enteredExport agentWhat basic services are primarily provided?

A professional import and export agency typically provides the following core services:

• customs clearanceInspection declaration services: Including HS code classification and customs declaration preparation,Inspection of vaccinesProcedure handling
• Logistics coordination services: Ocean/Air freight booking, transportation insurance arrangement, and special cargo transport solution design
• Single certificate processing services: Application for certificates of origin, FORM E and other free-trade-agreement certificates; letter-of-credit document presentation
• Tax agency services:Export tax refundDeclaration, guidance on import VAT deduction

What specific items does the agency fee include?

The 2025 agency service fees mainly include:

• Basic agency fee (charged at 0.5%–1.2% of the cargo value)
• Tarifa especial de servicios de declaración aduanera e inspección.
• Document processing fee
• Additional charges for special projects:
  • Expedited customs clearance processing fee
  • Special Supervision Area Handling Fee
  • Anti-dumping Merchandise Agency Surcharge

How to assess the professional competence of the agency?

It is recommended to evaluate from the following dimensions:

• Customs certification qualification: Whether it holds AEO Advanced Certification (more relevant since the customs certification standards were upgraded in 2018)
• Industry operation experience: In the target product field, the average annual handling volume (for medical devices, it is recommended to choose an agent handling more than 100 shipments per year)
• Service network coverage: Do key ports have their own customs declaration teams?
• Risk Control System Completeness: Whether mechanisms such as a three-tier document review system and customs risk early-warning have been established

What compliance risks are likely to emerge during the agency process?

Special attention must be paid to the following high-risk stages:

• Disputes over commodity classification (note the newly subdivided changes for electronic products in Chapter 85 under the 2025 updated Harmonized System)
• Origin determination deviation (particularly the application of the accumulation rule under the RCEP Agreement)
• Omission of royalty reporting
• Transfer pricing–triggered customs challenges

How should import and export agents respond to customs audits?

Professional agency companies should provide:

• Document Traceability System: Enables rapid retrieval of all operational records from the past three years
• Legal Support Services: Equipped with an advisory team well-versed in customs law
• Mock Audit Drill: Conduct regular customs health checks
• Data Correction Channel: Establish a compliant correction process for reporting errors

Which agency model is best suited for small and medium-sized enterprises?

Based on 2025 market practice recommendations:

• Goods valued under USD 500,000: Choose an all-inclusive agency (DDP/DDU terms)
• High-frequency, small-batch: Adopt an annual service package
• Special regulated goods: Be sure to select an agent with the appropriate qualifications (e.g., a Hazardous Chemicals Operation License).

What impact do digital services have on agency business?

By 2025, all mainstream proxy service providers have achieved:

• Real-time customs clearance tracking (down to the inspection division’s operational progress)
• Intelligent Classification Assistance System (Machine Learning-Based Customs Case Law Repository)
• Automatic generation of electronic documents (integrated with the Single Window API interface)
• Trade Compliance Self-Check Platform (Embedded with the Latest Regulatory Requirements)

How to avoid common pitfalls in proxy services?

Key recommendations to focus on:

• Hidden fee items in the contract clauses (such as amendment charges and the clause on bearing demurrage penalties)
• Account Security Mechanism (Requires the agency to use a dedicated escrow account)
• Intellectual Property Warranty Clause (Avoiding Legal Disputes Arising from Parallel Imports)
• Confidentiality Agreement Implementation Status (especially when technical parameters or other trade secrets are involved)