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What Core Operation Details Should Be Controlled at Key Nodes of the Full Import Customs Clearance Process?
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TRACKING NO. 20260420 / GLOBAL Zhongshen Trade · 23+ Years of Expert Trade Agency
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I am the head of a small and micro enterprise focusing on high-end cosmetics import based in Shanghai. I just finalized the import of a batch of repairing essence worth 520,000 RMB from Europe last week, and the container is expected to sail directly to Yangshan Port next month. The forwarder I cooperated with before said the customs clearance process is simple and only requires basic documents, but I heard from a peer a few days ago that their cosmetics shipment was detained by customs due to inconsistent documents. They spent nearly 30,000 RMB on port storage fees and rectification fees alone, and delayed the 618 replenishment plan. I am very anxious now and afraid I will also fall into the same pitfalls: for example, do our prepared certificate of origin and quality inspection report meet the latest requirements? What emergency measures should I take if there is a sudden cargo detention or port storage delay after arrival? In addition, I heard that VAT deferral is available for import customs clearance to save costs, but can small and micro enterprises like us with an annual import volume of less than 2 million RMB apply for it? Besides, the inspection rate at Yangshan Port is high, are there any compliant ways to reduce the inspection probability?
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
First of all，regarding the details of pre-document review，it is necessary to focus on checking the qualification of the issuing authority of theCertificate of Origin，and the consistency of the product's brand and specification with the bill of lading and packing list. For cosmetics，it is also necessary to ensure that the quality inspection report meets the requirements of the 2026 latest China Customs Cosmetics Safety Technical Specification，to avoid cargo detention triggered by "surface inconsistency" of documents. Regarding the VAT deferral you are concerned about，small and micro enterprises with an annual import volume of less than 2 million RMB can apply with valid import and export operation rights and complete cargo transaction documents，and need to complete theVAT Deferral Filingwith the competent customs 10 days in advance to ensure process compliance.
In terms of connection of core nodes，the full set of documents should be submitted to a professional customs broker for pre-audit 3 days before the container arrives at the port，and you can complete the manifest declaration in advance after confirmation，to avoid port storage delay caused by delayed manifest information. Regarding the high inspection rate at Yangshan Port，you can submit detailed product composition description，packaging compliance certificate and other materials in advance，cooperate with customs pre-audit via machine inspection，to compliantly reduce the probability of manual inspection. It should be noted that all materials must be true and valid，and cargo information must not be concealed.
In terms of emergency plans，if sudden cargo detention occurs，you need to ask the customs broker to issue an official explanation of the reason for detention immediately. For inconsistent documents，you can supplement the corrected documents and submit for reconsideration within 2 working days，if port storage delay occurs，you can apply to the terminal for a 1-2 day extension of the free storage period with the pre-audit certificate from the customs broker，to reduce extra costs.
After the final compliance clearance，you need to keep the full set of documents for at least 5 years for subsequent customs audit，and complete the VAT deferral tax declaration on time in accordance with the requirements of the tax department，to ensure no compliance risks in the whole process.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
Special attention should be paid to the compliance of the customs valuation link in import customs clearance. Customs will assess the dutiable value in sequence by using the transaction price of identical or similar goods, deductive value, computed value and other methods. If your cosmetics have brand premium, you need to prepare brand authorization letter, international purchase contract, payment receipt and other materials to prove the authenticity of the transaction price in advance, to avoid deleting the declaration and re-declaration caused by valuation disputes. If you receive a valuation query, you can submit supplementary explanations and relevant certificates within 3 working days required by customs, and apply for price consultation with customs when necessary, to ensure that the valuation result matches the actual transaction situation, and avoid additional tax burden caused by an overestimated dutiable price.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
For your container sailing directly to Yangshan Port, you need to confirm the free container time policy of the shipping company in advance. At present, most shipping companies offer 7-10 days of free container time for imported containers at Yangshan Port. If the estimated customs clearance time exceeds the free container time, you can apply to the shipping company for an extension of free container time 3 days before the container arrives at the port, and you can usually get an additional 3-5 days of free container time, avoiding high container detention fees. If container detention occurs due to abnormal customs clearance, you can apply for container detention fee reduction to the shipping company with the abnormal explanation from the customs broker. Some shipping companies can give a 50% reduction for the first container detention incident of small and micro enterprises. Meanwhile, it is recommended to choose a freight forwarder that has close cooperation with Yangshan Port, to ensure efficient connection of manifest transmission, document exchange and other links, and reduce unnecessary waiting time.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
The VAT deferral policy for import customs clearance applies to all enterprises with import and export operation rights, including small and micro enterprises with an annual import volume of less than 2 million RMB. No additional qualification threshold is required, but three core conditions need to be met: first, the goods are taxable imported goods; second, the enterprise has completed VAT deferral filing with the competent customs; third, the enterprise can provide complete import transaction documents (purchase contract, payment receipt, etc.). After applying for VAT deferral, enterprises do not need to pay import value-added tax during customs clearance, and can conduct deduction or payment in the next VAT declaration period, which effectively eases cash flow pressure. It should be noted that if the enterprise fails to complete tax declaration on time, it will be disqualified from VAT deferral and incur late payment fees.
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
The payment and settlement link after import customs clearance must strictly comply with the compliance requirements of cross-border payment. If you settle through RMB cross-border payment (CIPS system), you need to ensure that the transaction code, cargo name, and amount in the SWIFT message or CIPS message are completely consistent with the information on the import customs declaration, to avoid rejection of settlement or foreign exchange purchase due to inconsistent information. Meanwhile, small and micro enterprises need to keep payment and settlement certificates, import customs declarations, purchase contracts and other materials for at least 5 years, for subsequent inspection by the foreign exchange administration. If abnormal payment and settlement occurs, you can submit relevant supporting materials to the bank for manual review, and contact the foreign exchange administration for coordination when necessary, to ensure compliance of the payment and settlement process.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
The high-end cosmetics you import need to pay attention to intellectual property customs protection. If the product involves intellectual property rights such as brand trademarks and patents, you need to apply for intellectual property filing with customs in advance, to avoid detention due to suspected infringement. Meanwhile, you need to clearly define the intellectual property guarantee responsibility of the seller in the purchase contract. If the goods infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties resulting in detention or litigation, the seller shall bear the corresponding compensation responsibility. In addition, pay attention to the force majeure clause in the contract, clearly define the division of responsibility for delivery delay caused by unforeseen circumstances such as customs policy adjustment and port congestion, to avoid unnecessary trade disputes.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
The inspection of cosmetics at Yangshan Port mainly includes machine inspection and manual unpacking inspection. If manual unpacking inspection is required, you need to arrange a dedicated person to be present in advance to cooperate, ensure the packaging of the goods is intact, which is convenient for customs inspectors to open the box for inspection. During inspection, you need to provide product composition description, quality inspection report, certificate of origin and other materials to customs. If customs has doubts about the product composition, you need to cooperate with sample testing, the testing cycle is usually 3-7 days, you can communicate with the customs broker in advance to apply for priority testing, reducing waiting time. Meanwhile, you need to check whether the container seal is intact. If the seal is found damaged upon arrival, you need to issue a seal abnormality explanation to the shipping company immediately, to avoid disputes caused by cargo ownership issues.
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
Most cosmetics are liquid or paste, which are fragile and easy to leak, so they need to be packaged in accordance with international transportation standards. If your product contains alcohol-based essence, you need to provide MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) to ensure that the packaging meets the UN dangerous goods packaging standard (if it is classified as dangerous goods), to avoid being refused loading by the port or detained due to non-compliant packaging. Meanwhile, you need to add moisture-proof film, buffer foam and other materials inside the container, to prevent damage and leakage of goods caused by bumping during transportation, which will affect customs clearance inspection. In addition, the marks on the packaging must clearly indicate the cargo name, specification, origin and other information, which is convenient for customs to identify quickly.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
From the perspective of supply chain planning, you can link the customs clearance link of cosmetics import with domestic warehousing and distribution links, and adopt the mode of "advance customs clearance + bonded warehousing". If your goods need to be sold in batches, you can store the goods in Yangshan Port Bonded Area, and clear customs in batches according to sales volume, reducing the cash flow pressure of one-time payment of tariff and value-added tax. Meanwhile, you can optimize import batches by combining small-batch cargo into large-batch import, reducing the customs clearance cost and logistics cost per unit of cargo. In addition, you need to establish a linkage model of customs clearance lead time and delivery schedule, predict customs clearance time in advance, ensure that goods can be delivered to sales channels on time, and avoid affecting sales plans due to delivery delay.