--- title: "What New Changes Will Be Implemented in the Strictness of Customs Inspection for Transit Trade Declaration in 2026?" description: "A transit trade enterprise was subject to strict customs inspection due to inconsistent document logic，resulting in high port detention fees for goods. Conducting pre document review，optimizing logistics routes and mastering on-site inspection response skills can effectively reduce the inspection rate，ensure fast customs clearance of goods，control costs，and achieve a balance between compliance and efficiency.。" url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-transit-trade-customs-inspection-changes.html" language: "en" type: "Q&A" category: "Entrepôt Trade Q&A" datePublished: "2026-10-19" dateModified: "2026-10-19" brand: "Zhongshen Trading China" answerCount: 8 --- # What New Changes Will Be Implemented in the Strictness of Customs Inspection for Transit Trade Declaration in 2026? ## Question I am the owner of a small and medium-sized enterprise engaged in Southeast Asian transit trade. Recently, two shipments of rubber products transited from Malaysia to the EU were both inspected by customs, which not only delayed the shipping schedule, but also incurred port detention fees and devanning fees, causing losses of tens of thousands of yuan. I prepared documents for these two shipments following the previous process, why is the inspection suddenly so strict? Now the customer is urging for the goods urgently, and another inspection may lead to loss of the order. I want to know if transit trade inspection has really become stricter in 2026? Which links are most prone to problems that lead to inspection? Is there any way to reduce the inspection rate, or how to handle it quickly to reduce losses if inspection happens? I am really anxious and hope to get professional answers. ## Answers ### Answer 1 — Best Answer Many transit trade enterprises have a common misunderstanding: they believe that transit trade documents only need to be "consistent on the surface"，ignoring the logical closed loop between documents. For the transit of rubber products you mentioned，for example，if there are minor differences between the cargo description on the bill of lading and the descriptions on the certificate of origin and commercial invoice (such as mismatched specifications and models)，or the logistics trajectory of the transit port does not match the document records，it is very easy to trigger customs risk warnings and result in strict inspection. Once inspected，a chain of negative reactions will spread rapidly: first is the accumulation of port detention fees and devanning fees (usually calculated by day，and daily port detention fees in EU ports can exceed USD 500)，second is shipping schedule delay，if you miss the customer's delivery deadline，you may face order cancellation or penalty for breach of contract，more seriously，if document forgery or mismatched cargo description is found during inspection，the goods may be seized，and even affect the enterprise's customs credit rating，leading to a sharp rise in the inspection rate of all subsequent shipments. Physical risk isolation measures shall be carried out from three aspects: first，conduct pre document review to ensure that the cargo description，quantity，weight and transit route of all documents (bill of lading，certificate of origin，commercial invoice，packing list) are completely consistent，**focus on checking the matching between logistics documents of the transit port (such as inbound/outbound forms of the transit warehouse) and the customs declaration form**，second，optimize logistics routes，choose transit port warehouses with good reputation，and avoid using high-risk transit locations，third，communicate with the customs broker in advance to conduct pre-declaration risk assessment for high-risk goods (such as rubber，textiles，etc.). Exclusive loss reduction tips: If the goods have been inspected，first provide the customs broker with a full set of compliant documents quickly，**avoid extended inspection time caused by missing documents**，second，if it involves minor errors in cargo description or quantity，you can communicate with customs through on-site inspection experts and provide supplementary explanatory documents (such as factory quality inspection reports)，finally，if port detention fees are incurred，you can apply for partial exemption from the transit port warehouse with the customs inspection notice，or negotiate with the logistics provider to share part of the fees. **status:** accepted **Author:** Linda Gao **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 2 When declaring transit trade, customs inspection focuses on the logical consistency of documents and the rationality of cargo value. If the cargo value on the customs declaration form deviates from the market price of the same type of goods by more than 10%, or the country of origin on the certificate of origin conflicts with the logistics trajectory of the transit port, it will trigger price review or inspection. It is recommended to check the latest customs price review database through the customs broker before declaration to ensure the declared cargo value is reasonable; at the same time, all documents shall be affixed with formal seals, and scanned copies or blurred seals shall be avoided, so as not to be judged as invalid documents. **status:** suggested **Author:** Eric Zhou **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 3 In transit trade, the choice of logistics route directly affects the inspection rate. It is recommended to prioritize direct transit solutions to avoid complex logistics trajectories caused by multiple transits; if multiple transits are necessary, ensure that the bill of lading endorsement for each logistics segment is clear and the cargo right transfer records are complete. In addition, negotiation of free storage period and container detention fee is also very important. You can sign an agreement with the logistics provider to strive for a longer free storage period (such as 14 days) to cope with delays caused by unexpected inspections. **status:** suggested **Author:** Evelyn Li **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 4 The tax risks of transit trade mainly come from VAT deferral and related party transaction pricing. If transit goods appreciate in the transit country (such as through simple processing), VAT shall be paid in accordance with the tax laws of the transit country, otherwise it may be identified as tax evasion by customs and trigger strict inspection. It is recommended to consult a tax consultant before transit to clarify the tax policies of the transit country, reasonably plan the pricing strategy, and avoid inspection caused by tax issues. **status:** suggested **Author:** Lucas Liu **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 5 Payment collection and payment for transit trade shall comply with cross-border payment compliance requirements. If the transaction description in the SWIFT message is inconsistent with the cargo description on the customs declaration form, or the capital return path of the offshore account is unclear, it may be warned by the foreign exchange administration, which will then link with customs to strengthen inspection. It is recommended to use the CIPS RMB cross-border payment system to ensure that the payment and collection information fully matches the customs declaration form; at the same time, keep all payment and collection vouchers for subsequent verification. **status:** suggested **Author:** Jason Wu **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 6 Soft clauses in letters of credit may hide inspection risks in transit trade. For example, if the letter of credit requires "the third-party inspection certificate shall be issued by an institution in the transit country", if the qualification of the institution is not recognized by customs, it will lead to inconsistent documents and trigger inspection. It is recommended that before signing the letter of credit, all clauses shall be reviewed by legal experts to delete unreasonable soft clauses; at the same time, ensure that the issuing institution of the third-party inspection certificate has customs recognized qualification. **status:** suggested **Author:** Daniel Xu **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 7 If the goods are inspected on site, please pay attention to the following points: first, cooperate with customs personnel for inspection, do not try to conceal or modify cargo information; second, if the seal is found damaged, immediately notify the customs broker and take photos to retain evidence; finally, if customs requires sample testing, select a laboratory designated by customs to ensure the authority of the test report. In addition, being familiar with the "inspection reason code" on the inspection notice can help you quickly identify the problem and solve it targeted. **status:** suggested **Author:** Cindy Chen **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 8 From the perspective of supply chain planning, reducing the transit trade inspection rate requires optimizing the trade structure. It is recommended to adopt the "virtual transit warehouse" mode, integrate transit logistics information through a digital platform, and realize real-time synchronization of documents and logistics trajectories; at the same time, establish an inventory linkage strategy, stock up in advance according to customer demand, and avoid hasty document preparation caused by urgent delivery. In addition, when choosing CIF trade terms, it is necessary to clarify the scope of responsibility of the logistics provider to ensure that the logistics provider can provide complete transit logistics documents. **status:** suggested **Author:** Andy Guo **Date:** 2026-10-19 ## Related Categories - [Import Agency Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-import-agency/) - [Export Agency Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-export-agency/) - [Export Tax Rebate Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-export-tax-rebate/) - [Customs Declaration Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-customs-declaration/) - [Freight Forwarding Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-freight-forwarding/) - [Forex Settlement Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-forex-settlement/) - [General Trade Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-general-trade/) ## Related Resources - [Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/services/) - [Trade Cases](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/cases/) - [Trade Wiki](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/wiki/) - [Trade Class](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/guide/) - [Global Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/country/) ## Structured Data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "QAPage", "inLanguage":"en", "isPartOf": { "@id":"https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/#website" }, "publisher":{ "@id":"https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/#organization" }, "mainEntity": { "@type": "Question", "name": "What New Changes Will Be Implemented in the Strictness of Customs Inspection for Transit Trade Declaration in 2026?", "text": "I am the owner of a small and medium-sized enterprise engaged in Southeast Asian transit trade. Recently, two shipments of rubber products transited from Malaysia to the EU were both inspected by customs, which not only delayed the shipping schedule, but also incurred port detention fees and devanning fees, causing losses of tens of thousands of yuan. I prepared documents for these two shipments following the previous process, why is the inspection suddenly so strict? Now the customer is urging for the goods urgently, and another inspection may lead to loss of the order. I want to know if transit trade inspection has really become stricter in 2026? Which links are most prone to problems that lead to inspection? Is there any way to reduce the inspection rate, or how to handle it quickly to reduce losses if inspection happens? I am really anxious and hope to get professional answers.", "answerCount": 8, "upvoteCount": 5, "datePublished": "2026-10-19T16:40:21Z", "dateModified": "2026-10-19T16:52:27Z", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhongshen Trading China", "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-transit-trade-customs-inspection-changes.html" } ,"acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Many transit trade enterprises have a common misunderstanding: they believe that transit trade documents only need to be "consistent on the surface"，ignoring the logical closed loop between documents. For the transit of rubber products you mentioned，for example，if there are minor differences between the cargo description on the bill of lading and the descriptions on the certificate of origin and commercial invoice (such as mismatched specifications and models)，or the logistics trajectory of the transit port does not match the document records，it is very easy to trigger customs risk warnings and result in strict inspection. Once inspected，a chain of negative reactions will spread rapidly: first is the accumulation of port detention fees and devanning fees (usually calculated by day，and daily port detention fees in EU ports can exceed USD 500)，second is shipping schedule delay，if you miss the customer's delivery deadline，you may face order cancellation or penalty for breach of contract，more seriously，if document forgery or mismatched cargo description is found during inspection，the goods may be seized，and even affect the enterprise's customs credit rating，leading to a sharp rise in the inspection rate of all subsequent shipments. Physical risk isolation measures shall be carried out from three aspects: first，conduct pre document review to ensure that the cargo description，quantity，weight and transit route of all documents (bill of lading，certificate of origin，commercial invoice，packing list) are completely consistent， focus on checking the matching between logistics documents of the transit port (such as inbound/outbound forms of the transit warehouse) and the customs declaration form ，second，optimize logistics routes，choose transit port warehouses with good reputation，and avoid using high-risk transit locations，third，communicate with the customs broker in advance to conduct pre-declaration risk assessment for high-risk goods (such as rubber，textiles，etc.). Exclusive loss reduction tips: If the goods have been inspected，first provide the customs broker with a full set of compliant documents quickly， avoid extended inspection time caused by missing documents ，second，if it involves minor errors in cargo description or quantity，you can communicate with customs through on-site inspection experts and provide supplementary explanatory documents (such as factory quality inspection reports)，finally，if port detention fees are incurred，you can apply for partial exemption from the transit port warehouse with the customs inspection notice，or negotiate with the logistics provider to share part of the fees.", "upvoteCount": 5, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-transit-trade-customs-inspection-changes.html#acceptedAnswer", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T17:14:19Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Linda Gao","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/linda-gao/"} } ,"suggestedAnswer": [ { "@type": "Answer", "text": "When declaring transit trade, customs inspection focuses on the logical consistency of documents and the rationality of cargo value. If the cargo value on the customs declaration form deviates from the market price of the same type of goods by more than 10%, or the country of origin on the certificate of origin conflicts with the logistics trajectory of the transit port, it will trigger price review or inspection. It is recommended to check the latest customs price review database through the customs broker before declaration to ensure the declared cargo value is reasonable; at the same time, all documents shall be affixed with formal seals, and scanned copies or blurred seals shall be avoided, so as not to be judged as invalid documents.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-transit-trade-customs-inspection-changes.html#suggestedAnswer-2", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T17:03:44Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Eric Zhou","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/eric-zhou/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "In transit trade, the choice of logistics route directly affects the inspection rate. It is recommended to prioritize direct transit solutions to avoid complex logistics trajectories caused by multiple transits; if multiple transits are necessary, ensure that the bill of lading endorsement for each logistics segment is clear and the cargo right transfer records are complete. In addition, negotiation of free storage period and container detention fee is also very important. You can sign an agreement with the logistics provider to strive for a longer free storage period (such as 14 days) to cope with delays caused by unexpected inspections.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-transit-trade-customs-inspection-changes.html#suggestedAnswer-3", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T17:03:07Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Evelyn Li","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/evelyn-li/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The tax risks of transit trade mainly come from VAT deferral and related party transaction pricing. If transit goods appreciate in the transit country (such as through simple processing), VAT shall be paid in accordance with the tax laws of the transit country, otherwise it may be identified as tax evasion by customs and trigger strict inspection. It is recommended to consult a tax consultant before transit to clarify the tax policies of the transit country, reasonably plan the pricing strategy, and avoid inspection caused by tax issues.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-transit-trade-customs-inspection-changes.html#suggestedAnswer-4", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T17:00:57Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Lucas Liu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/lucas-liu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Payment collection and payment for transit trade shall comply with cross-border payment compliance requirements. If the transaction description in the SWIFT message is inconsistent with the cargo description on the customs declaration form, or the capital return path of the offshore account is unclear, it may be warned by the foreign exchange administration, which will then link with customs to strengthen inspection. It is recommended to use the CIPS RMB cross-border payment system to ensure that the payment and collection information fully matches the customs declaration form; at the same time, keep all payment and collection vouchers for subsequent verification.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-transit-trade-customs-inspection-changes.html#suggestedAnswer-5", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T16:59:39Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Jason Wu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/jason-wu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Soft clauses in letters of credit may hide inspection risks in transit trade. For example, if the letter of credit requires "the third-party inspection certificate shall be issued by an institution in the transit country", if the qualification of the institution is not recognized by customs, it will lead to inconsistent documents and trigger inspection. It is recommended that before signing the letter of credit, all clauses shall be reviewed by legal experts to delete unreasonable soft clauses; at the same time, ensure that the issuing institution of the third-party inspection certificate has customs recognized qualification.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-transit-trade-customs-inspection-changes.html#suggestedAnswer-6", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T16:57:42Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Daniel Xu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/daniel-xu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "If the goods are inspected on site, please pay attention to the following points: first, cooperate with customs personnel for inspection, do not try to conceal or modify cargo information; second, if the seal is found damaged, immediately notify the customs broker and take photos to retain evidence; finally, if customs requires sample testing, select a laboratory designated by customs to ensure the authority of the test report. In addition, being familiar with the "inspection reason code" on the inspection notice can help you quickly identify the problem and solve it targeted.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-transit-trade-customs-inspection-changes.html#suggestedAnswer-7", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T16:54:57Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Cindy Chen","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/cindy-chen/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "From the perspective of supply chain planning, reducing the transit trade inspection rate requires optimizing the trade structure. It is recommended to adopt the "virtual transit warehouse" mode, integrate transit logistics information through a digital platform, and realize real-time synchronization of documents and logistics trajectories; at the same time, establish an inventory linkage strategy, stock up in advance according to customer demand, and avoid hasty document preparation caused by urgent delivery. In addition, when choosing CIF trade terms, it is necessary to clarify the scope of responsibility of the logistics provider to ensure that the logistics provider can provide complete transit logistics documents.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-transit-trade-customs-inspection-changes.html#suggestedAnswer-8", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T16:52:27Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Andy Guo","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/andy-guo/"} } ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Entrepôt Trade Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-entrepot-trade/"} ,{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What New Changes Will Be Implemented in the Strictness of Customs Inspection for Transit Trade Declaration in 2026?"} ] } ] ```