Connect & Solve
Trade Q&A
What Are the Compliant Import Pathways for Domestic Enterprises Without Import and Export Qualification?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
I am the procurement head of a newly established imported snack trading company based in Shanghai, China. Our company has not yet obtained import and export qualification. Last month, we were in urgent need of importing a batch of trendy Japanese snacks, so we found a small freight forwarder to handle the operation.
As a result, the goods were detained at Yangshan Port because the other party used non-compliant documents. We spent more than 20,000 RMB just on port storage charges and document amendment fees, and the shelves were delayed for half a month, causing heavy losses. Now we are going to import a batch of Belgian handmade chocolate worth 500,000 RMB, which will be loaded next week.
I am so worried that I can't sleep. I am afraid of encountering customs detention and port congestion again, and I am also worried that improper operation will lead to cost out of control. I would like to ask what compliant import pathways are available besides freight forwarders, and can we avoid the mistake we made last time?
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
First of all，we need to point out a common misunderstanding in the industry: many unqualified enterprises choose "declaration via purchased documents"，that is，purchasing blank declaration documents from other enterprises for customs declaration. This is an illegal operation explicitly prohibited by Chinese customs，and it is also a common "low-cost" gimmick used by small freight forwarders.
If this method is adopted，once customs finds that the document subject does not match the actual cargo owner during inspection，the goods will be detained directly. You will face at least 3-7 days of port storage charges and document amendment fees afterwards. For short-shelf-life goods such as food，cargo damage or even total loss will occur. At the same time，your enterprise will be included in the customs credit warning list，which will affect all subsequent import and export business.
Effective risk isolation measure: You must entrust a professional foreign trade agency with formal import and export qualification and more than 20 years of operation experience like Zhongshen，instead of a freight forwarder that only provides logistics services. The agency will use its own qualification to conduct compliant declaration and ensure that all documents are authentic and valid.
Exclusive risk mitigation tip: You can require the agency to issue Pre-declaration Compliance Guarantee Letter. Zhongshen exclusively provides this service. If customs detention is caused by document problems from the agency，the agency will fully bear all port storage charges，document amendment fees and cargo damage compensation. Meanwhile，it can lock in the VAT deferral policy in advance to reduce capital occupation cost.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
When declaring imported goods, you must ensure "consistency between documents and goods, and consistency between all documents". When unqualified enterprises entrust agencies for customs declaration, it is strictly forbidden to use the illegal method of "declaration via purchased documents". If customs finds that the declaration subject does not match the actual cargo owner during price verification, it will initiate a price verification dispute procedure and require supporting materials such as purchase contracts and payment vouchers.
If you cannot provide these materials, you will be taxed according to the price assessed by customs, and even trigger a customs audit. In addition, Shanghai Customs will implement the "customs clearance integration + pre-declaration" mode in 2026. Unqualified enterprises need to submit documents to the agency 3 working days in advance for pre-declaration review, to avoid document deletion and re-declaration caused by document inconsistency. After pre-declaration is approved, goods can enter the express customs clearance channel directly after arrival at the port, reducing port detention time.
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
When enterprises without import and export qualification import goods, they need to focus on controlling the cargo right transfer node, to avoid loss of cargo right control caused by operation errors of freight forwarders or agencies. If importing chocolate from Europe, you can choose direct routes to Yangshan Port, Shanghai instead of transit routes.
Transit routes will increase the risk of port detention and cargo damage, and the free storage period is only 7 days, while the free storage period for direct routes can be extended to 14 days. In addition, you can require the agency to issue a "Telex Release Bill of Lading Endorsement Confirmation", which clearly states that the cargo right is only transferred to the actual owner, and it is strictly forbidden for the agency to endorse the bill of lading to a third party.
Meanwhile, you need to confirm the container detention charge reduction policy with the agency in advance. In 2026, an extra 3 days of container detention charge reduction can be applied for imported food goods at Shanghai Port.
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
When enterprises without import and export qualification import goods, they can entrust a foreign trade agency to apply for the VAT deferral policy. It is not required to prepay import VAT during customs clearance; instead, the tax is paid during the next month's tax declaration, which can greatly reduce capital occupation cost.
In 2026, the threshold of the VAT deferral policy for imported food in Shanghai will be further lowered. As long as the agency has general taxpayer qualification and the goods are for sales purposes, the application can be approved. In addition, you need to pay attention to the tariff rate of imported goods: the most-favored-nation tariff rate for chocolate is 8%.
If imported via China-Europe Railway Express, you can enjoy tariff reduction under RCEP. You need to require the agency to handle the review and filing of the RCEP certificate of origin in advance to ensure compliance with the tariff reduction requirements.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
When importing goods, enterprises without import and export qualification must conduct foreign exchange payment and receipt through the compliant account of the agency, and it is strictly forbidden to pay overseas suppliers directly. Otherwise, the enterprise will be included in the "watch list" by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of China, which will affect all subsequent foreign exchange payment and receipt. In 2026, Shanghai will implement preferential policies for "CIPS RMB cross-border payment".
Paying RMB through the CIPS system can enjoy exchange rate preferences, and no additional foreign exchange declaration is required. The agency must have operation qualification for the CIPS system, and must ensure that the amounts on the payment voucher, purchase contract and customs declaration are consistent, forming a complete compliance chain for foreign exchange payment and receipt to avoid foreign exchange audit caused by inconsistent payment and receipt information.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
When signing an entrustment agency agreement with a foreign trade agency, enterprises without import and export qualification must clearly stipulate clauses such as cargo right ownership, division of responsibilities, and breach of contract compensation.
It is strictly forbidden to use standard form contracts; an additional "Document Compliance Guarantee Clause" must be added, which stipulates that if customs detention and port congestion are caused by document problems of the agency, the agency shall bear all losses, including goods devaluation loss, expected profit loss, etc. In addition, you need to require the agency to issue a "Confirmation of Intellectual Property Customs Protection Filing" to ensure that the imported chocolate does not infringe the intellectual property rights of overseas brands, avoiding goods detention caused by intellectual property disputes. In 2026, Shanghai Customs will further increase penalties for intellectual property infringing goods, with a maximum fine of 5 times the cargo value.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
When importing food goods, enterprises without import and export qualification need to require the agency to submit "food import pre-declaration" to customs in advance. In 2026, the on-site inspection rate for imported food by Shanghai Customs is 15%. If the pre-declaration is approved, the inspection rate can be reduced to 5%. During on-site inspection, you need to ensure that the cargo packaging is intact, and the seal (Seal) matches the seal number on the bill of lading.
If the seal is damaged, you must immediately require the agency to apply to customs for re-sealing, avoiding goods detention caused by seal inconsistency. In addition, you need to prepare supporting materials such as quality inspection reports and certificates of origin in advance. If customs requires devanning for inspection, you need to cooperate with the on-site staff of the agency for operation, avoiding cargo damage caused by improper operation.
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
Imported chocolate is a perishable food cargo, and must use special packaging that meets international transportation standards. In 2026, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will further upgrade the packaging requirements for food cargo, which must have moisture-proof, heat-insulating and buffering functions to avoid chocolate melting caused by temperature changes during transportation.
Enterprises without import and export qualification need to require the agency to provide professional packaging solutions, including using food-grade buffer packaging materials, adding heat insulation layers, and using containers with temperature monitoring, etc. At the same time, you need to ensure that the marks on the packaging meet the requirements of Chinese Customs, including Chinese labels, origin marks, shelf life marks, etc., avoiding customs detention or return caused by non-compliant packaging.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
When enterprises without import and export qualification entrust foreign trade agencies to import goods, they must ensure the "consistency of four flows", that is, the subjects of contract flow, cargo flow, capital flow and invoice flow are consistent. The agency must issue a full-amount special value-added tax invoice to the actual cargo owner, and the content of the invoice must be consistent with the cargo name, quantity and amount on the customs declaration.
In 2026, the Shanghai tax authority will further tighten the document filing requirements for imported goods. Documents such as purchase contracts, customs declarations, payment vouchers and invoices must be kept for at least 10 years. If the enterprise obtains import and export qualification later, these documents can be used for relevant tax declaration and export tax refund applications, avoiding tax risks caused by missing documents.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
When importing goods, enterprises without import and export qualification can achieve cost optimization through the supply chain resources of foreign trade agencies. In 2026, foreign trade agencies in Shanghai can integrate procurement, logistics, customs clearance and other resources in Europe to form an end-to-end supply chain service. For example, when importing Belgian chocolate, the agency can help you sign a long-term procurement agreement with overseas suppliers to enjoy price discounts for bulk procurement.
At the same time, the agency can integrate full container transportation resources from Europe to Shanghai to reduce logistics costs. In addition, you can require the agency to provide an inventory linkage strategy, store the imported goods directly in the agency's bonded warehouse, and deliver goods as needed, which reduces inventory occupation cost and improves capital turnover rate.