New Trends in China-Japan Food Trade: Market Opportunities and Challenges for Japanese Cake Imports

In recent years,as Chinese consumers’ demand for high-quality baked goods has kept rising,Japanese cakes—thanks to their delicate craftsmanship,stringent quality control,and distinctive flavors—have secured a significant share of China’s imported-food market.According to General Administration of Customs data,from January to October 2023 the value of baked goods imported from Japan grew 18.7 % year-on-year,with ready-to-eat cake items surging 22 %.This trend owes both to the tariff concessions that took effect under RCEP (the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement),which lowered the MFN rate on some baked products from 15 % to 12 %,and to consumers’ heightened requirements for “freshness” and “origin certification.”

However,as a perishable product,Japanese cakes face multiple hurdles in entering China: on the one hand,China Customs enforces “full-chain supervision” for imported food,tracing everything from the registration of overseas manufacturers to domestic sales; on the other,the timeliness and temperature-control standards of cold-chain logistics directly affect product quality—any documentation mismatch or customs clearance delay can lead to spoilage and loss.Against this backdrop,professionalThe involvement of the agent becomes the key to mitigating risks and enhancing efficiency.

The Core of the Full Import Process: Professional Control of Documentation and Logistics

I.Document Processing: Compliance is the “passport” to customs clearance

Output:

The core documents required for importing Japanese cakes include:

• BasicCommercialDocuments:CommercialInvoice(mustspecifythetradetermssuchasCIF/FOB,unitprice,totalprice),PackingList(indicatingtheweightandspecificationsofeachcarton),/BillofLading(mustmatchtheactualmodeoftransport);
• Certificateoforiginandhealthcertificate:IssuedbytheJapaneseauthorities(EligibleforRCEPpreferentialtariff),ahealthcertificateissuedbytheMinistryofHealth,LabourandWelfare(muststate“TheproductcomplieswithChina’snationalfood-safetystandards”);
• Product-specificdocuments:Ingredientlist(includingfoodadditivedetails),productiondate/shelf-lifecertificate(mustmatchtheChineselabel),pre-packagedfoodChineselabelsample(incompliancewithGB7718"GeneralRulesfortheLabelingofPre-packagedFoods");
• EnterpriseQualificationDocuments:RegistrationnumberinChinaforoverseasproductionenterprises(inaccordancewithCustomsGeneralAdministrationOrderNo.248,priorfilingmustbecompletedthroughthe"RegistrationManagementSystemforOverseasProductionEnterprisesofImportedFood").

The professional value of foreign-trade agency is reflected in:

• DocumentReview:Verifytheconsistencyofinformationacrossalldocuments(e.g.grossweightandnumberofpackagesbetweenthebillofladingandthepackinglist),ensuring“document-to-documentconsistencyanddocument-to-goodsconsistency”;
• TranslationandStandardization:AccuratelytranslateJapanesedocuments(e.g.sanitarycertificates)intoChineseandadjusttheformatasrequiredbycustoms(e.g.unifythedateformatas“YYYY-MM-DD”);
• Pre-entryandDeclaration:Pre-enterthecustomsdeclarationthroughthesingle-windowsystem,submitelectronicdocumentsinadvance,andshortenon-siteclearancetime.

II.Logistics Management: Dual Control of “Time and Temperature” in Cold-Chain Transportation

Output:

Japanese cakes are usually shipped either by “sea-freight reefer container + domestic distribution” or by “direct airfreight.” Foreign-trade agents must choose between them based on cargo volume,transit-time requirements,and overall cost:

• Maritimecoldchain:Applicabletolarge-volumeimports(e.g.20-ft/40-ftrefrigeratedcontainers);containertemperaturemustbecloselymonitored(typically0–4°C)toensurethetotal“temperature-breaktime”doesnotexceed30minutes(perGB/T28843“RequirementsforTraceabilityManagementofFoodCold-ChainLogistics”).
• Directairfreight:Suitableforsmall-batch,high-time-sensitivityneeds(e.g.customordersfrompremiumpatisseries);requirescoordinationwithairlinesforpriorityloadingandguaranteedcontainerretrievalwithintwohoursoflandingtopreventtemperaturefluctuationscausedbyairportdelays.

In addition,the agent must sign an agreement with the domestic cold-storage facility in advance; within three hours of the cargo’s arrival at the port,it must be delivered to the designated cold store and the “l(fā)ocal inspection” declared to Customs simultaneously,so as to shorten the inspection waiting time.

Trade Compliance and Risk Avoidance: These “Pitfalls” Must Be Sidestepped

I.Certification & Qualifications: Key Steps Clients Must Complete on Their Own

Output:

Although they do not directly provide certification services,foreign-trade agents will clearly inform clients of what must be handled in advance:

• Registrationofoverseasproductionenterprises:JapanesecakemanufacturersmustregisterunderGACCDecreeNo.248(registrationcategory:“Food”);productsfromunregisteredcompanieswillbereturned.
• Chineselabelfiling:Pre-packagedcakesmustundergolabelreviewbeforeimportation(thiscanbedonethrough“importedfoodSubmitthroughthe“LabelFilingSystem”toavoidreworkingcausedbynon-compliantlabels;
• Importerregistration:DomesticimportersmustcompleteregistrationontheCustoms“EnterpriseManagementPlatform”andobtaina10-digitregistrationnumber(whichmustmatchthe“ConsumptiveEnd-User”fieldonthecustomsdeclaration).

II.Expansion of Business with Russia: VTBthe efficiency advantage

Output:

If the customer is involved in re-export to Russia or cross-border settlement (e.g.purchasing Japanese cakes through Russian channels),The strategic partnership with VTB Bank (the Russian Federal Savings Bank) can facilitate foreign-exchange settlement:

• ExchangeRateLock-in:UseforwardexchangecontractstolockintheCNY-RUB-JPYexchangerateandreduceforeign-exchangelossrisk;
• Fastcrediting:VTBBankisdirectlyconnectedtomajorChinesecommercialbanks,cuttingcross-borderremittancearrivaltimeto1–2businessdays(versus3–5daysviaconventionalchannels);
• Compliancereview:AssistclientsincompletingOFAC(U.S.DepartmentoftheTreasury’sOfficeofForeignAssetsControl)sanctionsscreeningtopreventaccountfreezesduetosensitivetransactions.

From Customs Clearance to Delivery: The Full-Cycle Service Value of Foreign Trade Agents

After customs release,the agent will proceed to the "last-mile" service:

• DistributionandDelivery:Coordinatethird-partylogistics(e.g.JDColdChain,SFColdTransport)tocompleteB2B(supermarkets/distributors)orB2C(e-commerceplatforms)deliveriesbasedoncustomerrequirements,andprovidereal-timeGPStracking;
• QualityRetrospective:Keepcustomsdeclarations,healthcertificates,testreports,andotherdocumentsforatleast3years(inaccordancewith"ImportedFoodBusinessRecordandManagementRequirements”),assistclientsinrespondingtospotchecksbymarket-regulationauthorities;
• SummaryandFeedback:Providethe"ImportOperationAnalysisReport,"coveringcustomsclearancetimeliness,taxanddutycosts,logisticslosses,andotherdatatohelpclientsoptimizetheirnextimportplan.

Conclusion: A professional agent is the “safety net” for importing Japanese cakes.

The core competitiveness of Japanese cake imports lies not only in the quality of the products themselves,but also in the compliance and efficiency of the supply chain.By leveraging foreign-trade agents’ precise control over documentation,scientific coordination of cold-chain logistics,and real-time interpretation of trade policies,clients can drastically reduce customs delays,cargo loss,and compliance risks,freeing up more energy for market expansion and product operations.Under the “dual circulation” development paradigm,professional foreign-trade services are becoming one of the core competitive edges for imported-food enterprises.