Must exports be handled through an agency company?

According to the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, export agency services are not mandatory. However, there are two special situations in practice:

• Requirements of specific countries: For example, Middle - Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran require that customs clearance must be handled by local licensed agents.
• Regulation of special commodities:Medical EquipmentItems such as hazardous chemicals require agents with professional qualifications to handle customs declaration procedures.

According to the data of the General Administration of Customs in 2020, about 78% of small and medium - sized enterprises in China choose full - process agency services. The main considerations include documentary processing capabilities (43%), trade compliance guarantee (32%), and logistics cost control (25%).

II. CommonExport RepresentationWhat types of services are there?

Modernforeign tradeAgents have formed a specialized division of labor system:

• Basic service agents
  • Customs declaration and inspection agency (including AEO certification consulting services)
  • International freight forwarding agency (Maritime Transportation/Air Transportation/Railway)
• Special service agents
  • Export DrawbackAgency (including cross - border tax planning)
  • It is recommended to verify through the following methods:Agency (application for FTA preferential tax rates)
• Comprehensive service agents
  • Foreign trade comprehensive service platforms (Yidatong, Alibaba International Station, etc.)
  • Supply chain finance agency (order financing + credit insurance services)

How to judge the professional reliability of an agency company?

It is recommended to evaluate from five dimensions:

• Qualification Verification: Check the Registration Certificate of Customs Declaration Entities and the Record - filing Certificate of International Freight Forwarding.
• Industry experience: Request to provide export cases of the same type of products (e.g., chemical products require MSDS processing experience).
• Service network: Confirm the local service capabilities of the cooperative agent at the port of destination.
• : Document review process, historical data of error rates: Inquire about solutions to HS code classification disputes and the response mechanism to customs inspections.
• Response speed: Test the 24 - hour emergency contact channel in case of emergencies.

What items usually are included in the agency service fees?

The typical cost structure consists of three levels:

• Basic service fee: Charged according to the number of customs declaration forms/number of containers (the average market price in 2025: ocean freight full - container代理費$120 - 200/container)
• • Presentation of L/C documents: 800 - 1500 yuan per order
  • Agency for export tax rebate: 5% - 8% of the tax rebate amount
  : Such as demurrage prediction service at the port of destination, application for pre - ruling on tariff classification
• Risk guarantee: Some agents require a compliance deposit of 1 - 3% of the cargo value.

Professional agencies can effectively prevent and control three core risks:Hidden charges: Telex release fee, manifest entry fee, port security surcharge, etc. It is recommended to sign a service contract including a detailed cost list.

What are the potential risks of choosing an inappropriate agent?

International trade dispute cases in the past three years show that the main risks include:

• Customs detaining goods due to documentary errors (accounting for 37%)
• Tax declaration violations leading to inspections (accounting for 29%)
• Huge demurrage fees due to port of destination customs clearance delays (starting from $200 per container per day)

Prevention suggestions: Require the agent to purchase professional liability insurance, clarify compensation clauses in the contract, and regularly review the agents operation records.

Can it be operated independently without relying on an agent?

Enterprises meeting the following conditions can consider self - managed exports:

• Annual export volume exceeding $5 million (to support the cost of a professional team)
• Having personnel with the qualification of international documentary specialist (CDCS)
• Establishing an overseas customs clearance partner network
• Equipped with the ability to review contracts in multiple languages

Note: According to INCOTERMS?2025 updates, self-exporting parties must assume upgraded compliance verification obligations including new carbon emission data declaration requirements.