1. What is the essential difference between export agency and self-operated export?

Export agency refers to the process where a manufacturing enterprise exports its products through a company that possessesimport and exportThe business model where a licensed trading company completes export procedures.The core difference lies in the legal entity.Self-operated export enterprises independently handle customs declaration,A complete export agency agreement should be attached with:In the case of direct export, the production enterprise assumes full-process responsibilities such as customs declaration, foreign exchange settlement, and tax refund. In contrast, in the case of export by proxy, the production enterprise (the entrusting party) signs an agreement with the proxy company, which serves as the executing entity of the contract.

2. What are the main operational procedures for export agency in 2025?

The typical agency export process consists of six key steps:

• Sign the agency agreement (responsibility division and settlement terms must be clearly defined)
• The goods will be processed after they are fully prepared.Export Clearance
  • New HS Code Declaration Requirements for Customs in 2025
  • RCEPIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:Application specifications for Ming
• Foreign exchange receipt, settlement and tax handling
• Export DrawbackThe processing time will be reduced from 45 days in 2024 to 30 days.

III. How to Evaluate the Professional Competence of an Agency?

Recommend assessing from five dimensions:

• Qualification Verification: Check the AEO certification level of customs (the new version of certification standards will be implemented starting from 2025).
• Industry experience: No fewer than 20 export cases of similar products
• : Document review process, historical data of error rates: A trade compliance audit report is required.
• Service network: Major exporting countries must have local customs clearance partners.
• Technical capabilities: Does it have an automated customs declaration system (referencing the 2023 case of a Shenzhen company fined due to manual customs declaration errors)?

IV. What Are the Hidden Costs of Export Agency?

In addition to the agency service fee (typically 0.8%-1.5% of the cargo value), special attention should be paid to:

• Cost of capital occupation: Cash flow pressure caused by tax refund cycles
• Document Processing Cost: Differences Between Proforma Invoice and Commercial Invoice Conversion
• Compliance costs: The EU's new regulations in 2025 require the provision of carbon footprint certification.
• Emergency handling cost: additional charges for unexpected inspection at the destination port.

V. Under what circumstances is the agency export model mandatory?

According to the latest 2025 policy, the following three types of enterprises are recommended to adopt agency export:

• Small and micro enterprises with an annual export volume of less than 5 million yuan (eligible for joint declaration preferential policies).
• Please translate the following Chinese into English: Involving controlled goods (such asMedical Equipment(Medical Device Business Filing Certificate Required)
• Companies entering a new market for the first time (leveraging existing agency channels to mitigate risks)

VI. How to Prevent Legal Risks in Agency Export?

It is recommended to establish a firewall through three legal documents:

• The "Agency Agreement" must include provisions on the ownership of intellectual property rights.
• The "Payment Obligation Confirmation Letter" clarifies the responsibility for foreign exchange declaration.
• The "Force Majeure Disclaimer" covers the 2025 edition of the International Commercial Terms (Incoterms).

It should be specifically noted that this article is based on policies and regulations effective before March 2025. Regarding the "New Tax Policy on Cross-Border Digital Trade" inquired by some readers, as the detailed rules have not been officially released yet, it is recommended to stay updated with announcements from the State Taxation Administration.