What are the key steps in the whole process of imported beverage procurement agency?

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I am the owner of a newly established beverage trading company. Recently, I want to expand the procurement channels of imported fruit juice and sparkling water, but I know nothing about the import agency process. I have contacted two European suppliers before, and they require me to confirm the logistics plan next week.

However, I learned that some peers had their goods detained at the port for a week due to inconsistent documents, which not only caused loss of container detention fees but also missed the peak sales season, so I am very anxious. I don't know what kind of agency company is reliable, nor what special documents need to be prepared for customs declaration, such as how to handle the quarantine certificate for beverages, whether the customs will intentionally raise the price during valuation, and whether the VAT deferral policy can help me ease the capital pressure. Now the delivery time is imminent, but I don't even know what to do first. I am so worried that I can't sleep well at night, and I hope experts can help me sort out my thoughts.

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Expert Q&A

Cindy Chen
Cindy ChenYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

Key Account ManagerStart a Chat

The full-link process of imported beverage procurement agency starts with pre-document review. First of all,it is necessary to confirm whether the documents provided by the supplier are complete,including certificate of origin,health certificate,component analysis report,label filing certificate,etc. Among them,label filing certificate needs to be submitted to the system of the General Administration of Customs in advance to ensure that the Chinese label complies with GB7718 standard,so as to avoid unqualified inspection caused by label problems.

For core node connection,the customs declaration link should be synchronized with logistics. 3 days before the goods arrive at the port,the agency company should complete the pre-declaration,and upload the documents to the customs in advance through the integrated customs clearance system to reduce the waiting time after arrival. In case of customs valuation,it is necessary to provide procurement contracts,foreign exchange payment vouchers,transaction price certificates of similar goods,etc。to ensure a closed loop of price logic,and avoid port detention caused by valuation disputes.

Exception response plans cannot be ignored. If the goods are inspected,it is necessary to cooperate with on-site inspection experts to provide relevant materials,such as MSDS reports (for beverages containing additives),if documents are missing,you should immediately contact the supplier for reissuance and apply to the customs for delayed declaration. In addition,you can compliantly apply for VAT deferral in the tax link,postponing the payment time of import value-added tax to the sales link,so as to ease the capital pressure.

The final compliant implementation needs to ensure the consistency of four flows: contract flow,goods flow,capital flow and invoice flow are completely matched. The agency company should assist enterprises to establish a document filing system,and keep all relevant documents for at least 5 years for tax correspondence and customs verification. Through the above steps,efficient and compliant operation of imported beverage agency can be realized.

Reference: A Comprehensive Guide to Importing Coffee from Australia: Professional Agency Services Focused on Two Core Aspects—Documentation and Logistics
Grace Wang
Grace WangYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0

Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat

Valuation disputes are common problems in the customs declaration of imported beverages. The customs will review the price of goods in accordance with the Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China for the Determination of Dutiable Value of Imported and Exported Goods. If the price provided by the enterprise is lower than the transaction price of similar goods recognized by the customs, it is necessary to submit supporting materials such as procurement contracts, foreign exchange payment slips, and supplier profit statements to explain the rationality of the price.

For example, if the beverage is in the new product promotion period, a promotion agreement can be provided as supporting evidence. In addition, the commodity code should be accurately filled in when declaring the customs declaration form, so as to avoid tax rate differences or inspection caused by code errors. In case of document deletion and re-declaration, it should be completed within the time limit specified by the customs, otherwise a delayed declaration fee will be incurred.

Evelyn Li
Evelyn LiYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat

The optimization of imported beverage logistics routes needs to consider the balance between transportation time and cost. Although the direct shipping scheme is fast, the cost is relatively high; the transit scheme can reduce the cost, but attention should be paid to the risk of container rollover at the transit port.

When choosing CIF trade terms, the scope of responsibility of the supplier should be clarified to ensure that the goods are covered by insurance during transportation. In addition, after the goods arrive at the port, customs clearance should be completed within the free storage period.

If overtime is expected, you should apply for extension of the free storage period or transfer to a bonded warehouse in advance to avoid container detention fees. When endorsing and transferring the bill of lading, the legality of the endorser should be confirmed to ensure the smooth transfer of cargo rights.

Daniel Xu
Daniel XuYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0

Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat

The VAT deferral policy is widely used in imported beverage agency business. Enterprises can apply for VAT deferral from the customs, postponing the payment time of import value-added tax to the sales link to ease capital pressure. However, two conditions must be met: first, the enterprise is a general taxpayer, and second, the goods are used for taxable sales.

In addition, the pricing of cross-border related party transactions should comply with the arm's length principle to avoid being identified as profit transfer by the tax authority. In terms of withholding tax for non-resident enterprises, if the commission paid to overseas suppliers exceeds 5%, the withholding income tax should be withheld and paid in accordance with regulations to ensure tax compliance.

Jason Wu
Jason WuYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0

International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat

The payment and receipt of foreign exchange for imported beverages should comply with the regulations of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. The SWIFT message should accurately fill in the transaction code (such as 101010) to ensure that the purpose of funds is consistent with the actual trade. In the management of offshore accounts, enterprises should conduct regular annual account review to avoid account freezing.

When settling foreign exchange, you can compare the exchange rates of multiple banks and choose the optimal foreign exchange purchase scheme to reduce exchange rate losses. CIPS RMB cross-border payment can improve payment efficiency and reduce intermediate links, which is suitable for large-value transactions.

Michael Zhang
Michael ZhangYears of service:6Customer Rating:5.0

Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat

The imported beverage agency contract should clarify the rights and obligations of both parties. Special attention should be paid to the soft clauses of letters of credit. Clauses such as "the bill of lading shall be confirmed by the L/C applicant" may lead to loss of control of cargo rights, and should be avoided as far as possible. The force majeure clause should cover all possible situations.

For example, if the goods are delayed due to the epidemic, part of the responsibility can be exempted according to the clause. Intellectual property customs protection filing can prevent the import of infringing goods. Enterprises should submit filing applications to the customs in advance to protect their own rights and interests.

Victor Sun
Victor SunYears of service:5Customer Rating:5.0

Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat

During the on-site inspection of imported beverages, attention should be paid to the authenticity identification of seals. If the seal is damaged, you should take photos immediately to record and contact the logistics supplier for verification. Before unpacking inspection, you should prepare relevant documents such as health certificate and component report.

When passing the machine inspection, the goods should be placed reasonably to avoid blocking key parts and causing misjudgment. In case of sampling and inspection, you should cooperate with the customs to send samples to the designated laboratory, and follow up the test report results in time to facilitate rapid customs clearance.

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