Professional export agents should possessThree Core Qualifications: ① Filed with the Ministry of Commerceimport and exportOperating rights ② A stable team with at least 5 years of practical case experience ③ Customs clearance certification qualifications corresponding to the target market. It is recommended to request verification of:
Customs AEO Certification (New Digital Customs Declaration Requirements Added in 2025)
International Freight Forwarder Liability Insurance Policy
Customer service records for the past 3 years (please check industry relevance).
Is a lower agency fee always better?
Significant changes in the composition of international trade service fees in 2025:The proportion of compliance costs has increased to 18%-25%.(Only 8% in 2020). Reasonable expenses should include:
Basic Service Package (Document Preparation, Customs Declaration and Inspection)
Which is more suitable, a general agent or a specialized agent?
According to 2025 industry data,Companies with annual export volumes below $5 million.Opting for a specialized agent can save 17% in costs, but please note:
Specialized agents must possess specific advantages:
Dangerous Goods Transport Agency: Must hold IMDG CODE certification.
Cold Chain Logistics Agency: Temperature Control Equipment Must Comply with the Latest WHO Standards
Comprehensive agents should coverAt least 8 trade links., including the latest required ESG compliance filings
Which clauses must be clarified when signing contracts?
The 2025 version of the standard contract must include:
Digital service SLA (system response time ≤ 2 hours)
Segmented Liability Division (Port of Loading/Port of Transshipment/Port of Destination)
Data Sovereignty Statement (with Special Focus on New Regulations in ASEAN Countries)
How to Avoid Common Collaboration Pitfalls?
High-frequency dispute cases in the past three years indicate the following major risk points:
Falsification of qualifications (28%): Requires submission of original qualification documents.
Hidden fees (35%): Clearly define the fee calculation formula and triggering conditions.
Blame shifting (41%): Establish a clear issue response flowchart.
It is recommended to introduceThird-party trade supervision, The fee typically accounts for 0.5%-1.2% of the contract amount.
How important is digital capability in agent selection?
According to the new policy of the General Administration of Customs in 2025,Fully paperless customs declarationIt will be extended to all Class B and above enterprises. Qualified agents must possess:
Automatically generate electronic documents compliant with UN/EDIFACT standards
Real-time Tracking System (with Blockchain-based Evidence Storage Support)
API direct connection capability with major shipping lines
Request to proceed withSystem pressure test, simulating a peak data processing capacity of 200 orders per minute.
What new industry regulations in 2025 require special attention?
Key policy changes for this year include:
The pilot program for cross-border RMB settlement has been expanded to 72 countries.
Implementation of the EU New Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542)
Please translate the following Chinese into English:
The localization procurement ratio under the U.S. IRA Act has been increased to 65%.
It is recommended to choose one withPolicy early warning mechanismActing as an agent, requiring customized compliance reports to be provided monthly.