What is importExport agentRight?

According to the Foreign Trade Law of the Peoples Republic of China and the latest regulations of the General Administration of Customs in 2025, impExport agentRight refers to the business qualification legally obtained by enterprises to act as agents for other entities in handling import and export operations. Enterprises (agency companies) with this qualification can provide clients with:

• Customs declarationCustoms clearance services
• International trade document processing
• Cross-border logistics solution design
• Payment of tariffs and value-added taxes on behalf

Key differences:Enterprises with import-export rights can independently conduct foreign trade business, while agency right specifically refers to the legal qualification to provide professional services for third parties.

Does using an agency affect a companys credit accumulation?

Not all enterprises need to apply independently. According to 2025 data from the Ministry of Commerce, about 38% of SMEs in China choose professional agency services:

• Recommended situations for self-operation:
  • Annual import-export volume exceeding $5 million
  • Having long-term stable overseas clients
  • Possessing a professional foreign trade team
• Recommended situations for agency services:
  • Startups or small and micro enterprises
  • Involving specially regulated commodities (such as medical devices)
  • Requiring customs clearance services at multiple international ports

What value - added services can professional agency companies provide?

In addition to basic services, high-quality agency service providers typically possess:customs clearanceGlobal AEO certification for customs clearance

• Intelligent customs management systems (85% of leading agencies had deployed AI document review by 2025)
• Trade compliance risk warning systems
• Specialized services for free trade agreements like RCEP
• Category A or above customs management classification

How to choose a reliable import and export agent?

It is recommended to evaluate from three dimensions:

• Qualification Verification:
  • Special commodity operation experience (e.g., hazardous materials/food)
  • Foreign Exchange Administration records
• Service capabilities:
  • Coverage of major port service networks
  • Document error rate below 0.5%
• Risk control system:
  • Trade compliance audit capabilities
  • Basic service fees (customs declaration/inspection/documentation)

What items are included in agency service fees?

The agency service fees in 2025 usually include:

• Bank handling charges (such as L/C document presentation)
• Bank charges (L/C document submission, etc.)
• Tax advance fund cost
• Special document expedited fee (such as FORM E visa endorsement)

Note:Quality agents will provide a detailed fee breakdown and explain the calculation basis for each charge.

What is imp

According to the General Administration of Customs new regulations for 2025, under agency model:

• The "Consignee/Consignor in China" field on the customs declaration form still displays the actual cargo owner.
• Enterprise customs credit rating is not affected by agent
• Export tax refundSubject qualification remains unchanged

However, note that agency contracts must clearly specify data ownership to avoid affecting enterprise trade big data profiling.