1. Why do foreign trade enterprises need to entrust agents for export?

Under the international trade environment in 2025, small and medium-sized export enterprises choose export agency primarily based on three practical needs:

• Qualification threshold: Enterprises without import and export rights can obtain export services through agents.customs clearanceSingle, tax refund processing
• Optimization of cost control：Avoid annual human resources and operational costs of approximately 300,000 to 500,000 yuan for building an in-house foreign trade team.
• Demand for risk aversion: Professional agency companies handle documentation with an error rate below 0.5%, significantly lower than that of self-operated enterprises.

2. What specific services are included in export agency?

CompliantAgency export serviceIt should include six major modules covering the entire process:

• Basic services:
  • Prepare commercial invoices, packing lists, and other trade documents.
  • Handle export customs clearance and shipping documents
• Value - added services:
  • Export tax refundDeclaration (2025 tax rebate rate maintained at 13%-17%)
  • Foreign exchange settlement and cross-border payment
  • Trade Compliance Review (including HS Code Classification)

3. How should the agency service fee be calculated reasonably?

In 2025, mainstream agency fee models exhibit differentiated characteristics:

• Basic agency fees: Charged at 0.8%-1.2% of the cargo value, including customs declaration and documentation services.
• Tax rebate service fee: Generally 10%-15% of the tax refund amount
• Additional costs:
  • Letter of Credit Document Review: USD80-150 per instance
  • Special document certification: RMB200-500 per copy

IV. Key Indicators for Identifying High-Quality Agency Companies?

It is recommended to evaluate the qualifications of the agency from four dimensions:

• Customs credit levelPriority for AEO Advanced Certified Companies
• Fund security mechanisms: Check whether a dedicated regulatory account has been established.
• Industry service experience: No fewer than 50 export cases of similar products.
• Emergency handling capabilities: Provide customs support with a response time within 2 hours.

V. What legal risks exist in agency export?

In 2025, special attention should be paid to three types of emerging risks:

• Verification of the authenticity of trade: Customs has implemented an AI-powered intelligent document review system, with the defect tracing period for documents extended to 3 years.
• Export control risk: The agency must possess ECCN screening capabilities.
• Joint liability risksThe agency contract must clearly stipulate the exemption clause for intellectual property infringement.

VI. How to Choose Between Self-Operated Export and Agency Export?

It is recommended that enterprises make decisions based on their annual export volume:

• Below $5 million：The comprehensive cost of agency export is 25%-40% lower.
• $5-10 million: It is recommended to establish a dual-track mechanism during the transition period.
• Over $10 million: Self-operated exports offer greater cost advantages.

7. What are the policy changes for export agency in 2025?

Focus on the impact of three new regulations:

• Automatic comparison of electronic customs declaration forms and VAT invoice information
• RCEP member states' origin declarations may be issued by authorized agents.
• The State Administration of Foreign Exchange pilots the "whitelist" system for agency foreign exchange collection.