I. What exactly is the service model of export trade agency?

Export trade agency refers to professional service providers that assist enterprises lacking import-export qualifications or operational capabilities.End-to-End Foreign Trade Servicesbusiness model. According to the latest 2025 statistics from China’s General Administration of Customs, 78.6% of small and medium-sized enterprises nationwide complete their first export transaction through an agent. The core value of this model lies in:

• Qualification Borrowing: Utilizing the agent's import and export operation rights
• Risk Transfer: The collection risk shall be borne by the agent.
• Process Outsourcing:通関, logistics, tax rebates, and other specialized operations

II. What are the core differences between export by agency and self-operated export?

We present the differences between the two in a side-by-side table:

• Qualification Requirements
  • Agent: No need to hold your own import and export rights
  • Self-operated: Full customs registration required
• 資金の占用
  • Agent: Only a service fee is required
  • Self-operated: customs duties, VAT, and other taxes must be prepaid
• リスクテイキング
  • Agent: The risk of receiving foreign exchange shall be borne by the agent.
  • Self-operated: The enterprise assumes all risks on its own

3. What specific services do professional agency firms provide?

9 Standard Service Modules for High-Quality Agents:

• 貿易條項Optimization (EXW/FOB/CIF Selection)
• Pre-clearance Review of Customs Documentation and Compliance Checks
• Cross-border logistics solution design
  • LCL/FCL Ocean Freight Optimization
  • Multimodal Route Planning
• Foreign exchange receipt and payment as well as settlement services
• 輸出稅還付End-to-end agency

4. How to Evaluate the Professionalism of an Agency?

It is recommended to evaluate from five dimensions:

• Industry Experience: At least 3 years of export records in the same product category
• Certification: AEO certification, FIATA membership, etc.
• Service Network：Number of overseas customs clearance partners
• Fee Structure: Does it include hidden charges?
• Case data: Annual Ticket Volume and Error Rate

V. What risks should be noted in export agency arrangements?

Pursuant to the latest 2025 revision of the Foreign Trade Law, special attention must be paid to:

• Payment Method Selection (Recommended: Combine TT and LC)
• Accuracy of Commodity Classification (Avoiding HS Code Errors)
• Retention of documents proving the authenticity of trade
• Liability Allocation Clause in the Agency Contract
• Foreign Exchange Verification Timeliness Management

By leveraging professional agency services, companies can cut export costs by more than 30% and shorten order-processing cycles by 50%. Businesses new to foreign trade are advised to choose an agency holding Customs AEO certification, thereby tapping into its proven risk-control system to avert trade risks.