?

According to the latest policies in 2025,the following three types of enterprises are recommended to adopt agent export:

• Smallandmicroenterpriseswithanannualexportvolumeoflessthan5millionyuan(eligibleforjointdeclarationpreferentialpolicies).
• Involvingcontrolledgoods(suchas(MedicalDeviceBusinessFilingCertificateRequired)
• Companiesenteringanewmarketforthefirsttime(leveragingexistingagencychannelstomitigaterisks)

VI.How to Prevent Legal Risks in Agency Export?

It is recommended to establish a firewall through three legal documents:

• The"AgencyAgreement"mustincludeprovisionsontheownershipofintellectualpropertyrights.
• The"PaymentObligationConfirmationLetter"clarifiestheresponsibilityforforeignexchangedeclaration.
• The"ForceMajeureDisclaimer"coversthenewversionofinternationaltradetermsin2025.

It should be noted that this article was written based on the policies and regulations in effect before March 2025.Regarding the "new tax policies for cross-border digital trade" inquired by some readers,as the relevant policy details have not been officially announced yet,it is recommended to continue following the announcements of the State Taxation Administration.