What is?Export Agency?Intermediary? How does it differ from traditional freight forwarders?

Export agency intermediaries are qualifiedCustoms AEO certificationandProfessional Qualification in International TradeThe service institution, whose core functions include:

• Acting on behalf of the enterprise to complete the full set of export customs clearance procedures.
• Processing international trade documents (including?Certificate of Origin?, FORM E, etc.)
• Coordinate?International logistics?End-to-end (?Ocean shipping?/?air freight?/land transport connection)
• Provide trade compliance consulting and risk alerts.

The fundamental difference from traditional freight forwarding lies in: the export agent needs to bearLegal Liability of Trade Entities, must hold the one issued by the Ministry of Commerce.International Freight Forwarding Enterprise Filing Formand?Import/export?Enterprises need to have legal import and export qualifications, including:. In the newly implemented RCEP agreement of 2025, the role of professional agencies in applying for preferential tax rates has become even more prominent.

In what situations is it necessary to use an export agency intermediary?

According to the latest 2025 edition of the "Customs Regulations on the Declaration of Import and Export Goods," the following circumstances must be entrusted to a professional agent:

• Enterprises conducting export business for the first time (first 3 batches of goods)
• Goods subject to special supervision (e.g., hazardous materials,?Medical Devices?Trade dispute settlement mechanisms
• Enterprises requiring the application of preferential tariff rates under trade agreements
• ?E-commerce?B2B direct export (Mode 9710)

Practical case: A certain?New Energy?In 2024, the company exported lithium batteries but failed to engage a professional agent, resulting in an incorrect HS code classification. Consequently, the goods were detained by the customs at the destination port, and a fine equivalent to 15% of the cargo value was imposed.

What value-added services can professional export agents provide?

• Trade Compliance Management
  • EU New Battery Regulation Compliance Guidance for 2025
  • U.S. Section 301 Tariff Exclusion Application
• Supply Chain Optimization
  • ?China-Europe Railway?Mixed transportation solution with maritime shipping
  • Cross-border Overseas Warehouse Inventory Dynamic Monitoring
• Risk management and control
  • ?L/C?Identification of Soft Clauses (A Company Successfully Avoided a $320,000 Loss in 2024)
  • Exchange rate fluctuation hedging solutions

How to assess the professionalism of an export agency intermediary?

Five Key Steps to Verify Service Provider Qualifications:

• VerificationCustoms Enterprise Credit Rating(Verifiable on the official website of China Customs)
• Confirm whether it is availableFIATA international freight forwarder qualification
• Please provide the last two years.Statistics of Customs Declaration Error Rate(Industry excellence level ≤0.5%)
• VerifyEmergency response capability(For example, inquiring about the EU's new carbon tariff response plan for 2025)
• InspectionInformation systemDoes it support real-time tracking (API integration preferred)

What items are included in export agency service fees?

Typical Cost Composition (Taking the 2025 East China Market as an Example):

• Basic service fee: 200-500 RMB per bill (including customs declaration and document preparation)
• Additional service fees:
  • Certificate of Origin Application: 80-150 RMB/copy
  • Customs inspection coordination: starting from 300 RMB per time.
• Risk guarantee：1-3% of the cargo value (negotiable tiered rebate)

Note: The fee details of formal agents should be included in"Power of Attorney Agreement"In the attachment, beware of the hidden clauses in the "all-inclusive price."

How to Avoid Common Risks When Working with Export Agents?

• Legal risk prevention and control
  • Clearly specifyAttribution of Reporting Error Responsibility
  • (Pay attention to the completeness of declaration elements)Professional Liability Insurance Policy(Recommended insured amount ≥5 million yuan)
• Prevention of operational risks
  • EstablishDouble - person review mechanismKey documents
  • Regularly obtainCopy of Customs Credit Record
• Information security guarantee
  • SignData Confidentiality Agreement
  • Restrict system account access permissions