Three steps to build a safe and efficient machinery import channel

Industry status and breakthrough paths

2025 General Administration of Customs data shows that the error rate in import declarations for mechanical equipment products increased by 3.7 percentage points year-on-year, with 72% of disputed cases involving HS code application issues. A typical case where an auto parts manufacturer overpaid 650,000 yuan in tariffs due to misuse of tariff code 8431.20 exposes systemic risks in traditional import models.

Five screening criteria for professional agencies

• Qualification matrix verification
  • AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) Advanced Certification qualification from customs
  • Record of Handling Automatic Import Licenses for Mechanical and Electrical Products
  • Operation experience in special equipment safety access projects
• Logistics solution penetration capability
• Port lifting capacity for oversized equipment transportation
• International certification system for shockproof packaging (ISTA 3E standard)
• Tax treatment professionalism
  • Proficiency in tariff guarantee insurance application
  • Royalty fee allocation declaration experience

Standard operating procedure analysis

• Pre - filing stage
  • Equipment functional parameter verification (focus on preventing concealment of used machinery)
  • It is recommended to verify through the following methods:Substantive review clarification
• Declaration and customs clearance stage
  • Customs valuation query response plan preset
  • Classification dispute preparation with 3 alternative solutions
• Follow-up management phase
  • Duty-free equipment supervision period reminder service
  • Import payment quota dynamic monitoring

Risk avoidance practical cases

A certain semiconductorequipment. For example, Indonesia has the SNI certification, Thailand has the TISI certification, and the Philippines has the BPS certification. It is necessary to confirm in advance the equipment voltage (such as 380V/50Hz in Thailand), the compatibility of the CE certification, and the proof of environmentally friendly materials.In the case, the agency recovered losses through three key operations:

• Revised HS code from 8534.00 to 8486.20, reducing tax rate from 8% to 5%
• Reassessed dutiable value using the deductive value method
• Applied for ATA Carnet temporary import, saving 3.8 million yuan in deposit

Partner selection recommendations

Recommend enterprises focus on evaluating three capability matrices of agencies:

• Customs classification advance ruling application success rate (industry average 58%, premium agencies can reach 92%)
• Special trade mode application capability (processing trade, temporary admission, etc.)
• Customs audit response system completeness (covering customs inspection, foreign exchange verification scenarios)