1.New Trends in Sino-French Food Trade: Growth Opportunities for French Biscuit Imports

In recent years,Sino-French economic and trade cooperation has continued to deepen.In 2023,China’s total food imports from France increased by 18% year-on-year,with baked products (including cookies) accounting for 22% of the total.The market demand for these products has grown alongside the upgrading of consumer consumption habits.The French biscuit industry has developed rapidly.French biscuits are renowned for their fine craftsmanship and high-quality raw materials (such as Normandy butter and Brittany wheat),and labels such as "Geographical Indication Protection (AOC)" and "Organic Certification (AB)" have become a differentiated competitive advantage in China’s mid-to-high-end market.However,the EU’s food regulations (such as the labeling requirements of EC 1169/2011),stricter customs document review,and fluctuating logistics costs have placed higher demands on the professional operating capabilities of import enterprises,making it essential to choose experienced partners.Agents have become the key to reducing risks.

II.The core of agency services: meticulous control of shipping documents and logistics

In the import of French biscuits,document compliance is the "passport" for customs clearance,while logistics efficiency directly affects costs and delivery time.These two factors constitute the core competitiveness of agency services.

(I) Documentation Processing: Full-chain review of 10+ documents

Output:

Importing French cookies requires preparing more than 10 key documents.The agent needs to participate in the entire process of review and coordination.

• BasicCommercialDocuments:Commericalinvoice(whichmustspecifythetransactionmethod,suchasCIF/FOB,andmatchthegoodsdescriptionwiththeHScode),packinglist(whichmustindicatethegross/netweight,numberofpieces,andpalletinformation),andbilloflading.Cleanonboardbillofladingrequired,(themasterandhousebillsmustbeconsistent);
• OfficialCertifiedDocuments:(COorEUR.1issuedbyFrenchcustomsortheChinaCouncilforthePromotionofInternationalTrade,whichinvolvestariffpreferencesundertheChina-EUFreeTradeAgreement,specialattentionshouldbepaidtotheissuancerules);Healthcertificates(issuedbytheFrenchMinistryofAgricultureandFoodorauthorizedagencies,whichmustspecifytheproductingredients,productiondate,andcompliancewithEUfoodhygienestandards(EC852/2004));
• TechnicalSupportDocumentation:Ingredientanalysisreport(whichshalllistthetypesandcontentsofadditivesandcomplywiththedomesticstandardGB2760-2014),freesalescertificate(provingthattheproductislegallycirculatedintheFrenchmarket),andpackagingdeclaration(fornon-woodenpackaging,anIPPCmarkshallbeprovided;forwoodenpackaging,afumigationcertificateshallbeprovided).

The professional value of an agent is reflected in the following aspects: ① Ensuring the logical consistency of pre-audit documents (e.g.verifying that the invoice amount matches the contract amount).① Match the terms with the product description (e.g.product specifications,ingredient lists,etc.); ② Coordinate with foreign suppliers to supplement missing documents (e.g.health certificates without stamps on the seams); ③ Ensure that the HS code (usually 1905.3100 or 1905.3200) and declaration elements (e.g.brand,ingredient content) are accurate when pre-entering the customs system,to avoid returns due to incorrect classification.

(II) Logistics Management: Cost Optimization through Multi-Modal Collaboration

Output:

The import logistics of French biscuits requires a comprehensive selection of transportation methods based on factors such as the volume of goods,delivery time,and cost.

• FullContainerLoad(FCL):Suitablefor20-foot/40-footcontainers(about18-26tons),themainportsareLeHavretoShanghai/Ningbo,withavoyagedurationofabout35days.Theadvantageislowunitcost(about$800/20GP),makingitidealforregularprocurementpurposes.
• Less-than-ContainerLoad(LCL):Forsmallbatches(15cubicmeters),youcanchooseLCLshipping.Pleasepayattentiontothetimelinessofdocumentexchangeatthedestinationport(toavoidportdetentionfees),andtheagentcancoordinatewiththeLCLcompanytoprovide"door-to-door"services.
• Airfreight:Forurgentorders,youcanchooseflightsfromParis(CDG)toBeijing/Guangzhou,withaflightdurationofapproximately12hours.Thisoptionofferssignificantadvantagesintermsofdeliveryspeed(7-10daystothewarehouse),butthecostisrelativelyhigh(about$6-8/kg).

Key points of logistics control by agents: ① Lock in the sailing schedule/flight when booking,monitor ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) and ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival),and avoid delays caused by shipping companies skipping ports; ② Supervise the sealing of containers (Seal No.) and the stacking of goods during loading (cookies are fragile items and need to be reinforced to prevent crushing); ③ Complete the document exchange (D/O) within 24 hours after arrival,and simultaneously transmit the manifest information to customs to ensure rapid clearance under the "advanced declaration" mode.

III.Full-process agency services: A 9-step professional guide from signing the contract to delivery

1.Customer Inquiry: Deeply Explore the Customer’s Needs

Output:

The agent needs to clearly understand the client’s core requirements: import volume (monthly/annual),target ports (Shanghai/Guangzhou/Qingdao),sales channels (supermarkets/e-commerce/distribution),special requirements (e.g.organic products need separate customs clearance),and assess the difficulty of HS code classification (e.g.cookies with chocolate coating may be classified under 1905.3200 with a 15% tax rate; ordinary cookies are classified under 1905.3100 with a 15% tax rate).

2.Negotiation and signing of the contract: Risk avoidance in contract terms

Output:

The key points of the review include the quality standards in the contract (such as "subject to the official inspection report of France"),the delivery period (specifying "delivery from the factory" or "delivery upon arrival at the port"),dispute resolution (it is recommended to choose the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission),and the agreement on the agency service fee (usually 1-3% of the total value,including documents and logistics coordination).

3.Orders and Payments: Payment Method Design

Output:

Select payment methods based on the customer’s creditworthiness and the supplier’s capabilities: ① Telegraphic Transfer (T/T): Typically 30% prepayment (after Purchase Order confirmation) + 70% upon receipt of the bill of lading copy.The agent assists in verifying that the invoice amount matches the contract amount.② Letter of Credit (L/C): Requires a clear "irrevocable and prompt payment L/C".The agent reviews the documents to ensure "document-document consistency and document-letter of credit consistency",avoiding non-conformity charges.

4.Production Supervision: Specification Compliance Verification

Output:

The agent collaborates with third parties (such as SGS) to inspect the products at the French factory,verify the product ingredients (e.g.butter content ≥25%),packaging (Chinese labels must include product name,country of origin,and domestic distributor information,in compliance with GB 7718-2011),and shelf life (biscuits typically have a shelf life of 12-18 months,ensuring that the remaining shelf life after arrival is ≥6 months).

5.Customs compliance: Follow up on all aspects of customs clearance

Output:

Three days before the ship arrives at the port,the agent completes the pre-entry of the customs declaration form,with the declaration elements including "brand (such as LU,Leclerc)" and "whether it is a sandwich product" and "ingredient content".After the ship arrives at the port,the agent cooperates with the customs inspection (such as sampling and sending the microbiological indicators for testing),pays the customs duty (15%) and value-added tax (13%,the duty-paid price = CIF price + customs duty),and applies for the "customs clearance certificate" (issued by the inspection and quarantine department).

6.Delivery and distribution: Connecting to the domestic delivery network

Output:

The agent coordinates with domestic logistics providers (such as Sinotrans and SF Express),selects either "port-to-warehouse" (for e-commerce cloud warehouses) or "port-to-door" (for distributors’ warehouses) based on client needs,and monitors the temperature during transit (biscuits must be stored at ≤25°C and with a humidity of ≤60%) to prevent mold growth.

7.Quality Assurance and Feedback: Quick Response to Problems

Output:

Within 7 days after the goods arrive,the agent shall assist the client in completing the warehouse acceptance (checking the quantity and ensuring the packaging damage rate is ≤ 0.5%).If there are quality issues (such as insect damage),the agent may coordinate with the foreign supplier to initiate a return or claim (subject to the contract stipulating a "30-day quality objection period").

IV.Certification Prompt and Risk Warning: Clients are required to complete the compliance preparation independently

It should be noted that the agent does not directly provide product certification services,but will clearly inform clients of the certification checklist they need to prepare in advance.

• attheEUlevel:CEcertification(onlyapplicabletopre-packagedfoodcontactmaterials,suchasplasticpackaging)andIFS(InternationalFoodStandard)certification(requiredbysomehigh-endsupermarkets);
• Atthedomesticlevel:Importedfoodoverseasproductionenterprisesregistration(subjecttofilingwiththeGeneralAdministrationofCustomsinaccordancewith"AnnouncementNo.179")andChineselabelfiling(someportsrequiresubmittingsamplelabelsforreviewinadvance).

Common Risks and Countermeasures: ① Missing documents (e.g.failure to obtain a free sales certificate) → The agent will remind the client 30 days in advance to urge the supplier to prepare the documents; ② Logistics delays (e.g.congestion in the Suez Canal) → The agent will provide alternative solutions (reroute to the Cape of Good Hope or supplement with air freight); ③ Non-compliance with certification requirements (e.g.failure to affix a nutrition label) → The agent will assist in contacting domestic label printing companies for rectification (costs to be borne by the client).

5.Extended services: VTB’s business with RussiaAdvantages

If clients are involved in the re-export of French biscuits to Russia or other trade with Russia,the agent can provide VTB Bank (Sberbank of Russia) foreign exchange settlement support: ① High settlement efficiency (T+2 settlement,better than the average bank’s T+5); ② Exchange rate locking (can avoid ruble fluctuation risks through forward foreign exchange settlement); ③ Strong compliance (meets the Russian Central Bank’s foreign exchange control requirements,avoiding being listed on the "untrusted bank" list).This service is particularly suitable for clients with annual trade volumes exceeding $500,000 to Russia,which can reduce foreign exchange settlement costs by 3-5%.

Conclusion: French cookiesThe core value of this service lies in helping enterprises overcome the three major challenges of "difficult customs clearance,slow logistics,and high costs" through professional document processing,efficient logistics coordination,and full-process risk management.Choosing an agent with 20 years of experience not only enhances import efficiency but also enables enterprises to seize opportunities in the rapidly growing baked goods market.