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What are the processes for agency export?
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TRACKING NO. 20260115 / GLOBAL Zhongshen Trade · 23+ Years of Expert Trade Agency
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Our company is doing agency export for the first time and has no idea about the process. We heard it involves many links and are afraid that a mistake in any step will lead to goods detention or inability to collect money. I would like to ask what are the complete processes for agency export? What pitfalls need special attention?
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
You need to first clarify the legal relationship of agency export. According to regulations，in agency export business，the entrusting party must be an enterprise with import and export operation rights. As the agent，you need to complete the annual verification of the "Foreign Trade Operator Filing and Registration Form" on the Ministry of Commerce's unified business system platform，and ensure that the customs enterprise credit rating is general credit or above. The core process is divided into three stages: before signing，during customs declaration，and after customs declaration. Before signing，you must review the entrusting party's business license，import and export qualifications，and intellectual property proof documents for the goods. During customs declaration，you need to obtain accurate declaration elements provided by the entrusting party，especially HS codes and regulatory conditions. The risk here is extremely high: if the HS code provided by the entrusting party is incorrect，leading to underpayment of taxes or evasion of license management，customs will penalize you，the agent，according to the "Regulations on the Implementation of Administrative Penalties by Customs"，with fines ranging from 1 to 5 times the underpaid tax. Special note: The "Domestic Consignor" on the customs declaration form must be filled with your agency company's name，while the "Production and Sales Unit" column should be filled with the entrusting party. In the tax rebate link，you need to retain complete agency export agreements，customs declaration forms，VAT invoices，and other materials for inspection. Tax authorities are now checking "fake agency，real self-operation" very strictly. If the agreement terms show that you bear the risk of goods or transfer of ownership，it will be deemed as self-managed export and cannot enjoy agency tax rebate policies.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
From the perspective of logistics operations, the agency export process can be disassembled into seven key nodes: order taking, booking, cargo consolidation, customs declaration, shipment, B/L confirmation, and document settlement. After receiving the order, you should immediately request complete cargo information from the entrusting party, including Chinese and English product names, packages/weight/measurement, HS code, and destination port. Here is a practical tip: ask the entrusting party to fill out the "Export Cargo Information Confirmation Form" and stamp it back to avoid wrangling later. In the booking link, you need to send BOOKING to the freight forwarder according to the shipping schedule required by the entrusting party. Note: The freight payment method (prepaid/collect) must be confirmed in writing with the entrusting party and noted in the booking remarks. In the cargo consolidation stage, if you are responsible for picking up the goods, be sure to check whether the shipping marks and quantity match those provided by the entrusting party before picking up. When declaring customs, you need to prepare four sets of documents: customs declaration power of attorney, invoice, packing list, and contract. The data of all documents must be "consistent", especially weight and amount. After release, keep a close eye on the draft bill of lading from the freight forwarder, and the consignee information must be displayed strictly according to the entrusting party's requirements. Finally, within 15 days after the ship sails, you need to complete the fee settlement and provide the copy of the bill of lading and fee list to the entrusting party.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
As an agent, your core task is to build the entrusting party's trust in your professionalism. Step 1: During contract negotiation, don't just talk about agency rates, proactively propose "full-process visual service". The script can be: "We will establish an exclusive project group for you, synchronizing every node from booking to bill of lading in real-time, so you can master the cargo dynamics at any time." For payment methods, it is recommended to adopt the "prepaid agency fee + reimbursement" model. You can say: "Our agency fee is 1% of the declared amount, with a minimum of 500 yuan/shipment. Third-party fees such as sea freight and port miscellaneous fees are reimbursed based on invoices, so your costs are completely transparent." This statement not only appears professional but also dispels customers' concerns about hidden fees. Contract terms must define boundaries of responsibility. Key script: "Quality and intellectual property disputes of the goods themselves are borne by the entrusting party, and we are only responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of customs declaration." This minimizes your risk. One last tip: when cooperating with the entrusting party for the first time, proactively provide an "Agency Export Operation Manual", listing the process, documents, and time nodes clearly. This action will make customers feel that you are "reliable", and their tolerance for your errors will be much higher in subsequent cooperation.