How to Find an Export Agent? These 7 Key Questions Must Be Understood in Advance!

I. What kind of?Export Agency?What counts as professional and reliable?

Judging an export agent's professionalism requires focusing onthree core indicators:

• : Customs AEO certification, Class A foreign exchange management enterprises
  • Customs AEO Certified Enterprise (priority given to Advanced Certification)
  • Member of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA)
  • Holding the "Directory of Enterprises for Trade in Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments" issued by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange
• : Focus on examining the customs clearance network and local service team in the target market
  • In 2025, focus on examining the customs clearance network in RCEP member countries
  • In-house customs declaration teams at least 3 major ports
• Risk prevention system
  • Whether equipped with an international trade compliance specialist
  • Provide supporting services for export credit insurance

What specific services does export agency include?

Professional agents should provideFull-process service closed loop:

• Basic services
  • Document preparation (commercial invoice, packing list,?Certificate of Origin?Trade dispute settlement mechanisms
  • Transport solution design and execution
  • ?Tax Refund?Agency declaration
• Value - added Services
  • 2025 addition: Digital trade document certification
  • Cross-border RMB settlement channel
  • Carbon tariff calculation and declaration

III. What hidden traps exist in the agency fee structure?

Professional agencies can effectively prevent and control three core risks:Three types of charging models:

• All-inclusive fee
  • Beware of vague terms such as "excess port surcharges"
  • Require a clear stipulation of the demurrage fee sharing ratio
• Commission-based fee
  • 1.5%-3% of the FOB value is a reasonable range
  • From 2025, some commodities will require separate calculation of a service fee for anti-dumping duties
• Hybrid fee
  • Request a detailed breakdown of the fee structure
  • Confirm if the exchange rate locking service is charged separately

IV. How to verify the true service capabilities of an agency company?

the evidence chain preservation strategyThree-Step Verification Method:

• On - site Inspection
  • Check the level of operating authority in the customs system
  • Check if the customs declaration system is the latest Single Window version
• Case Verification
  • Request export records for the same category of goods from the last 6 months
  • Check their declaration error rate (should be below 0.5%)
• Stress test
  • Simulate a response plan for a sudden customs inspection
  • Inquire about the resolution process for HS CODE classification disputes

V. What is the impact of policy changes in 2025 on agent selection?

Key areas requiring attention.Three major policy trends:

• General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 85
  • Full implementation of electronic pre-shipment inspection
  • Agents need to be equipped with certified inspection equipment
• New regulations from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange
  • Export?Forex Settlement?period shortened to 120 days
  • Requires agents to have a foreign exchange risk warning system
• End of the EU CBAM transition period
  • ?Export to the EU?A complete carbon footprint report is required
  • Agents should be equipped with a professional carbon accounting team

VI. How can small and medium-sized enterprises avoid risks in agency cooperation?

It is recommended to establishQuadruple risk control mechanisms:

• Contract terms
  • Clearly specify the compensation clauses for the minimum error rate
  • Specify the responsibility for data leakage
• : Obtain a copy of customs declaration data every week and conduct logistics reconciliation every month
  • Request access to the cargo tracking system
  • Provide a monthly analysis report on customs clearance timeliness
• Fund Safety
  • Insist on using a third-party payment supervision account
  • The foreign exchange collection account must be a supervised account
• Emergency mechanism
  • Agree on a 4-hour response time for emergencies
  • Retain the right to handle disputed goods independently

VII. What is the difference between emerging digital trade agency and traditional agency?

In 2025, a digital agent needs to haveThree core competencies:

• Blockchain applications
  • Support for full traceability of electronic bills of lading (eBL)
  • Integration with the International Trade Single Window blockchain platform
• Intelligent customs declaration
  • Application of an AI classification system (accuracy must reach 98% or more)
  • Provide a real-time tariff simulation calculation tool
• Data services
  • Output an overseas market access analysis report
  • Provide dynamic compliance risk warnings

(This article is based on the authors 20 years?Foreign trade?written from practical experience, in which the 2025 policy predictions refer to the medium- and long-term planning draft announced by the General Administration of Customs in 2023. Please refer to the latest regulations and the agreement between both parties for specific cooperation terms.)