Can international freight forwarding companies directly export goods? Latest interpretation for 2025
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
Can international freight forwarders handle customs declaration on behalf of exporters?
According to the latest "International Freight Forwarding Management Regulations" of 2025,freight forwarding enterprises are required to hold a license.Customs AEO certificationandcustoms declaration rights registrationto act as a customs declaration agent.In practice:
- Forwarderswithself-operatedimport-exportrightscanactasdeclarationagents
- Adual-headedcustomsdeclarationisrequired(Exporter+Forwarder)
- Jointliabilityforcustomsdeclarationisassumed
- Forwarders without import-export rights must use:
- Cooperationwithathird-partycustomsbroker
- Entrustingaqualifiedtradingcompany
5 Core Questions Customers Must Understand
- Question1:DoIneedtoobtainexportqualificationsmyself?
Starting from 2025,we will adoptMinistry of Commerce online filing system,a forwarder can assist with the application,but the exporter still needs to provide:
- Businesslicensewith"importandexport"inthescopeofbusiness
- CustomsRegistrationCertificate
Three-step verification method:
- CheckontheMinistryofCommerceofficialwebsiteInternationalfreightforwarderregistrationnumber
- Inspectthebusinesslicense/RequiretheprovisionofataxpaymentcertificateandaspecialVATinvoice.designation
- RequesttoseetheFIATAmembercertificate
In 2025,special attention should be paid to the following:
- EUCarbonBorderAdjustmentMechanism(CBAM)pre-declarationfees
- U.S.CustomsISF-5filingsurcharge
- RCEPclearservicefees
Key points for compliance operations in 2025
According to the latest WCO guidelines,it is recommended that:
- Contracttermsmustbeexplicit
Specify "Freight Forwarder" status,not "Exporter," to avoid seller’s obligations
- Forwarder’sinitialreviewofcommercialinvoice/packinglist
- Customsbroker’sreviewofdeclarationelements
- FinalconfirmationofHScodebytheexporter
Documents must include:
- Transportdocumentsstampedbythefreightforwarder
- Bank’sforeignexchangeverificationslip
- Proofofcustomsclearancestatusfromtheelectronicport
Real Case Warning Analysis
Case 1:A tech company in Shenzhen entrusted an unqualified forwarder,resulting in:
- GoodsdetainedatHongKongterminalfor27days
- IncurredUSD12,600indemurragefees
- MissedtheRCEPtariffreductionperiod
Case 2: A machinery manufacturer in Suzhou chose an AEO forwarder:
- Achieved72-hourcustomsclearanceforChina-Japan-SouthKorea
- Saved14%onlogisticscosts
- Receivedpriorityinspectiontreatmentfromcustoms
Clarification of common misconceptions
- Myth1:"Afreightforwardercanhandleallexportprocedures"
Actual boundary: Foreign exchange collection/export tax rebates still need to be completed by the exporter
Key indicator: Customs credit rating > registered capital
The new regulations in 2025 require that we must obtain the original shipping bills and confirm the carrier’s actual control over the goods.
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