I. What is an agencyimport and exportbusiness?

Agency import and export refers to professional institutions with...Customs AEO certification qualificationwhich, in the capacity of an agent, complete the whole - process...foreign tradeservices such as goods customs clearance, foreign exchange settlement, and logistics transportation for the principal. According to the latest revised Regulations for the Implementation of the Customs Law in 2025, professional agency institutions can represent enterprises to complete the following:

• HS code classification and declaration element review
• Cross - border foreign exchange receipt and payment and...Export DrawbackAgency
• Special declaration for dangerous goods/commodities subject to legal inspection
• Free trade agreements such as RCEPIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:Application for the...

II. What are the essential differences between self - operated import and export and the agency model?

The differences between the two models can be clearly understood through the comparison table:

• Responsible entity:
  • Self - operated: The enterprise itself bears the risk of customs inspection
  • Agency: Professional institutions assume the responsibility for declaration compliance
• Cost composition:
  • Self - operation: Need to allocate customs declaration/document/foreign exchange specialists (annual average labor cost is about 250,000 yuan)
  • Agency: Charge service fees per ticket (average cost per ticket is reduced by 60%)

III. How to choose a reliable agency import and export service provider?

It is recommended to screen agency institutions according to the following standards:

• Qualification verification:
  • Customs AEO advanced certified enterprises (the certification pass rate in 2025 is only 7.3%)
  • Class A enterprises in the list of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange
• Service capabilities:
  • Operation cases of special goods (such as lithium - ion batteriesAir Transportation, hazardous chemicalsMaritime TransportationTrade dispute settlement mechanisms
  • Capability to connect with the digital customs clearance system

IV. What hidden risks will the agency import and export generate?

Three major risk points that need special attention:

• Risk of trade authenticity:In 2025, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange has upgraded the AI verification system, and the agency needs to provide a complete logistics voucher chain
• Tax joint liability:If the agency operates in violation of regulations, the principal may be liable for tax supplements and late fees
• Intellectual property risk:Cross-border E-commerceThe number of infringement cases in the field has increased by 42% year - on - year

V. How is the agency service fee composed? Is there an industry standard?

In 2025, agency service fees usually include:

• Basic service fee: 800 - 2000 yuan per ticket (depending on the value of goods and complexity)
• Value - added service fee:
  • Export tax rebate advance payment: 0.3% - 0.5% per day
  • Special document preparation: 500 - 3000 yuan per ticket

VI. Is the agency model more suitable for small, medium and micro - sized enterprises?

According to the data in the 2025 Foreign Trade White Paper:

• For enterprises with an annual export volume of less than $5 million, choosing an agency model can save costs.38% of the operating costs
• New foreign trade enterprises can shorten74% of the time to obtain qualifications through the agency
• Cross - border e - commerce sellers can reduce92% of the risk of customs administrative penalties

VII. What impacts does the digital transformation have on the agency industry?

In 2025, the industry presents three major trends:

• Intelligent customs clearance system:The accuracy rate of automatic generation of customs declaration forms reaches 99.2%
• Blockchain documents:70% of the certificates of origin can be verified on the chain
• Real - time risk control warning:Commodity classification errors can be warned 12 hours before declaration