1.Analysis of the current situation and import trends of Sino-French coffee trade

In recent years,China’s coffee consumption market has led the global market with an average annual growth rate of 15%.In 2023,the total import volume of coffee beans and products exceeded 400,000 tons.Among them,France,leveraging its advantages in the high-end coffee industry chain,saw its share of exports to China in roasted coffee and blended coffee continue to rise.China and France are important trading partners.Under the framework of the China-EU Investment Agreement,the level of agricultural product trade facilitation has been significantly improved,and France enjoys advantages in coffee import tariffs (HS code 09012100,Most-Favored-Nation tariff rate of 8%) and customs clearance efficiency.However,it is worth noting that the EU’s compliance requirements for food products are becoming increasingly stringent,coupled with other factors.Cost fluctuations,professionalService has become the key for enterprises to reduce risks and improve efficiency.

II.The core competitiveness of French coffee import agents: professional capabilities in documentation and logistics

In the coffee import business,document processing and logistics management are the "two engines" of agency services,which directly affect customs clearance efficiency and cost control.

(I) Documentation: Full-chain pre-audit to eliminate risks

Output:

The core documents involved in the import of coffee include: Commercial Invoice,Packing List,Bill of Lading,etc.(C/O or EUR.1),Health Certificate,and Phytosanitary Certificate (required for raw beans).Our company relies on 20 years of experience in international trade to provide these certificates and ensure that all exported products meet international quality standards.Experience: Establish a "Three-stage Pre-audit" mechanism:

• Beforesigningthecontract:Reviewtradeterms(suchasCIFMarseille/FOBLeHavre)andpaymentmethods(T/T,etc.)ThematchingoftheLetterofCredit(L/C)toavoidtheriskof"documentdiscrepancies";
• Beforethegoodsareshipped:Checkthattheamountonthecommercialinvoicematchesthecontract,verifytheauthenticityofthesignaturesonthecertificateoforigin(Frenchcertificatesoforiginareissuedbychambersofcommerce),andensurethatthebillofladingis"clean"(withoutanyadverseannotations).
• Beforecustomsclearanceuponarrivalattheport:Whenpre-filingthecustomsdeclaration,checktheHScodeclassification(09012100correspondingtounroastedandunsoakedcoffeebeanswithoutcaffeine)toavoidhavingtopayadditionaldutiesorundergoinspectionduetoanincorrecttariffcode.

(II) Logistics: Multi-dimensional solutions to optimize cost

Output:

France’s coffee imports are mainly from Brazil,Colombia,and Vietnam.The main port of departure is Le Havre,and the shipping time to Shanghai/Ningbo Port in China is about 35-40 days.For small batches of premium coffee,other shipping options are available.(The journey from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to Shanghai takes approximately 5-7 days.) Based on the cargo volume (full container load (FCL) / less-than-container load (LCL)),delivery time requirements,and cost budget,our company provides customized logistics solutions:

• Shipcompanyselection:PrioritizecooperationwithadvantageousshipownersofEuropeanroutessuchasMSCandCMACGM,secureshippingspace,andstriveforfreightdiscounts;
• TransportationInsurance:UndertheCIFterms,assistinreviewingthescopeofcoverageoftheAllRisksmarineinsurancepurchasedbytheseller.UndertheCFRterms,arrangeinsurancecoveragefortheclientincludingtheFreefromPhysicalDamage(FPA)insuranceandadditionalinsurancecoverage;
• Destinationportoperation:TranslatethefollowingsentenceintoEnglishandexplainitindetail:：Coordinatewiththecustomsbrokerinadvancetoarrangeeither"directpickupattheshipside"or"reportuponarrivalattheport",inordertoreducethedemurragefee.

III.Detailed explanation of the full-process agency services: Nine key stages from consultation to feedback

Our coffee import agency services in Justice Kingdom strictly follow standardized procedures to ensure that every step is controllable and traceable:

(I) Customer Inquiry & Requirement Confirmation

Output:

The first step is to clarify the client’s core needs: import volume (annual/batch),coffee type (green beans/roasted beans/instant coffee),target ports (Shanghai/Guangzhou/Qingdao),and special requirements (such as organic certified coffee).It is also necessary to define the scope of services (whether it includes foreign exchange payment and whether storage and distribution are required).

(II) Contract Negotiation & Compliance Review

Output:

Help review the "dispute resolution clauses" in trade contracts (it is recommended to choose the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)),the "claim period for quality non-conformity" (usually set at 30 days after arrival at the port),and provide risk assessment opinions on payment methods (such as 30% prepayment + 70% upon receipt of the bill of lading copy).

(III) Order Execution & Payment Arrangement

Output:

After placing an order according to the contract,coordinate with the client to complete the foreign exchange payment (for T/T,the "three documents consistency" of the contract,invoice,and customs declaration form is required; for L/C,verify whether the documents submitted by the beneficiary comply with the terms of the letter of credit).For clients engaged in business with Russia,we can rely on our partner bank VTB (Vnesheconombank of Russia) to provide RMB/RUB dual-currency settlement,shorten the remittance process (the regular T/T takes 3-5 working days,while the VTB channel can be reduced to 1-2 working days),and reduce the risk of exchange rate fluctuations.

(IV) Production Supervision & Quality Control

Output:

For customized blended coffee,we can,upon the client’s request,entrust local French third-party agencies (such as SGS) to conduct pre-delivery inspections (PSI) to ensure that indicators such as the roast degree of coffee beans and moisture content (≤12%) meet the contractual requirements,thereby avoiding the risk of returned shipments due to quality issues after arrival at the port.

(V) Logistics Tracking & Document Synchronization

Output:

After the goods are loaded onto the ship,the container’s location (GPS + temperature sensor) is tracked in real time through the shipping company’s system (such as Maersk Remote Monitoring) to ensure that the transportation environment for temperature-controlled coffee (such as freshly packaged cold drinks) meets the required standards.At the same time,the electronic bill of lading (e-B/L) is obtained,and the pre-entry of the customs declaration form is completed three days in advance.

(VI) Customs Compliance & Duty Payment

Output:

Key points for customs clearance:

• Tariffcalculation:Taxablevalue(CIFprice)×8%tariff+(CIFprice+tariff)×13%value-addedtax;
• InspectionResponse:Ifthecustomsconductsrandominspections(withaninspectionrateofabout5-8%),assistinprovidingsupportingdocumentssuchascertificatesoforiginandingredienttestingreports;
• TaxPayment:Paytaxesonbehalfofclientsthroughthe"SingleWindow"system,andsupportelectronicpayment(TIPS)toimproveefficiency.

(VII) Delivery & Distribution plus Warehouse Management

Output:

After customs clearance and release,we will arrange land transportation and distribution according to the client’s needs (our cooperative fleet covers major cities across China),or store the goods in designated bonded warehouses/ordinary warehouses (with temperature and humidity monitoring reports provided).

(VIII) Final Quality Inspection & Issue Handling

Output:

When the customer signs for the package,assist in opening and inspecting it.If any issues such as damage or mixed shipments are found,initiate a claim against the shipping company/insurance company based on the logistics record (POD),and follow up on the case until the issue is resolved.

(IX) Summary Feedback & Long-term Optimization

Output:

After the service is completed,we will provide an "Import Execution Report" that includes the cost breakdown (the proportion of ocean freight and customs duties),efficiency analysis (the total time from placing an order to delivery),and improvement suggestions (such as adjusting the port of departure and optimizing packaging to reduce the damage rate),to help clients optimize their subsequent import plans.

IV.Trade Compliance and Certification Tips: Qualification Requirements That Customers Need to Pay Attention to on Their Own

It should be noted that our company does not directly provide product certification services,but we will inform our clients in advance of the compliance requirements they need to fulfill independently.

• France’sexportsector:BakedcoffeemustcomplywiththeEUFoodHygieneRegulation(EC852/2004)andbeissuedahealthcertificatebytheFrenchMinistryofAgriculture;organiccoffeemustprovideanEUOrganicCertificationoraFrenchABCertification(AgricultureBiologique).
• ChinaImportTerminal:Importersneedtocompletethe"RegistrationofOverseasFoodProductionEnterprises"(applythroughtheFASFCplatformoftheGeneralAdministrationofCustoms),andrawbeansneedtoobtainthe"ImportAnimalandPlantQuarantinePermit"inadvance;
• Salesside:Fordomesticcirculation,theproductsmustcomplywithGB2762(FoodSafetyStandard-ContaminantLimits)andGB7718(GeneralPrinciplesofLabelingforPrepackagedFoods),andthelabelsmustindicateinformationsuchas"CountryofOrigin"and"DomesticAgent".

5.Extended services: VTB in our business with RussiaAdvantages

For clients engaged in re-export or related business with Russia,our company has established a long-term cooperation relationship with VTB Bank of Russia,and can provide the following foreign exchange settlement facilitation services:

• Multi-currencysettlement:SupportdirectsettlementinRenminbi(CNY)andRuble(RUB),avoidingtheriskofUSdollarexchangeratefluctuations;
• Fastcrediting:VTBhasclearingaccountswithmajorChinesebanks(suchasBankofChinaandICBC),whichshortentheprocessingtimeofcross-borderremittancesby40%comparedwiththeconventionalroute.
• Preferentialhandlingfees:Throughtheagentchannel,youcanenjoya0.1-0.3%discountonexchangefees.Clientswithanannualsettlementvolumeexceeding$5millioncanapplyforspecialrates.

Conclusion: The complexity of French coffee import business places high demands on the professionalism of agency services.Relying on 20 years of foreign trade experience,with document processing as the core of risk control and logistics management as the guarantee of efficiency,we provide clients with a full-process service from consultation to feedback,helping enterprises seize market opportunities in the high-end coffee industry.