enteredExport agentWhat legal qualifications does the company need to have?

16. According to the latest 2025 Foreign Trade Law, professionalExport agentEnterprises must simultaneously possess:

• Customs AEO Advanced Certification: Proof the enterprise meets the highest standards of customs credit management
• Foreign Trade Operator Registration Record: Completed electronic filing in the Ministry of Commerce system
• Cross-border payment qualifications: Hold cross-border payment business license issued by SAFE
• Industry-specific licenses: For medical devices requiring NMPA filing, or chemicals requiring hazardous materials operation license

How to verify an agency companys actual service capabilities?

It is recommended to verify from three dimensions:

• Customs clearance efficiency verification:
  • Require provision of customs clearance time data for the last 3 months
  • Case examples of inspection anomaly handling (such as response plans during the 2023 customs classification reform)
• Logistics network verification:
  • On-site staff allocation at major ports/bonded zones
  • Actual operation cases for special transportation methods (China-Europe Railway Express, cold chain logistics)
• Fund security guarantee:
  • Foreign exchange risk hedge program
  • Tariff deposit management system

What necessary items are included in import/export agency fees?

2025 industry standard service fees should include:

• Basic Service CostsDocument preparation, declaration services, foreign exchange verification
• Risk surchargeAnti-dumping deposit, exchange rate fluctuation reserve
• Technical value-added feeEDI system integration, trade data analysis
• Emergency handling feeCustoms inspection coordination, port detention cargo handling

Special attention is neededGeneral Administration of Customs Announcement No. 85 of 2024New fee standard for advance classification ruling services

How do agency companies handle trade compliance issues?

Compliance management system shall include:

• Three-document matching systemContract, invoice,customs clearanceDocument real-time verification
• Origin managementFTA utilization monitoring (e.g. RCEP)
• Sanctions screening mechanismReal-time updates of OFAC and EU sanctions lists database
• Audit traceability functionComplete document data retention for 10 years

What considerations should SMEs have when selecting an agency?

Key recommendations to focus on:

• Minimum business thresholdSome agents require minimum annual orders of $1 million
• Flexible service capabilityAbility to support small-volume multi-batch exports
• Financing support servicesSolutions including order financing, tax rebate pledge loans
• Digital connectionTechnical implementation of ERP system directly connecting to customs declaration platform

How to evaluate the risk response ability of an agency company?

It is recommended to require agency companies to provide:

• 2023 China-US tariff disputeCargo value protection solutions during the period
• Major shipping companiesSpace guarantee agreementphotocopies
• CustomsCredit repair cases(e.g. rapid error correction process for declaration mistakes)
• International arbitrationWinning records(especially cases applying INCOTERMS? 2025)