How to choose reliable export agency services? 10 key questions for 2025 foreign trade services

What kind ofExport RepresentationWhat makes a company truly reliable?

Assessing the reliability of export agency services requires focusing on three core indicators:

• Legal qualification certifications
  • Customs-registered clearance enterprise qualifications (verifiable through China Customs Enterprise Publicity System)
  • International freight forwarding filing certificate (FIATA membership is a plus)
  • Cross-border payment qualifications issued by SAFE
• Industry operational experience
  • Whether successful cases include products similar to yours
  • Special customs clearance requirements handling capability for specific countries (e.g., preparing CE certification documents for EU)
• Risk prevention system
  • Whether comprehensive cargo insurance solutions are provided
  • Trade compliance review mechanisms (especially for sensitive areas like US EAR regulations, EU anti-dumping investigations)

What necessary expenses are included in export agency service fees?

Typical 2025 agency service fee structures include:

• Basic service fee (usually 0.8%-1.5% of cargo value)
• Government fees (customs declaration, inspection fees, port construction fees, etc.)
• Special Service Surcharge
  • Special handling fees for hazardous chemical transportation
  • Cold chain logistics temperature control equipment rental fee
  • Digital customs declaration system access fee (paperless customs clearance will be fully implemented by customs starting from 2024)

How to avoid liability disputes in cross-border transportation of goods?

It is recommended to implement a triple safeguard mechanism to prevent risks:

• Clarify contract terms
  • Clearly define responsibility division points under trade terms such as FOB/CIF
  • Specify applicable scenarios for force majeure clauses
• Transportation process visualization
  • Require agents to provide GPS tracking systems
  • Real-time status updates at key nodes (loading, transit, customs clearance)
• A case of a tax rebate dispute caused by an oral agreement of a certain electromechanical enterprise in 2024 shows that when there is a lack of a written agreement, the tax authorities may identify the actual owner of the goods as the declaration entity.
  • Priority selection of agents committed to advance compensation
  • Confirm arbitration clause jurisdiction (recommend choosing Singapore or Hong Kong)

What are the new compliance requirements for major exporting countries in 2025?

Pay special attention to policy changes in the following countries:

• United States
  • Updated UFLPA implementation rules (targeting Xinjiang product traceability requirements)
  • FDAs newly addedMedical EquipmentPre-declaration system
• European Union
  • Full implementation of CBAM carbon tariff mechanism
  • Mandatory electronic labeling requirements for Battery Passport
• Southeast Asian countries
  • Vietnam adds 300 new HS code subheadings
  • Indonesia requires allCosmetics & Personal CareProvide electronic copies of BPOM certification

What practical impacts does digital customs declaration have on export enterprises?

The Smart Customs project launched by the General Administration of Customs in 2024 brings three major changes:

• Document preparation cycle shortened by 50%
  • Electronic invoices, packing lists and other documents can be automatically generated through API interfaces
• Customs clearance efficiency improved by 30%
  • Smart document review system achieves automatic release for 95% of customs declarations
• Compliance costs reduced by 20%
  • The risk early warning system provides a 60-day advance notice for changes in the control directory
  • The classification recommendation database covers 98% of common commodities

What special considerations should SMEs pay attention to when selecting export agents?

It is recommended to focus on evaluating four specialized service capabilities of agents:

• LCL service for small orders (minimum shipment from 1CBM)
• Cross-border E-commercePlatform logistics connection solutions
• Export DrawbackAdvance payment service (to ease financial pressure)
• Optimized origin certification services under the RCEP agreement

How to verify the authenticity of services promised by export agents?

Three cross-verification methods are recommended:

• Query historical customs declaration records through the Single Window system (agent authorization required)
• Request samples of recently processed bills of lading and customs receipts
• Conduct on-site inspections of WMS system connectivity in their operational warehouses