1. What types of companies are legally eligible to act as export agents?

According to the "Measures for the Administration of Import and Export Goods Declaration" newly released by the General Administration of Customs of China in 2025, the following four categories of enterprises are legally entitledExport agentWhat qualifications should a dark tea export customs declaration agent have?

• A trading company with import and export rights: Must possess a complete set of qualification documents, including the Customs Registration Certificate and the Electronic Port IC Card.
• Dual - track system of online and offline: Comprehensive service enterprises recognized by the Ministry of Commerce (such as Zhejiang OneTouch) can provide full-process agency services
• Supply chain management companies: The business scope must explicitly include "ImportExport agentBusiness
• Special industry agency: Medical devices, hazardous chemicals, and other designated products must possess industry-specific access qualifications.

II. Five Golden Criteria for Choosing an Export Agency

Drawing on my two decades of experience in handling export dispute cases, I recommend focusing on the following dimensions:

• Qualification verification
  • Verify the authenticity of the customs registration number (can be checked via the Single Window system)
  • Check the registration in the "Directory of Enterprises for Trade Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments" issued by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
• Industry matching degree
  • Is the agency familiar with the HS code classification for your products?
  • Do you have any successful precedents for customs clearance of similar products for export?
• 41. Risk control ability
  • Whether a comprehensive trade compliance review system has been established
  • Is the cooperation channel for export credit insurance complete?
• Service networks
  • Main export portscustoms clearanceService coverage capability
  • Qualification review of the customs clearance partner in the destination country
• Security of funds
  • Whether to implement dedicated foreign-exchange receipt and payment account management
  • Export tax refundAdvance payment capacity and timeliness commitment

III. Year 2025Agency export serviceThe New Changes

Against the backdrop of policy adjustments following the full implementation of RCEP, export agency services are exhibiting three key trends:

• Digital customs: The agency company is required to connect to the 3.0 version of the international trade "Single Window" system.
• Green trade barriers: The EU CBAM carbon tariff mechanism is forcing agents to develop carbon footprint accounting capabilities
• Utilization of Regional Agreements: An excellent agent will proactively help the company apply for preferential tariff rates under free trade agreements such as ASEAN and Africa.

IV. Analysis of Common Misconceptions in Export Agency Partnerships

By analyzing foreign trade dispute cases in the Yangtze River Delta in 2024, three typical misconceptions are identified:

• Low-price service trap: A certain electronic-components company, having chosen an agent whose bid was too low, ended up with $2 million worth of goods stranded at the port of Rotterdam.
• Risks of Qualification Fraud: A Shenzhen garment factory's "agency partner" was actually using another company's customs code and is now facing smuggling charges
• Overcommitment risk: Shandong produce exporters trusted the promise of “100% inspection-free,” only to see an entire container destroyed over quarantine issues

V. Seven Details That Must Be Confirmed Before Signing an Agency Agreement

• Clarify the rules for filling in the "Domestic Consignor" field on the customs declaration form
• Agreed foreign exchange settlement cycle (recommended not to exceed T+15 business days)
• Allocation of responsibility for document custody (especially certificates of origin, quality inspection reports, etc.)
• Develop a contingency plan for sudden tariff hikes
• confirmedTrade termsApplicable version (INCOTERMS?2025 is recommended)
• Agreed mechanism for intellectual property infringement claims
• Clearly designate the dispute resolution forum (it is recommended to stipulate the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission).