Panoramic perspective on the agency qualifications for imported equipment: A compulsory course for enterprises in customs clearance in 2025

Three value dimensions of cross - border equipment agency qualifications

In the context of the global supply chain reconstruction in 2025, the qualification system of professional imported equipment agency companies has become the core barrier for enterprise risk control. The latest customs data shows that compared with ordinary enterprises, agency companies with a complete qualification system have an average customs clearance time improvement of 40% and a compliance cost reduction of 58%. Qualification certification is not only a legal entry threshold but also an authoritative endorsement of service capabilities.

Panoramic view of the necessary qualifications in 2025

According to the newly revised Measures for the Administration of the Import of Mechanical and Electrical Products by the Ministry of Commerce, imported equipment agency companies must build a three - level qualification system:

• Basic access qualifications
  • Customs AEO advanced certification (The 2025 version of the certification standard has added requirements for an intelligent customs clearance system)
  • Cross - border payment business filing (The State Administration of Foreign Exchange added the qualification for digital currency settlement in Q4 2024)
• Industry - specific license
  • Special equipment manufacturing license (The new classification catalog of the General Administration of Market Regulation in 2025)
  • Medical EquipmentRegistered agency qualification (Applicable to medicalequipment. 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.Trade dispute settlement mechanisms
• Continuous operation qualification
  • ISO 28000 supply chain security certification (Forced to upgrade to version 3.0 in 2025)
  • Cross - border trade dispute arbitration qualification (New requirements for ICC certification added)

Four golden rules for qualification verification

The lesson of a semiconductor enterprise in 2024, where equipment worth 230 million yuan was stranded at the port due to incomplete qualifications of the agency company, warns us:

• Penetrating verification: Verify AEO certification status through the General Administration of Customs Single Window system
• Scene matching degree: Confirm that the agency qualification covers the HS codes of specific equipment
• Dynamic update mechanism: Require the provision of annual qualification update records
• Financial guarantee ability: Check the power of attorney for the customs duty guarantee issued by the bank

Three major changes in qualification supervision in 2025

The latest regulatory trends announced by the General Administration of Customs show that:

• Electronic certificates fully replace paper documents (transition period until June, 2025)
• Establish a qualification rating system for agency companies (dynamic management of four levels: A, B, C, and D)
• Implement cross - border qualification mutual recognition (covering 92% of equipment categories of RCEP member states)

In - depth analysis of frequently asked questions

Q: Temporaryimport and exportIs a full set of qualifications required?
According to Announcement No. 38 of the Customs in 2025, temporarily imported and exported equipment still needs to have basic access qualifications, but a simplified procedure can be applied for.

Q: What are the special requirements for the import qualifications of used equipment?
It is necessary to additionally obtain the solid waste import license issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the agency company needs to have the equipment refurbishment ability certification.