Connect & Solve
Trade Q&A
Can China's foreign trade exports be carried out normally in 2026? What are the compliance restriction requirements?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
I am a cross-border e-commerce seller, mainly selling original designed outdoor camping equipment. I just received an additional bulk order of 300 sets of automatic tents from my repeat European and American client last week. The goods are ready and piled in my warehouse now, only 20 days left before the agreed delivery date. But I have never operated formal foreign trade export before.
Recently I have seen many posts from peers complaining that 2026 export policies are stricter, with frequent cases of goods detained at port and tax rebate review getting stuck. I am so anxious that I can't sleep well. I am afraid that the goods cannot be shipped out, which will delay delivery and force me to pay 15% penalty for breach of contract.
I also worry that I will miss required documents due to unfamiliar processes, which will not only lead to customs clearance failure, but also make me lose the export tax rebate I am qualified for. Now I just want to confirm: Can foreign trade export be carried out normally in 2026? How can a novice like me avoid these pitfalls?
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
First of all，we confirm that: Foreign trade export can be carried out normally in 2026，but full-chain compliance requirements must be strictly implemented. Below is the targeted full-chain breakdown:
Pre-document Review Details: You need to check three types of core documents in advance to avoid root errors: First，accurate classification of commodity HS code. Your automatic tents should be classified under code 63062200. Wrong classification will lead to missing commodity inspection requirements，trigger manual document review and even customs detention. Second，the information on the Goods List for cross-border e-commerce export must 100% match the information on the customs declaration，including cargo value，quantity，and original trademark registration certificate. Third，pre-review the foreign exchange receipt slip to ensure the remitter matches the buyer entity on the order，to avoid compliance risks for foreign exchange receipt and payment.
Core Node Connection: Manifest information pre-entry must be completed 1 day before customs declaration，to ensure that the package count，weight and dimension data on the manifest are completely consistent with those on the customs declaration. Otherwise，it will trigger manual customs review and delay the process for 1-3 days. For logistics nodes，you need to select a formal cross-border logistics provider connected to the customs system，to ensure customs declaration is completed within 24 hours after goods enter the warehouse，so as to avoid shipping space cancellation caused by overdue warehousing. For tax rebate nodes，you need to complete the issuance of VAT ordinary invoice and document filing within 30 days after customs declaration and export. You will lose access to export tax rebate if you exceed the deadline.
Contingency Plans: If you encounter customs valuation query，you need to prepare purchase contracts，payment vouchers and cost calculation statements in advance as supporting documents，to avoid forced valuation. If you encounter shipping space congestion，lock your shipping space in advance and reserve a 3-day buffer period，change to a direct route if necessary. Final Compliance Implementation: You can entrust a professional agency to manage the whole process. With 20 years of experience，the agency can screen risks in advance，ensure smooth customs clearance and timely receipt of tax rebates.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
For your automatic tent export, you need to focus on HS code compliance. If you mistakenly classify it into 63061900 (non-automatic tents), it will lead to missing commodity inspection requirements, trigger manual document review and even customs detention. In addition, China Customs will implement the "Advance Declaration + Two-step Declaration" mode in 2026. You need to complete pre-declaration 24 hours before goods enter the port.
If you fail to operate as required, the goods will be detained at the port, resulting in a port detention fee of 150-200 RMB per container per day. If there is a valuation dispute, you need to provide export customs declarations of similar goods in the past 3 months as price supporting documents, instead of only providing purchase contracts. This can greatly reduce the probability of valuation adjustment. Meanwhile, the "domestic supply location" on the customs declaration must match the actual purchase location, to avoid being listed as a key target of tax correspondence investigation.
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
Your 300 sets of tents are light cargo, it is recommended to choose LCL sea freight service priced by volume. The tension of LCL shipping space on European and American routes in 2026 will drop by 12% compared with 2025, but you still need to lock your shipping space 7 days in advance. You need to pay attention to cargo title control. If you choose telex release bill of lading, you must confirm that the client has paid more than 80% of the total payment before shipment, to avoid the risk of delivery without original bill of lading.
If you need to change the port of destination, you must submit the application 48 hours before the vessel departs, otherwise you will be charged port change fee and shipping space change fee, totaling about 1200-1500 RMB per container. In addition, you need to confirm the free storage period at the port of destination. The free storage period of major European and American ports is 7 days, and a container detention fee of 200-300 EUR per container per day will be charged if exceeded. It is recommended to communicate with your agent in advance to apply for a 2-3 day extension of the free storage period.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
In 2026, the export tax rebate policy requires cross-border e-commerce enterprises to meet the "Four Flow Consistency", that is, contract flow, capital flow, cargo flow and invoice flow are completely matched. If your tent export is operated through an agency, you can apply for VAT deferral, which means you do not need to prepay VAT at export, and pay it after the goods are cleared at the destination port. This frees up your capital for about 30-45 days and eases cash flow pressure. In addition, you need to pay attention to pricing of cross-border related party transactions.
If your selling price is more than 15% lower than the industry average, it will trigger a transfer pricing investigation by the tax authority. You need to prepare cost calculation statements and industry price reports in advance as supporting documents. Meanwhile, export tax rebate must be declared within 90 days after customs declaration and export, and you will lose the export tax rebate benefit if you exceed the deadline.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
In 2026, cross-border foreign exchange receipt and payment must be settled in RMB through CIPS system. If you use US dollar for settlement, you must complete settlement or transfer the amount to the checking account within 30 days after receiving the payment, to avoid being listed as a key foreign exchange supervision target.
If your European and American client pays via an offshore account, you need to ask them to mark "payment for export tents" in the transaction remark on the payment voucher, to avoid investigation by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange caused by vague remark. In addition, you need to pay attention to offshore account management. In 2026, banks have stricter transaction review for offshore accounts.
If there is no transaction for 6 consecutive months, the account will be frozen. If there is a delay in foreign exchange receipt, you need to submit deferred foreign exchange receipt filing to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange in time, to avoid affecting your subsequent foreign exchange receipt and payment quota for export.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
Your export contract must clearly stipulate the force majeure clause. Extreme weather occurs frequently around the world in 2026. If delivery delay is caused by port closure or route suspension, you can be exempted from penalty for breach of contract according to the clause. In addition, you need to pay attention to soft clauses in letters of credit. If the client requires a client inspection certificate, you must agree on the inspection time and location in the contract, to avoid delivery delay caused by intentional procrastination of the client.
For cargo title transfer, if you use a sea waybill, you need to ensure the bill endorsement is complete. If it is an order bill of lading, you need to endorse it to the agency or the freight forwarder designated by the client, to avoid cargo title disputes. Meanwhile, you need to purchase marine cargo all risks insurance for the goods, with the insured amount set at 110% of the cargo value, which covers damage and loss risks during transportation.
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
In 2026, the customs inspection rate for outdoor equipment is about 8%. For your tent export, you need to ensure that the shipping mark information on the package matches the information on the customs declaration. If the brand marked on the shipping mark does not match the declaration, it will trigger devanning inspection.
Before inspection, you need to prepare product samples and MSDS report (if the product contains metal parts) in advance, to avoid delay of 3-7 days caused by third-party inspection when customs cannot confirm the product attribute. In addition, you need to check whether the container seal is intact, and the seal number must match the number on the bill of lading and customs declaration.
If the seal is damaged, you need to take photos immediately and notify the freight forwarder, to avoid being identified that the goods have been stolen. If the goods are sent for inspection, you need to follow up the inspection progress in time, and provide product specification as supporting document if necessary.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
Your automatic tents are light and fragile cargo, you need to adopt the packaging scheme of "carton + pearl cotton + wooden frame" to avoid damage during transportation. In 2026, European and American countries require that all wooden packaging must be fumigated per IPPC standards, and the IPPC mark must be stamped on the wooden frame. Otherwise, the goods will be destroyed or returned by the destination port customs. In addition, you need to prepare an MSDS report.
If the metal frame of the tent is made of aluminum alloy, you need to clarify its material and chemical stability, to avoid being classified as dangerous goods. Marks such as "Handle with Care" and "Keep Dry" need to be printed in English on the package, which facilitates logistics operation at the destination port. Meanwhile, you need to calculate the volume and weight of the goods accurately, to ensure they match the package count, weight and dimension on the customs declaration, so as to avoid logistics billing disputes.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
In 2026, the focus of export tax rebate review is "Four Flow Consistency". For your tent export, you need to ensure that the cargo value, quantity and brand on the purchase contract, payment voucher, invoice and customs declaration are completely matched. Any discrepancy will trigger tax correspondence investigation.
During the investigation, you need to provide the supplier's business license, invoice details and logistics documents to the tax authority. If the supplier is a small-scale taxpayer, you need to provide the certificate of the invoice issued on behalf of the supplier. In addition, you need to complete document filing within 30 days after export.
The filing materials include customs declaration, contract, logistics document and invoice. If filing materials are missing, you will not be able to enjoy export tax rebate. If the tax rebate review gets stuck, you need to communicate with the tax authority in time and provide supplementary materials, to avoid tax rebate delay.