How to judge the professional reliability of an agent company?

ChooseExport RepresentationCompanies should focus on verifying the following elements:

• Customs AEO certification qualification: The 2025 new edition certification standards require agency companies to have a complete trade security system
• Years of industry service: Prioritize mature enterprises with continuous operation for over 5 years to avoid risks associated with newly established companies
  • Verification method: Check the establishment date in the enterprise credit publicity system
  • Reference case: A textile company once experienced a $1 million tax rebate delay due to choosing an agency company established only 8 months prior
• Special qualification certificates: Dangerous goods exports require inspection of dangerous goods packaging certificates; food exports require registration of export food production enterprises

What core services does export agency include?

High-quality agency companies should provide full-process services:

• Basic services
  • Customs declaration and inspection (including RCEPIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:certificate application)
  • Foreign Exchange ReceiptsFX Settlement Agencyand tax filing
• Value - added Services
  • Destination port customs clearance exception handling (new EU carbon tariff declaration requirements added in 2025)
  • Export credit insurance coordination

How to calculate reasonable agency fees?

The current market mainly adopts three fee calculation models:

• Value - proportion system: 0.8%-1.5% (floating based on product HS code risk level)
• Project-based Service: 500-2000 yuan per customs declaration document,A complete export agency agreement should be attached with:0.3‰ foreign exchange settlement fee
• Hybrid fee system: It is recommended that small and medium-sized enterprises choose the basic service package + value-added services pay-as-you-go model

Special attention should be paid to hidden charges:

• Container detention fee advance interest (major shipping companies detention fee standards have increased by 30% in 2025)
• Document certification expedited fees (embassy certification expedited fees generally exceed 2000 yuan)

How to prevent risks in export agency business?

Recommended Triple Safeguard Measures:

• Contract terms constraints
  • Clearly define compensation liability for customs declaration errors (recommended to set a minimum compensation standard of 5000 yuan per document)
  • Specify foreign exchange receipt time limit (current policy requires tax rebate processing within 15 working days after foreign exchange receipt)
• Process monitoring mechanism
  • Require the agency company to provide real-time customs clearance status queries
  • Monthly verification of foreign exchange verification sheet electronic data
• Risk reserve system: It is recommended to retain 3%-5% of the contract amount as a quality guarantee deposit

Under what circumstances must an agency company be replaced?

The agency replacement procedure should be initiated immediately under the following circumstances:

• Customs declarations being selected for inspection 3 consecutive times (may involve credit downgrade risks)
• Foreign exchange receipt and settlement delays exceeding 30 calendar days
• Failure to promptly follow up on the revised INCOTERMS clauses effective in 2025
• Leakage of customer commercial data (can be held accountable through customs AEO information protection clauses)

How to verify an agency companys overseas customs clearance capability?

A three-step verification method is recommended:

• Request destination port customs clearance cases (no less than 20 same-category clearance records in the past 2 years)
• Verify overseas cooperation networks
  • Self-owned overseas companies (requires inspection of foreign investment certificates)
  • Membership in international freight alliances (such as WCA certification)
• Test emergency response speed (simulate container detention scenario, require solution proposal within 4 hours)