Agency export,At which stages are fees charged in the trade process?

According to the 2025 international trade service market survey, 82% of foreign trade agency companies adoptPhased pricing model, it is primarily divided into four key nodes:

• Service prepayment: After the contract is signed, collect 10-30% (for preliminary preparations such as filing and registration).
• Pre-customs clearance fees: 40-50% of the fee will be charged during commodity inspection/customs declaration document preparation.
• Logistics initiation fee: 20-30% to be collected before shipment/takeoff
• Final Payment Settlement: The remaining balance will be settled within 7 working days after receiving the payment.

DifferentConditions of TradeHow to influence the charging time?

The most commonFOBandThe CIFTake the following clause as an example:

• FOB terms:
  • Freight forwarding fees must be settled before the goods pass the ship's rail.
  • Export tax refundThe relevant service fee will be charged after the receipt of payment.
• The CIF provisions:
  • The full amount of marine insurance fees must be paid in advance.
  • Destination port miscellaneous fees usually require a prepaid deposit.

How to handle fees in these 3 special situations?

According to the trade dispute cases published by the General Administration of Customs in 2025, special attention should be paid to:

• Cargo detained at port: Storage fees are calculated on a daily basis, and the agent typically requires an advance deposit of emergency funds.
• Document modification and resubmission: Each document amendment is charged 500-2000 RMB (depending on complexity).
• Trade dispute return: Incurred fees are non-refundable, and return shipping costs require renegotiation.

How to avoid payment disputes? These 3 points must be included in the contract.

Based on the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) 2025 revised "Incoterms," it is recommended to clarify:

• Conditions of exchange rate fluctuation：Agree on which foreign exchange rate to use for settlement.
• Force Majeure Clause: Clarify the sharing ratio of additional costs
• Payment Term Disclaimer: The party responsible for demurrage losses caused by overdue payments

What are the hidden risks associated with charging agency export fees?

Based on the analysis of complaints data from foreign trade enterprises in 2025, it is necessary to be vigilant:

• Advance payment trap：Some agents request advance payments exceeding 50%.
• Exchange rate differential operation: Exploiting the time difference in foreign exchange settlement to earn price differentials.
• Bundle charging: Forced bundling of non-essential value-added services

The Impact of the Latest 2025 Policy on Charging Time Points

The General Administration of Customs' initiative to be implemented in 2025"Customs Clearance Integration 2.0"Policies bring changes:

• The deposit payment time for the electronic port has been advanced to 72 hours prior to declaration.
• AEO-certified enterprises can apply for a 30-day credit payment term.
• Cross-border e-commerce B2B exports are eligible for the phased tax calculation policy.