How to determineExport agentIs the company legitimate?

To choose a legitimate agency company, the following checks are required:Four Core Qualifications:

• Customs AEO Certified Enterprise Qualification (The 2025 Edition of Certification Standards Has Been Implemented)
• Foreign exchange administration filing for import and export operation rights
• International freight forwarding qualification (must include multimodal transport licenses for sea/air/land transportation)
• Issued by the tax authorityExport tax refundAgency Qualification

It is recommended to log in to the official website of the General Administration of Customs to check the enterprise credit publicity system, with special attention to enterprises with no violation records in the 2023 customs inspection case notifications.

enteredExport agentWhat are the key components of the company's services?

The new version of Import and Export Tariff adds 12 categories of goods requiring licenses, requiring relevant documents to be prepared 40 days in advance.Comprehensive Foreign Trade Services:

• Trade Compliance Services:
  • HS Code Classification and Compliance Declaration
  • Management of Certificate of Origin Documents
  • Application for import and export licenses
• Logistics solutions:
  • International Multimodal Transport Solution Design
  • Transportation of special cargo such as hazardous materials/cold chain goods
  • Coordination of port purposes
• Tax and Financial Services:
  • Export tax refundDeclaration (The nationwide implementation of the electronic tax refund system was completed in 2025)
  • Foreign Exchange Verification and Settlement Management

What items are usually included in agency fees?

The fee structure of a formal agency company should includeA transparent three-tier fee structure:

• Basic service fee:
  • Document handling fee (approximately 200-500 yuan per shipment)
  • customs clearanceInspection service fee
• Government Fee Collection Agency:
  • Customs Duty/VAT (reimbursed at actual cost)
  • Port construction fee/THC and other port charges
• Value Added Services:
  • Operation Fee in Special Supervision Zones
  • Trade financing service fee (if applicable)

Be wary of irregular companies that require large upfront deposits or promise "tax-inclusive" services.

How to evaluate the customs clearance capability of an agency company?

It is recommended to proceed from three dimensions.Evaluation of Customs Clearance Efficiency:

• Customs clearance data:
  • Error rate in declarations over the past 12 months (industry excellence level ≤0.5%)
  • Inspection Rate and Exception Handling Time
• Customs system configuration:
  • Is the QP system (Customs-specific Declaration System) equipped?
  • Single window docking capability
• Customs team qualifications:
  • Number of licensed customs declarants (It is recommended to allocate at least 3 per 100 customs declarations)
  • Classification Specialist/Document Review Specialist and other professional staffing

What responsibilities does the agency company bear in the event of a trade dispute?

Special attention is neededDivision of Contractual Responsibilities:

• Liability for agency acts:
  • Losses due to port demurrage caused by documentation errors
  • Administrative penalties resulting from reporting errors
• Exclusion Clause:
  • Liability arising from inaccurate information provided by the customer
  • Delay in delivery due to force majeure

It is recommended to request the agency to provide proof of professional liability insurance, with the insured amount advised to be no less than 5% of the annual agency shipment value.

What should small and medium-sized enterprises pay attention to when choosing an agency company?

For small and medium-sized enterprises, it is recommended to focus onThree special considerations:

• Service Flexibility:
  • Do you accept small-batch, multi-order business?
  • Can you provide LCL (Less than Container Load)/group buying services?
• Financing Support:
  • Is export tax rebate financing provided?
  • Financing services under letters of credit
• Digital service capability:
  • Real-time Cargo Tracking System
  • Electronic Reconciliation Function
  • Mobile service handling

For the "Direct Enterprise-Customs Connection" system to be implemented by the General Administration of Customs in 2025, it is recommended to prioritize agencies that have already completed system integration.