I.Insights into the Situation and Opportunities of French Coffee Import Trade

In recent years,China’s coffee consumption market has led the global market with an average annual growth rate of 15%,and the demand for specialty coffee has exceeded 30%.France,as the seventh largest coffee exporter in the world (based on 2023 data),has become a preferred choice for Chinese importers with its roasted beans and blended beans,which boast unique flavors and strict quality control.Under the current international trade environment,The regular operation of the (Yuxinou/Yinxiangou) routes has reduced the transport time from France to China to 14-18 days,which is much shorter than the traditional route.Reduce by 20%; at the same time,the China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement signed by the European Union and China provides more efficient intellectual property protection for French AOC-certified coffee,further reducing the risk of trade friction.However,it should be noted that the European Union’s General Food Law (EC 178/2002) imposes strict requirements on pesticide residues and microbiological indicators,and China’s customs has established a full-chain compliance system for imported food,which includes "pre-import supervision + port inspection + follow-up supervision".All of these factors pose challenges to French AOC-certified coffee entering the Chinese market.This places higher demands on their professional competence.

II.Core Services: Professional control capabilities in document management and logistics

(I) Document processing: The "passport" for trade compliance

Output:

The core documents for importing French coffee must strictly adhere to the principle of "double compliance" — meeting both the EU’s export requirements and China’s import regulations.Key documents include:

• CommercialInvoice:Itisnecessarytoclearlydisplaythecoffeecategories(rawbeans/roastedbeans/instantcoffee),HScodes(suchas09012100forunroastedcoffeeand09012200forroastedcoffee),andtheunitprice/totalprice(whichmustmatchtheinvoice).orT/Tpaymentmatching);
• (EUR.1):AsthebasisforenjoyingtheMost-Favored-Nationtariff(8%)betweenChinaandtheEU,itmustbeissuedbyFrenchcustomsoranauthorizedagency,andtheinformationonthebillofladingregardingthe"portofdeparture"mustbeconsistentwithit.
• HealthCertificate:IssuedbyanagencyundertheFrenchMinistryofAgricultureandFood(DGAL),itmustlistkeyconclusionssuchas"noexceedanceofaflatoxinB1",and"microbiologicalindicatorscomplywithEC2073/2005".
• BillofLading:Formaritimetransport,werecommendselectinga"CleanOnBoardBillofLading"(COBB/L).Itisnecessarytoprovidean"airwaybill"(AWB)andindicatewhetherthefreightis"prepaid"or"collectondelivery"tomatchthetradeterms(e.g."prepaidfreight"forCIF).

Our team has over 10 years of experience in document review and can accurately verify the consistency between documents and ensure that all documents comply with regulations,thus avoiding customs clearance delays caused by discrepancies in documents (according to statistics,80% of import delays in Hong Kong are due to document errors).

(II) Logistics Service: Optimal Solution for Full-Link Cost and Timeliness

Output:

The logistics solution needs to be tailored based on the characteristics of the goods (such as the sensitivity of roasted beans to temperature and humidity),the cargo volume (20’ container/40’ container/LCL),and the client’s requirements:

• FullContainerLoad(FCL):Suitableforbulkpurchasesofmorethan2,000kg,thisoptioninvolvesshippingfromtheportsofMarseilleorLeHavre,passingthroughtheSuezCanal,andarrivingattheportsofShanghaiorQingdao.Thecostis60%lowerthanairfreight.
• China-EuropeExpressTrain:Fortime-sensitivegoods(suchaspremiumcoffeegreenbeans),theyaretransportedfromDuisburg/TilburgtoXi’an/Chengduviaatemperature-controlledcontainer(withatemperatureof18-22°Candahumidityof≤60%)toensurethequalityofthegoodsthroughouttheentirejourney.
• Airfreight:Itissuitableforsmall-batch,high-value-addedready-to-drinkcoffeeorlimitededitionproducts.ChooseadirectflightfromParisCharlesdeGaulleAirporttoBeijing/Guangzhou,andcombinewiththe"pre-declaration"modetoachievecustomsclearancewithin48hours.

Our company has established long-term cooperation with shipping companies such as MSK and CMA,as well as DHL and Huamao Logistics.This enables us to secure shipping space and negotiate a 10%-15% discount on freight rates.Additionally,through our "logistics tracking system",we can track the real-time location of goods (down to the hour) and provide advance warnings of potential delays.

III.Business Expansion into Russia: VTBAdvantages to Support Cross-Border Payments

With the rise of triangular trade between China,France,and Russia (the trade volume of coffee between China and Russia increased by 25% year-on-year in 2023),the convenience of settlement with Russia has become a key issue.VTB Bank (Russia)As Russia’s largest state-owned commercial bank,the bank enjoys three major advantages in foreign exchange settlement services:

• Itcoversawiderangeoftopics.:Therearemorethan500outletsinmajorcitiessuchasMoscowandSt.Petersburg,supportingsettlementsinbothrublesandeuros.
• Theexchangerateisstable:InlinewiththeexchangeratesetbytheCentralBankofRussia,theforeignexchangerateis0.3%-0.5%lowerthanthemarketaverage;
• Time-limitguarantee:ThroughtheSWIFTsystem,thefundscanbecreditedwithinT+1days(whiletraditionalagentstypicallyrequireT+3days).

Our company has established an agency settlement channel with VTB,which can assist clients in completing the entire process of "contract filing - foreign exchange declaration - fund transfer",ensuring that the receipt and payment comply with the requirements of the "Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Management of Service Trade" (No.30 [2013] of the SAFE),and avoiding exchange rate fluctuations and policy risks.

IV.Full-process import operation: Professional control of 9 key stages

(I) Customer Inquiry and Requirements Confirmation (Node 1)

Output:

It is necessary to specify the type of coffee (raw beans/roasted beans/instant coffee),the target market (North China/East China/South China),any special requirements (such as organic certification,decaffeinated coffee),and evaluate the feasibility of importation (e.g.the regulatory requirements corresponding to the HS code: A (Customs Declaration for Inbound Goods),R (Health Supervision and Inspection for Imported Food)).

(II) Contract negotiation and clause review (Node 2)

Output:

The focus of the review is on trade terms (recommending CIF,with the agent controlling the transportation risk),payment methods (30% prepayment + 70% upon receipt of the bill of lading copy,or L/C at sight),quality clauses (specifying key indicators such as "moisture content ≤ 12%"),and a reminder about the "force majeure" clause (e.g.port strikes,and the division of responsibilities for delivery delays caused by the pandemic).

(III) Order execution and payment arrangements (Node 3)

Output:

If using a letter of credit,it is necessary to verify that the "name of the beneficiary" and the "description of the goods" are consistent with the contract before issuing the letter of credit.For T/T payments,the payment registration must be completed through the "State Administration of Foreign Exchange Application Service Platform" to avoid being listed on the watchlist due to "exceeding the payment quota".

(IV) Production supervision and quality spot checks (Node 4)

Output:

Dispatch professional quality inspectors to the French factory to verify the origin of raw materials (such as coffee bean production certificates) and the processing process (roasting temperature 180-220℃,time 8-12 minutes),and extract 3% of the goods for SGS testing (focusing on detecting aflatoxin B1 ≤ 5μg/kg and ensuring that the caffeine content complies with GB 2760).

(V) Synchronize logistics booking with documents (Node 5)

Output:

After selecting the transportation method based on the volume of goods,simultaneously prepare the "Customs Declaration Power of Attorney" and the "Packing List",and obtain the "Pre-Manifest" within 24 hours after the goods are loaded onto the ship,in order to prepare for the "advance declaration" to the customs (which can shorten the customs clearance time by 1-2 days).

(VI) Customs Declaration and Tax Payment (Node 6)

Output:

Submit the "Import Goods Declaration Form" (integrating information such as HS code,origin,and transaction method) to the customs,calculate the tariff (duty-paid price × 8%) and value-added tax ((duty-paid price + tariff) × 13%),and complete the tax payment through the "Single Window" (supporting electronic payment and T+0 release).

(VII) Domestic Delivery and Warehouse Management (Node 7)

Output:

After customs clearance,arrange "door-to-door" delivery according to the client’s needs: roasted beans are transported in constant-temperature vehicles (18-22°C),and raw beans are packed in moisture-proof cardboard boxes and placed on pallets.For storage,we recommend partnering with GSP-certified warehouses (with humidity ≤65% and regular pest control) to ensure stable quality during the storage period.

(VIII) Quality acceptance and problem handling (Node 8)

Output:

When the customer signs for the goods,they need to check the "delivery note" and the "packing list".If any damage to the goods is found (such as damaged packaging),the customer must notify the agent within 24 hours and assist in submitting the "damage report" and the "inspection certificate" to the insurance company (such as PICC).Compensation is usually completed within 15 working days.

(IX) Summary and feedback,and archiving of files (Node 9)

Output:

Provide an "Import Summary Report",which includes a "Cost Breakdown Table" (proportion of freight/tariffs/agency service fees),a "Timeliness Analysis" (total duration from dispatch to delivery),and a "Quality Assessment" (detection pass rate).All documents (original + electronic scans) shall be archived and kept for three years (in accordance with the requirements of the "Customs Inspection Regulations").

5.Certification Tips: Explanation of the Compliance Requirements for Imported Coffee

For French coffee imports,there are two types of certification requirements that need to be paid attention to.However,our company does not directly provide certification services,but merely provides compliance guidance:

• EUside:Ifitinvolvesorganiccoffee,anEUorganiccertification(EC834/2007)mustbeprovided;ifit’sdecaffeinatedcoffee,a"proofofdecaffeinationprocess"(suchasCO?extraction)mustbeprovided.
• China’sEnd:Allimportedcoffeemustberegisteredas"importedfood"inaccordancewithrelevantregulations.The"BusinessRegistrationSystem"completestheenterpriseregistrationandobtainsthe"InspectionandQuarantineCertificateforImportedGoods"(issuedbythecustoms,whichisanecessarydocumentforputtingthegoodsontheshelfforsale).

We recommend that clients initiate the certification application three months in advance and entrust third-party organizations such as SGS and Bureau Veritas to handle it.Our company can assist in reviewing the compliance of the certification documents.

Conclusion: The key to importing French coffee through an agent lies in "professionalism and efficiency" — avoiding customs clearance risks through accurate document processing,reducing costs through customized logistics solutions,and ensuring quality through full-process control.Choosing an agent with 20 years of experience is not just selecting an executor,but also selecting a partner who can adapt to changing trade situations and solve unexpected problems.