How to judge the professional qualifications of an agency company?

Customs inspection basis:Agency export serviceWhen conducting business, it is recommended to verify a company's qualifications through three dimensions:

• Official Record Inquiry: Log in to the China International Trade Single Window to verify the company's AEO certification status and customs declaration unit registration information.
• Industry certification system: Prioritize service providers certified by the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and accredited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• Regular operating records: Check the administrative penalty records of the enterprise over the past three years through the official website of the General Administration of Customs, with a focus on verifying compliance in areas such as classification and valuation, as well as origin management.

Agency export,What items are included in the costs?

The composition of agency service fees in 2025 shows a trend toward transparency, primarily including:

• 29. Basic service fee (typically 0.8%-1.5% of cargo value)
• Document processing fee (customs declaration, certificate of origin, etc.)
• Special Service Surcharge:
  • Port of Destination Customs Pre-Clearance Service
  • Design of RCEP Agreement Tariff Rate Application Scheme
  • Optimization of Cross-Border Foreign Exchange Payment Solutions

What process details should be paid attention to during the initial collaboration?

It is recommended to establish cooperation according to the following process:

• Preliminary due diligence phase: Please provide the customs clearance time efficiency report for the most recent quarter and typical customer cases.
• Key Points for Contract Signing: Clearly define the liability allocation clauses, especially the cost-sharing mechanism for demurrage fees arising from classification disputes.
• Standard Operating Procedure for Trial Orders: It is recommended to select medium-to-low value products for the first batch of goods, while simultaneously testing the document flow system and the response speed to exceptions.

How to Avoid Common Risks in Agency Cooperation?

According to the typical cases released by the General Administration of Customs in 2025, special attention should be paid to:

• Intellectual Property Risk: Request the agent to provide brand authorization verification services (especially for cross-border e-commerce B2B exports).
• Tax compliance risk: Confirm that the agency company possesses cross-border tax planning capabilities and can handle VAT deduction issues under different trade terms.
• Data security risks: Verify whether the information system of the agency company has passed ISO27001 certification, and ensure that the contract includes specific clauses on data confidentiality.

What are the new trends in the agency industry in 2025?

It is recommended to pay attention to the following industry changes:

• Digital service upgrades: Leading agency enterprises have achieved blockchain-based notarization of customs declaration data, with some supporting AI-powered intelligent classification services.
• Green logistics requirements: After the implementation of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), professional agents are required to provide product carbon footprint verification services.
• Regional Service Network: It is recommended to choose an agent with branches in RCEP member countries to enjoy regional trade facilitation such as expedited customs clearance.

(The data mentioned in this article is current as of June 2025, and the implementation of specific policies is subject to the latest announcements from the competent authorities. It is recommended to engage a professional law firm for contract review before signing and to periodically verify the service qualifications of the agency company.)