What is importExport Representation? And what is the difference betweenimport and exportand self-operation

Import and export agency?foreign traderefers to the business model where professional agencies provide enterprises with full-process services such as customs clearance, logistics, documentation, and tax refunds. Compared with self-operated import and export, the agency model can save enterprises more than 60% of operating costs. According to the General Administration of Customs 2024 annual report, SMEs using agency services reduced average customs clearance time by 2.8 working days.

Why do enterprises need to entrust import and export agency companies?

Three core needs for enterprises choosing agency services:

• Breaking Qualification Barriers:Medical Equipment, special commodities such as food require specific business licenses
• Risk control needs: The 2025 revised Customs Audit Regulations strengthen compliance reviews
• Cost optimization considerations: The agency fee per transaction is 73% lower than the cost of building an in-house team

What specific services do professional import and export agencies include?

High-quality agency companies should providesix basic service modules:

• Customs declaration and inspection (including electronic port system integration)
• Transportation logistics (Maritime Transportation/Air Transportation/ multimodal transport solution design)
• Document preparation (18 types of certificates including FORM E, CO)
• Foreign exchange verification (adapted to the 2025 foreign exchange new policy)
• Tax refund declaration (intelligent matching of local tax incentive policies)
• Compliance consulting (application of RCEP rules of origin, etc.)

How to determine if an import/export agency company is reliable?

Key indicators for selecting an agency company5 key indicators:

• Industry Qualifications: Must hold both Customs AEO certification and foreign exchange management Class B or above qualification
• Service network: Must cover at least major ports and destination country customs clearance nodes
• Case data: Annual handling volume of similar goods should not be less than 200 shipments
• : Document review process, historical data of error rates: Should be equipped with trade compliance review system and legal advisory team
• Response speed: Customs declaration exceptions require feedback of solutions within 2 hours

How are import/export agency service fees calculated?

2025 mainstream fee models include:

• Per-document fee: Single shipment service fee = basic operation fee (800-1500 RMB) + 0.12% of declared cargo value
• annual service packages: Starting from 100,000 RMB/year, including 50 basic operation services
• Risk agency: Only 0.5% commission, but requires single shipment value exceeding 2 million RMB

Professional agencies can effectively prevent and control three core risks:Three hidden costs: Expedited customs declaration surcharge (usually 300% of regular fees), re-submission fees for rejected declarations, special document certification fees.

What responsibilities do enterprises still need to bear after entrusting an agency?

Even when entrusting an agency, enterprises still need to fulfillThree legal obligations:

• Ensure authenticity of declaration elements (commodity code error rate ≤3%)
• Retain original trade documents for at least 5 years
• Timely payment of tariffs and other legal obligations

Starting from 2025,Trade security verification systemRequires enterprise legal representatives to participate in import/export security training.

How can import/export agencies help enterprises cope with trade friction?

Professional agency companiesThree response mechanisms:

• Establish dual-header customs declaration system to avoid sanction risks
• Optimize origin determination schemes using RCEP accumulation rules
• Provide alternative market access solutions for different countries

Case Study: AphotovoltaicThrough an ASEAN transshipment solution developed by an agency, a company successfully avoided EU anti-dumping and countervailing duties in 2024, achieving a tax rate reduction of 27.6%.

How to choose between self-operated import/export and agency models?

Decision-making requires consideration offour dimensions:

• Annual import/export volume: <5 million CNY recommended to use agency services
• Product complexity: Involve3CProducts requiring special regulatory certifications recommended for agency
• Talent pool: Requires at least 3 licensed customs declarants for self-operation
• Policy fluctuations: VAT deduction scope for agency services will expand in 2025

Notably, in 2025 the General Administration of Customs will pilotPaperless Customs Clearance System 2.0, making agency companies system integration advantages more prominent.