How to Choose a Reliable Foreign Trade Agency?

When selecting a foreign trade agency, the following qualifications should be prioritized:

• Customs AEO Certification: Prioritize enterprises that have obtained advanced certification (the 2025 updated certification standards have already been implemented)
• Foreign Exchange Registration: Verify its registration status in the Goods Trade Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments Directory
• Industry reputation validation：
  • Provide data for the past three years代理輸出Data (must be desensitized)
  • Check the records in the China Customs Enterprise Credit Publicity System

What are the basic steps involved in the export agency process?

The standard proxy export process includes:

• Signing a tripartite agreement (principal, agent, overseas buyer)
• The agency handles export filing and document preparation.
• Customs Declaration and Transportation Supervision (by 2025, electronic declaration coverage has reached 98%)
• Foreign exchange collection and settlement輸出稅還付Handle
• Full set of documents filed (retention period of no less than 5 years)

How to control trade risks under the export agency model?

It is recommended to adopt a three-tier risk prevention and control mechanism:

• Pre-emptive prevention：
  • Enter into a clearly defined rights-and-obligations agency agreement
  • Confirm the applicability of trade terms (FOB/CIF responsibility allocation)
• In-process monitoring：
  • Real-time sharing of customs declaration progress is required
  • Verify the accuracy of the bill of lading issuance
• Post-hoc tracing：
  • Retain complete communication records
  • Regularly verify the refund processing timeline

What items are included in the agency export fees?

Typical fee structure includes:

• Base agency fee: Usually charged at 0.8%–1.5% of the export value
• Value-added service fee：
  • Preparation of special documents (e.g., FORM E Certificate of Origin)
  • Destination port customs clearance assistance services
• Third-party fees：
  • Customs declaration and inspection fees
  • Bank service fees (the share of cross-border RMB settlements exceeded 45% in 2025)

In which situations must export be conducted through a foreign trade agent?

The following three types of enterprises are recommended to adopt the agency model:

• New enterprises without import and export rights: Quick-Start Export Business
• Businesses with highly volatile workloads: Avoid the cost pressure of building an in-house team
• Export of Goods under Special Supervision: If the goods are subject to export license administration

Will export through an agent affect the accumulation of our corporate credit?

Since the implementation of the General Administration of Customs of China Announcement No. 78 of 2023:

• Agent輸出通関It can simultaneously display information for both the principal and the agent.
• 輸出稅還付Data is attributed to the actual cargo-owning enterprise
• The customs credit rating system has enabled retroactive tracking of the principal's performance.

How can you verify a sourcing agent's actual export capability?

It is recommended to verify through the following methods:

• Electronic Port Verification：
  • Provide the customs enterprise IC card information (desensitized)
  • Query customs declaration records via the Single Window (authorization required)
• Bank statement as supporting evidence: Provide the foreign exchange receipt and settlement slip (with sensitive information redacted)

How can capital security be ensured under the export agency model?

It is recommended to adopt the fund supervision plan:

• tripartite escrow account: The principal, the agent, and the bank shall sign a supervision agreement
• installment payment mechanism：
  • 30% advance payment to be made before shipment
  • Balance payment shall be made against a copy of the original B/L.
• Apply for credit insurance: China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation’s 2025 Agency Export Special Insurance now covers 80% of trading countries