1. Does the agency's qualification meet cross-border trade compliance requirements?

Customs inspection basis:Export agentthe primary prerequisiteVerify its business qualifications. According to the 2025 revised Measures for the Administration of International Freight Forwarder Filings, a compliant forwarder must possess:

• recorded with the Ministry of CommerceCertificate of International Freight Forwarding Enterprise
• issued by the General Administration of Customscustoms clearanceUnit registration certificate
• IATA-certifiedAir Transport Qualification(Essential for Air Freight Operations)
• Required for specific product categoriesSpecial Business License(If the medical device requires CFDA filing)

Proposal to passChinas Single Window in International TradeReal-time certificate-number verification on the official website once helped me assist a chemical company in discovering that the hazardous-goods transport license of its agent was about to expire, averting the risk of cargo being detained at the Port of Rotterdam.

2. Does the service scope align with the company’s export requirements?

A professional agent should provideEnd-to-end solutions, with a focus on verifying the following capabilities:

• Logistics combination solutions:
  • Multimodal transport connectivity (e.g., China-Europe Railway Express + trucking)
  • Special storage conditions (cold chain, bonded warehouse, etc.)
• Customs handling capability:
  • HS Code Classification Accuracy (required >98%)
  • Certificate of Origin Issuance Timeframe (48-hour issuance for RCEP member countries)
• Value Added Services:
  • Export Credit Insurance Agency
  • Cross-border receipt and settlement channel

3. Does the fee structure contain any hidden costs?

Request for Agent ProvisionDetailed QuotationSpecial attention to:

• The ocean freight forwarder must be clearly identified.ALL-IN quotationIncludes:
  • Terminal handling charges (THC)
  • Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF)
  • Supplementary Seasonal Fees (PSS)
• The air freight forwarder shall undertakeFreight Rate Fluctuation Early-Warning Mechanism, the fluctuation range of international jet fuel prices in 2025 has already reached ±15%
• 1. Require the provision of the past three yearsDestination Port Charges Comparison Table, guard against unauthorized overseas charges

4. Is the emergency risk response mechanism adequate?

High-quality agents should possessa three - level risk prevention and control system:

• Prevention in advance: Trade Country Policy Alert (e.g., the latest FDA inspection requirements in the United States)
• In - process control: Real-time tracking of anomalies (vessel rerouting, customs inspection)
• Post-event remedies: Emergency Customs Clearance Team (priority given to candidates with experience in EU anti-dumping investigations)

Can request agents to provideCrisis Management Case Database, with a focus on solutions for scenarios such as cargo detention by the destination country and discrepancies in documentation.

5. Does the level of digital management meet industry standards?

By 2025, the top-tier agency enterprises have achieved:

• ERP system integration: Automatically synchronize order, logistics, and settlement data
• Blockchain documents: Compliant with the eUCP 2.1 Electronic Presentation Rules issued by the ICC
• Intelligent Early-Warning Platform: Automatically push updates on exchange-rate fluctuations, tariff adjustments, and related information

It is recommended to conduct an on-site inspection of the agent.Data Control Center, verify the visualization level of its global logistics nodes.

VI. How to evaluate an agent’s true service level?

Recommended adoption35. Data dimension:

• Customer Testimonials:
  • Provide reference letters from customers in the same industry
  • Verify the proportion of customers certified as AEO enterprises by China Customs
• Case Study:
  • Focus on examining complex cases (e.g., multi-country transshipment trade)
  • Please present a successful case of customs clearance dispute appeal.
• on-site testing:
  • Simulate sudden scenarios (e.g., an unannounced inspection by Brazil's ANVISA)
  • Test emergency response timeliness (ideal value < 2 hours)