How to judgeforeign tradeWhether an agency company is professional?

A professional agency company must possessThree core qualifications:China Customs AEO certification, International Freight Forwarding Record (valid until December 2025), and a customs clearance case library for at least 5 major export countries. It is recommended to verify through the following methods:

• Request to view copies of customs declarations in the past 3 months (with sensitive information hidden)
• Verify the validity of the international freight forwarder liability insurance policy
• Request for recommendation letters from 3 cooperating enterprises (including specific business data)

What hidden costs are included in the agency service fee?

For the 2025 latest charging structure, special attention should be paid to the followingThree newly added fees:

• EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Declaration Service Fee (CBAM System Connection)
• RCEPIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:Book Intelligent Declaration Fee
• Cross-border E-commerce9610/9710 Model Surcharge

(Expense details corresponding to different terms such as EXW/FOB/DDP, etc.).Comparison table of expense details, with a focus on checking items such as HS code classification services, abnormal situation handling fees, document translation and certification fees, etc.

How do small and medium - sized enterprises choose the type of agency?

According to 2025 General Administration of Customs data, companies with annual exports <$5 million are recommended to adopt:

• Regional Comprehensive Agent: Suitable for single - category exports
  • Advantage: Fast local response
  • Risk: Weak international network
• Vertical - field Professional Agent: Suitable for goods under special supervision
  • Advantage: Accurate policy interpretation
  • Risk: Limited service scope

What new capabilities should agents possess in the digital trade era?

In 2025, qualified agents must be equipped withIntelligent Customs Clearance System, including:

• Real - time connection with the Customs Single Window API
• Automatic verification and write - off function for cross - border fund receipt and payment
• Supply chain visualization tracking module

It is recommended to conduct on - site inspections of the agentsData Central Control Roomto confirm that its system can handle more than 2000 customs declaration data streams per second.

How to prevent legal risks in agency cooperation?

An agreement containingFive Key Clausesmust be signed:

• Pre - classification Error Compensation Clause (2% - 5% of the cargo value)
• Document Custody Liability Period (recommended ≥ 5 years)
• Force Majeure Handling Mechanism
• Intellectual Property Guarantee Clause
• Agreement on the Dispute Resolution Place (it is recommended to choose the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission)

How to divide responsibilities in case of customs clearance delays?

Basis for handling common disputes in 2025:

• Agents liability: Errors in document preparation, misreporting of HS codes, expiration of licenses
• Enterprises liability: Concealment of cargo information, non - compliant packaging, payment delay
• Third - party liability: Written proof from the shipping company/airline is required

It is recommended to hold aRisk Review Meetingwith the agent every month and establish an electronic liability tracing system.

How to evaluate the market response speed of an agency?

Agents can be required to provideThree Proofs of Time - effectiveness:

• New HS code filing cycle (standard in 2025 ≤ 3 working days)
• Urgent customs declaration processing time - effectiveness (≤ 2 hours at key ports)
• Policy change early - warning response time (≤ 24 hours after the official announcement)

What are the differences between cross - border e - commerce agents and traditional agents?

Comparison of core differences in 2025:

• Data declaration dimension: Traditional agents handle 30 fields vs cross - border e - commerce agents handle 150+ fields
• Return handling ability: Cross - border e - commerce agents need to support reverse logistics and tax verification and write - off
• System connection requirements: Must be compatible with the APIs of mainstream platforms such as Amazon Seller Central and TikTok Shop

Is the larger the scale of the agency company, the better?

Per 2024 customs statistics, small-medium clients with annual service fees <500,000 RMB at major agenciesProblem - solving time limit37% slower than small - and - medium - sized agents. Suggested reference:

• Ratio of documentary operation team to the number of customers (ideal value 1:15)
• Service years of exclusive account managers (recommended to have ≥ 3 years of working experience)
• Service guarantee measures during peak hours (such as dispatching temporary processing teams)

What matters should be noted when switching agents?

Special attention is required for the new regulations in 2025:

• Give written notice to the original agent 30 days in advance (avoid automatic renewal clauses)
• Confirm the handover list of historical customs declarations (including pre - entry numbers and release dates)
• Check whether the original agent has cancelled the electronic port operation authority
• It is recommended to keep the two - agent parallel operation for 1 month during the transition period