I. How to VerifyAgency export,The company’s real quality?

According to the latest requirements of the General Administration of Customs in 2025, compliant export agents must possess:

• Customs AEO certification(At least General Certified Enterprise Qualification)
• Qualifications for receipt of foreign exchange records by the Foreign Exchange Administration
• Electronic Port Operation Authority (Operator Card May Be Requested for Verification)

It is recommended to verify the enterprise's customs registration code through the official website of the "China International Trade Single Window" and request the counterpart to provide records from the past three years.Export tax refundRecords serve as business evidence.

II. What hidden costs are included in export agency fees?

Example of Industry Standard Fee Structure for 2025:

• Basic service fee (0.8% - 1.5% of the cargo value)
• Logistics surcharges:
  • Special itemscustoms clearanceFee (Chemical/Food Category +2000 RMB per shipment)
  • Port document handling fee (South America/Africa route +USD150)
• Funding cost (monthly interest for tax refund advance financing: 0.6%-1.2%)

A 2023 case study from a sanitary ware company revealed that hidden costs can account for up to 37% of total expenses, suggesting the inclusion of a "cost cap clause" in contracts.

III. How are the risks of goods export allocated?

The division of responsibilities should focus on three key points:

• Risk of goods: Under EXW terms, the risk transfers upon completion of loading.
• Tax risks: The responsibility for any defects in the value-added tax invoice shall be borne by the client.
• Legal risks: Intellectual property disputes require prior agreement on compensation terms.

The 2024 machinery export dispute case revealed that the client suffered losses amounting to 22% of the cargo value due to unclear liability for transportation damages.

Fourth,Export tax refundHow long does it take for the funds to be credited?

Latest Tax Refund Process Timelines for 2025:

• With complete documentation, the declaration cycle is shortened to 5 working days.
• Tax refunds for Class A enterprises can be received in as fast as 3 days (with an average of 7 days in 2023).
• Inter-provincial collaborative enterprises can enjoy the "immediate refund upon declaration" pilot policy.

It is recommended to request the agent to provide bank statement records to verify their actual tax refund efficiency.

V. How Can Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Avoid Capital Occupation?

Three recommended financing solutions for 2025:

• Packaging loan under letter of credit (interest rate 3.85%-4.35%)
• Export order financing (up to 70% of the contract amount)
• Factoring of Tax Refund Receivables (Fee Rate: 0.3%-0.8%/month)

A daily necessities manufacturer adopted a "Letter of Credit + Tax Refund Factoring" combined solution, improving capital turnover efficiency by 40%.

6. Will acting as an export agent affect customer relationships?

Correct handling method:

• It is recommended to adopt the "dual-header customs declaration" model (with the consignor displayed as the manufacturer).
• 物流單據(jù)注明"Consignee: Client's information"
• Please request the agent to sign a non-disclosure agreement (it is recommended to set the penalty for breach at 30% of the contract amount).

The 2024 survey reveals that 78% of overseas buyers accept the agency export model, with the key factor lying in the method of information disclosure.

7. What are the precautions for exporting special goods?

Key regulatory categories for 2025:

• Lithium battery products: UN38.3 test report + dangerous goods packaging certificate
• Food Contact Materials: FDA + EU 10/2011 Dual Certification
• Smart Devices: CCC Compulsory Certification + Radio Type Approval

In 2023, a new energy company had an entire container of goods stranded at the port for 37 days due to failure to update its dangerous goods packaging certificate.

8. How to evaluate an agency's emergency response capabilities?

Key areas for assessment:

• Customs Dispute Resolution Cases (at least 3 successful cases)
• Overseas customs clearance partner network (covering over 80% of destination ports)
• Crisis response time (the contract should stipulate a 4-hour emergency mechanism)

Proposed Simulation Test: Request the agent to provide incident handling reports for the past 12 months.