1. What is an export qualification agency company?

An export qualification agency is a company approved by the national commerce department, possessing...Import and Export RightsA professional service institution. According to the latest 2025 Foreign Trade Act, such companies must simultaneously hold:

• Customs AEO Advanced Certification Qualification
• Answering Seven Core Questions in Export Agency Selection, covering qualification verification, contract terms, fee structures, risk control, and other key aspects to help foreign trade enterprises avoid cooperation risks and ensure compliant and efficient international trade.
• Operation of the Single Window for International Trade
• CommodityInspection of vaccinesAgency Qualification

Taking a Shanghai-based agency established in 2023 as an example, its annual export volume for client enterprises reached $120 million, primarily due to its comprehensive qualification system and compliant operational procedures.

30. II. What specific services can agency companies provide?

The service scope of professional agency firms extends far beyond basic customs declaration. Industry data for 2025 shows that leading enterprises have established three major service modules:

• Qualification Management
  • Application for Export License
  • Proof of Origin
  • International certifications such as CE/FDA
• Trade Compliance
  • HS code classification
  • Export control review
  • Anti-dumping early warning
• Value Added Services
  • Export tax refundOptimizing
  • Supply chain finance docking
  • Digital Management of Overseas Warehouses

3. How to Identify the Qualifications of a Legitimate Agency Company?

It is recommended to cross-validate through the following channels:

• Please log in to the "China Customs Enterprise Import and Export Credit Information Publicity Platform" to check the AEO certification status.
• Verify the registration number of the "International Freight Forwarding Enterprise Filing Form" issued by the Ministry of Commerce.
• Please present the updated "Customs Declaration Unit Registration Certificate" for the year 2025.
• Verify the validity period of the operation permissions for the International Trade Single Window.

The typical cases investigated in a certain region in 2024 revealed that three unlicensed agency companies were fined over 5 million yuan for forging customs filing documents.

IV. What items are included in the agency fees?

41. The charging structure of a regular agency company should include:

• Basic service fee (charged at 0.5%-1.5% of the cargo value)
• Government fees (customs declaration fees, inspection and quarantine fees, etc.)
• Special service surcharge (e.g., expedited customs clearance, technical trade measures response)

Be cautious of quotes that are 30% below market price. The 2025 Foreign Trade Service Cost Index indicates that the operating costs of compliant enterprises have increased by 8.7% year-on-year.

V. What are the potential risks of agency by agreement?

According to the analysis of foreign trade dispute cases in 2025, the main risk points include:

• The delay in customs clearance was caused by the expiration of qualification documents.
• Incorrect HS Code classification triggers customs inspection
• Export control review omissions face hefty fines.
• Irregular tax refund documents affect capital turnover.

It is recommended to clearly stipulate in the contract: The agent shall bear 100% liability for compensation for losses caused by its fault.

6. How will the 2025 policy changes affect agency services?

Key policy adjustments for this year include:

• New policy on simplified documentation for cross-border B2B e-commerce exports
• In-depth Implementation of RCEP Rules of Origin
• The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) officially comes into effect.

Professional agencies should possess the service capabilities to address the aforementioned policies. For instance, a leading company has already developed a CBAM declaration system capable of automatically calculating the carbon footprint of products.

7. How should small, medium, and micro enterprises choose an agency company?

It is recommended to adopt the "Three-Dimensional Evaluation Method":

• Industry matching degree: Do you have experience in exporting similar products?
• Service responsiveness: Emergency response time test
• Wind control system: Core indicators such as inspection error rate

Industry research in 2025 shows that the average customer renewal rate of premium agencies reaches 87%, significantly higher than the industry average of 52%.

8. Which is better: handling it yourself or entrusting an agent?

From a cost-benefit perspective:

• Annual export volume < $5 million: It is recommended to delegate to an agent, which can save approximately 40% in overall costs.
• $5-20 million: Adopt a hybrid model, with core operations managed in-house and value-added services outsourced.
• > $20 million: It is recommended to establish an in-house foreign trade team, with agents serving as a supplement.

Please note that according to 2025 customs statistics, enterprises utilizing professional agents achieve an average customs clearance time 1.8 working days faster than self-operated enterprises.