What exactly is export agency service? How to define its business nature?

I. Does export agency belong to service trade or goods trade?

According to the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) classification standards, export agency clearly falls underBusiness services - Other business services - Goods agency services(CPC 748). Its service nature is reflected in three dimensions:

• Service subject: Providing cross-border trade full-process solutions
• Service method: Executing customs clearance, logistics, documentation and other processes through professional teams
• Service compensation: Charging commissions by service items rather than earning commodity price differences

II. What specific business modules does export agency service include?

Based on the latest 2025 revision of theimport and exportGoods Agency Service Specifications by the General Administration of Customs, compliant export agency services should include:

• Basic service items:
  • Export license application and quota management
  • HS code classification and compliance review
  • Customs declaration document preparation and submission
• Value - added service items:
  • Cross-border logistics solution design and execution
  • Export DrawbackFull-process hosting
  • Trade compliance risk early warning system

III. Why is export agency considered a professional service rather than an intermediary service?

According to international trade practices, professional export agents must undertake three legal obligations:

• Conduct due diligence on the authenticity of the principals qualifications
• Ensure the completeness and accuracy of declaration information
• Bear joint liability for the compliance of documentation

This is fundamentally different from mere matchmaking intermediary services. Typical case: In 2024, anCross-border E-commerceoperator had an entire shipment detained at the destination port because the agency failed to verify product origin, ultimately resulting in the court ruling the agency primarily liable for compensation.

IV. What legal boundaries should be noted when selecting export agency services?

According to the Cross-Border Trade Service Law effective in 2025, enterprises must pay special attention to:

• Prohibition of agents directly participating in commodity pricing
• Strict prohibition of agency fees being tied to goods value
• Mandatory establishment of complete service record traceability systems

A certainMedical EquipmentIn March 2025, an export enterprise was deemed by tax authorities to have engaged in disguised transfer pricing due to signing a revenue-sharing agreement based on cargo value with an agency company, ultimately paying a total of 870,000 yuan in back taxes and late fees.

V. What are the new forms of export agency services in the digital era?

2025 industry monitoring data shows that innovative agency services exhibit three major trends:

• Intelligent customs declaration systems automatically interface with data from 17 government departments
• Blockchain traceability service coverage reaches 78%
• Real-time exchange rate hedging tools become standard configuration

A textile enterprise in the Yangtze River Delta reduced single customs declaration time from 4 hours to 18 minutes and improved declaration accuracy to 99.6% by connecting to an agencys intelligent customs system.

VI. How to evaluate the professional value of export agency services?

It is recommended to establish an evaluation system from five dimensions:

• Customs AEO certification level
• Number of certified international trade compliance officers
• Historical administrative penalty records
• Digital system investment intensity
• Industry-specific qualifications (e.g., medical devices, hazardous chemicals, etc.)

An auto parts manufacturer achieved 210% year-on-year export growth in the first half of 2025 without any transportation accidents by partnering with an agency company holding IATA dangerous goods transportation certification.