--- title: "Can domestic import companies with formal import and export operation rights provide full-process import agency services?" description: "Many import enterprises encounter difficulties such as port detention and cost overruns due to lack of qualifications and unfamiliarity with procedures. Choosing a professional foreign trade agent can open up the full link from document review，customs declaration and clearance to tax and foreign exchange compliance. Relying on the industry experience of senior institutions，they can also provide pre-risk investigation，abnormal emergency response and exclusive loss-stopping solutions，helping enter..." url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-company-with-ie-rights-can-provide-full-process-import-agency.html" language: "en" type: "Q&A" category: "General Trade Q&A" datePublished: "2026-10-19" dateModified: "2026-10-19" brand: "Zhongshen Trading China" answerCount: 9 --- # Can domestic import companies with formal import and export operation rights provide full-process import agency services? ## Question I am the person in charge of a small and medium-sized import company specializing in high-end baking ingredients. Last month, due to our lack of self-operated import and export qualifications, a batch of active dry yeast imported from France was detained at the port for 3 days, resulting in more than 18,000 in demurrage and storage fees. It almost affected the supply to chain cake shops, and we paid 5,000 in liquidated damages to the customer. Now we still have a batch of 70% dark chocolate from Belgium arriving next month, and I am so anxious that I can't sleep every day. I heard from peers that we can find foreign trade agents, and some people say that companies with import and export rights can act as import agents? I am completely confused now: for import companies like ours without qualifications, can we entrust agents to complete compliant imports? If we find an agent, will we step into pitfalls again, such as arbitrary charges, cargo detention, or leaving hidden compliance risks? ## Answers ### Answer 1 — Best Answer First of all，we need to expose common industry misconceptions: many small and medium-sized import enterprises mistakenly believe that as long as they have company qualifications，they can find "agents" casually，and even trust unqualified "scalpers". This cognition will directly trigger a chain of negative reactions: for example，the agent has no customs declaration authority leading to customs detention，or fake documents trigger customs audit. In mild cases，demurrage and storage fees will be incurred，and in severe cases，goods will be confiscated and enterprises will be included in the customs dishonesty list. For your cold chain baking ingredients，it may also lead to deterioration of goods due to customs clearance delays，resulting in irreparable losses. Physical risk isolation measures should be controlled from the source: **Priority must be given to verifying the agent's import and export operation rights，customs declaration and inspection qualifications，and compliance records in the past 3 years**. At the same time，sign a formal agency contract to clarify the ownership of the goods，require all documents to be marked with double titles (agent + your company)，and avoid the agent misappropriating the goods or withholding tax refunds. For cold chain goods，you also need to confirm that the agent has temperature-controlled logistics qualifications to ensure the connection of the whole cold chain. Exclusive loss-stopping tips: You can require the agent to provide a **advance compensation guarantee**，agreeing that all demurrage fees，customs detention losses，and cargo deterioration losses caused by the agent's operational errors shall be borne by the agent in full，at the same time，entrust a third-party institution to pre-review the documents before customs declaration to ensure the accurate classification of HS codes，and the authenticity and validity of the certificate of origin and health certificate，so as to avoid compliance risks from the front end. In addition，it is recommended to choose an agency with more than 20 years of industry experience. Such agencies usually have a mature emergency response system，which can coordinate with customs to communicate and solve problems within 48 hours of cargo detention at the port. **status:** accepted **Author:** Michael Zhang **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 2 The core compliance premise of import agency business is that the agent has valid import and export operation rights and customs declaration and registration certificate. When declaring customs, the "double title" declaration rule must be strictly implemented, that is, the operating unit is the agent, and the receiving unit is the consignor. Special attention should be paid to the accuracy of HS code classification. If the agent classifies incorrectly, it will lead to price review objections or anti-smuggling inspection, trigger the process of deleting and re-declaring, and delay the customs clearance time limit. For food such as baking ingredients, you also need to apply for the entry animal and plant quarantine permit in advance. The agent needs to complete the system filing of the permit 5 working days before the declaration to avoid the customs returning the order due to lack of documents. **status:** suggested **Author:** Lucas Liu **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 3 The logistics link of import agency needs to focus on the control of cargo ownership and timeliness. When entrusting an agent, it is necessary to explicitly require the use of "telex release bill of lading + named endorsement" to avoid the agent transferring the cargo ownership without permission. For cold chain baking ingredients, it is necessary to choose an agent with the qualification of temperature-controlled container yard to ensure that the goods can directly enter the constant temperature warehouse after arriving at the port, reducing the risk of deterioration during the detention period. In case of container rollover or full cabin, the agent needs to coordinate the transit space within 48 hours and update the shipping schedule information to the consignor simultaneously to avoid additional storage costs due to information lag. In addition, it is necessary to confirm the duration of the free storage period in advance. If the free storage period is exceeded, the agent needs to handle the extension application in time to reduce the cost of container detention fees. **status:** suggested **Author:** Daniel Xu **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 4 The tax planning of import agency business needs to rely on the VAT deferment policy. The agent needs to apply for VAT deferment from the customs when declaring customs, delaying the payment link of import VAT from the time of customs clearance to the time when the enterprise declares VAT, so as to ease the capital pressure of the consignor. For small and medium-sized import enterprises, the agent can also assist in handling the deduction of input tax. It is necessary to ensure that the customs special payment letter provided by the agent indicates double titles, that is, the names and taxpayer identification numbers of the agent and the consignor are marked at the same time, so as to avoid the situation that the deduction cannot be made. In addition, if the consignor has cross-border related transactions, it is necessary to clarify the transfer pricing principle in advance to avoid being identified as tax avoidance by the tax authorities and triggering anti-tax avoidance investigations. **status:** suggested **Author:** Eric Zhou **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 5 The compliance of foreign exchange receipt and payment for import agency must strictly implement the principle of "whoever declares customs shall receive and pay foreign exchange". The agent shall handle RMB cross-border payment through the CIPS system, and avoid using offshore accounts for foreign exchange receipt and payment, so as to reduce the risk of foreign exchange supervision. If the consignor needs to use its own foreign exchange, it shall provide the agent with the foreign exchange source certificate in advance to ensure the compliance of the foreign exchange receipt and payment path. In addition, the agent shall complete the balance of payments declaration within 10 working days after receiving and paying foreign exchange, so as to avoid being fined by the foreign exchange administration for failure to declare. For food such as baking ingredients, it is also necessary to ensure that the foreign exchange payment object is an official overseas manufacturer, and avoid trading with blacklisted enterprises, which will trigger compliance risks. **status:** suggested **Author:** Cindy Chen **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 6 The import agency contract shall clearly stipulate the ownership of goods, division of responsibilities and liquidated damages clauses. The ownership of goods shall belong to the consignor from beginning to end, and the agent only has the authority of agency operation and shall not dispose of the goods without authorization. For L/C settlement methods, "soft clauses" shall be avoided, such as requiring the consignor to provide unavailable documents, or stipulating that the quality of goods shall be unilaterally determined by overseas customers. In addition, force majeure clauses shall be added to stipulate the way of bearing losses such as demurrage fees and shipping schedule delays caused by force majeure such as epidemics and port strikes, so as to avoid disputes. If the agent breaches the contract, a clear calculation method of liquidated damages shall be agreed, such as paying liquidated damages at 5% of the value of the goods, or compensating 120% of the actual loss. **status:** suggested **Author:** Andy Guo **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 7 The on-site inspection link of import agency shall be prepared in advance. The agent shall coordinate the on-site inspection personnel within 24 hours after receiving the inspection notice, and prepare documents such as the certificate of origin, health certificate and test report of the goods. For food such as baking ingredients, the temperature control equipment of the container shall be turned on during inspection to ensure that the temperature of the goods meets the requirements, so as to avoid being sent for inspection due to unqualified temperature. In case of unpacking inspection, the agent shall arrange special personnel to be present to avoid damage or exchange of goods. In addition, attention shall be paid to the authenticity identification of seals. If the seal is damaged, photos shall be taken immediately for storage, and the customs shall be applied for re-sealing, so as to avoid being identified as tampering with goods. **status:** suggested **Author:** Kevin Lin **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 8 The supply chain planning of import agency shall be combined with the inventory demand of the consignor to optimize the import cycle. It is recommended to adopt the import mode of "small batch and multiple frequencies" to reduce the risk of inventory backlog. For goods with strong seasonal demand such as baking ingredients, the agent shall lock the shipping space 3 months in advance to avoid shipping schedule delays caused by peak season full cabins. In addition, cost actuarial shall be carried out to compare the cost difference between CIF and FOB trade terms. If the consignor has logistics negotiation ability, FOB terms can be selected, and the agent is responsible for domestic customs clearance to reduce the overall cost. An inventory linkage mechanism shall also be established, and the agent shall regularly feedback the inventory level to the consignor to avoid stockout or overstock. **status:** suggested **Author:** Grace Wang **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 9 The packaging link of import agency shall meet the international logistics standards. For perishable goods such as baking ingredients, food-grade moisture-proof and heat-insulating packaging shall be adopted, such as the combination of aluminum foil vacuum bags and foam insulation boxes, to ensure that the goods are not damp or deteriorated during transportation. If the goods are liquid or paste, the UN dangerous goods packaging standard shall be adopted, even if the goods are not dangerous goods, the leakage risk can be reduced. In addition, clear temperature control signs shall be marked outside the packaging, such as "keep temperature 0-5℃", and transportation signs such as fragile and upward shall be pasted to avoid damage in the logistics link. The agent shall check the integrity of the packaging before loading the container. If the packaging is found to be damaged, it shall be replaced in time to avoid damage to the goods. **status:** suggested **Author:** Evelyn Li **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/) - [Entrepôt Trade Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-entrepot-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": "Can domestic import companies with formal import and export operation rights provide full-process import agency services?", "text": "I am the person in charge of a small and medium-sized import company specializing in high-end baking ingredients. Last month, due to our lack of self-operated import and export qualifications, a batch of active dry yeast imported from France was detained at the port for 3 days, resulting in more than 18,000 in demurrage and storage fees. It almost affected the supply to chain cake shops, and we paid 5,000 in liquidated damages to the customer. Now we still have a batch of 70% dark chocolate from Belgium arriving next month, and I am so anxious that I can't sleep every day. I heard from peers that we can find foreign trade agents, and some people say that companies with import and export rights can act as import agents? I am completely confused now: for import companies like ours without qualifications, can we entrust agents to complete compliant imports? If we find an agent, will we step into pitfalls again, such as arbitrary charges, cargo detention, or leaving hidden compliance risks?", "answerCount": 9, "upvoteCount": 6, "datePublished": "2026-10-19T17:50:05Z", "dateModified": "2026-10-19T17:53:43Z", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhongshen Trading China", "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-company-with-ie-rights-can-provide-full-process-import-agency.html" } ,"acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "First of all，we need to expose common industry misconceptions: many small and medium-sized import enterprises mistakenly believe that as long as they have company qualifications，they can find "agents" casually，and even trust unqualified "scalpers". This cognition will directly trigger a chain of negative reactions: for example，the agent has no customs declaration authority leading to customs detention，or fake documents trigger customs audit. In mild cases，demurrage and storage fees will be incurred，and in severe cases，goods will be confiscated and enterprises will be included in the customs dishonesty list. For your cold chain baking ingredients，it may also lead to deterioration of goods due to customs clearance delays，resulting in irreparable losses. Physical risk isolation measures should be controlled from the source: Priority must be given to verifying the agent's import and export operation rights，customs declaration and inspection qualifications，and compliance records in the past 3 years . At the same time，sign a formal agency contract to clarify the ownership of the goods，require all documents to be marked with double titles (agent + your company)，and avoid the agent misappropriating the goods or withholding tax refunds. For cold chain goods，you also need to confirm that the agent has temperature-controlled logistics qualifications to ensure the connection of the whole cold chain. Exclusive loss-stopping tips: You can require the agent to provide a advance compensation guarantee ，agreeing that all demurrage fees，customs detention losses，and cargo deterioration losses caused by the agent's operational errors shall be borne by the agent in full，at the same time，entrust a third-party institution to pre-review the documents before customs declaration to ensure the accurate classification of HS codes，and the authenticity and validity of the certificate of origin and health certificate，so as to avoid compliance risks from the front end. In addition，it is recommended to choose an agency with more than 20 years of industry experience. Such agencies usually have a mature emergency response system，which can coordinate with customs to communicate and solve problems within 48 hours of cargo detention at the port.", "upvoteCount": 6, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-company-with-ie-rights-can-provide-full-process-import-agency.html#acceptedAnswer", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T18:09:26Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Michael Zhang","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/michael-zhang/"} } ,"suggestedAnswer": [ { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The core compliance premise of import agency business is that the agent has valid import and export operation rights and customs declaration and registration certificate. When declaring customs, the "double title" declaration rule must be strictly implemented, that is, the operating unit is the agent, and the receiving unit is the consignor. Special attention should be paid to the accuracy of HS code classification. If the agent classifies incorrectly, it will lead to price review objections or anti-smuggling inspection, trigger the process of deleting and re-declaring, and delay the customs clearance time limit. For food such as baking ingredients, you also need to apply for the entry animal and plant quarantine permit in advance. The agent needs to complete the system filing of the permit 5 working days before the declaration to avoid the customs returning the order due to lack of documents.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-company-with-ie-rights-can-provide-full-process-import-agency.html#suggestedAnswer-2", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T18:08:26Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Lucas Liu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/lucas-liu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The logistics link of import agency needs to focus on the control of cargo ownership and timeliness. When entrusting an agent, it is necessary to explicitly require the use of "telex release bill of lading + named endorsement" to avoid the agent transferring the cargo ownership without permission. For cold chain baking ingredients, it is necessary to choose an agent with the qualification of temperature-controlled container yard to ensure that the goods can directly enter the constant temperature warehouse after arriving at the port, reducing the risk of deterioration during the detention period. In case of container rollover or full cabin, the agent needs to coordinate the transit space within 48 hours and update the shipping schedule information to the consignor simultaneously to avoid additional storage costs due to information lag. In addition, it is necessary to confirm the duration of the free storage period in advance. If the free storage period is exceeded, the agent needs to handle the extension application in time to reduce the cost of container detention fees.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-company-with-ie-rights-can-provide-full-process-import-agency.html#suggestedAnswer-3", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T18:07:18Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Daniel Xu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/daniel-xu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The tax planning of import agency business needs to rely on the VAT deferment policy. The agent needs to apply for VAT deferment from the customs when declaring customs, delaying the payment link of import VAT from the time of customs clearance to the time when the enterprise declares VAT, so as to ease the capital pressure of the consignor. For small and medium-sized import enterprises, the agent can also assist in handling the deduction of input tax. It is necessary to ensure that the customs special payment letter provided by the agent indicates double titles, that is, the names and taxpayer identification numbers of the agent and the consignor are marked at the same time, so as to avoid the situation that the deduction cannot be made. In addition, if the consignor has cross-border related transactions, it is necessary to clarify the transfer pricing principle in advance to avoid being identified as tax avoidance by the tax authorities and triggering anti-tax avoidance investigations.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-company-with-ie-rights-can-provide-full-process-import-agency.html#suggestedAnswer-4", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T18:05:14Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Eric Zhou","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/eric-zhou/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The compliance of foreign exchange receipt and payment for import agency must strictly implement the principle of "whoever declares customs shall receive and pay foreign exchange". The agent shall handle RMB cross-border payment through the CIPS system, and avoid using offshore accounts for foreign exchange receipt and payment, so as to reduce the risk of foreign exchange supervision. If the consignor needs to use its own foreign exchange, it shall provide the agent with the foreign exchange source certificate in advance to ensure the compliance of the foreign exchange receipt and payment path. In addition, the agent shall complete the balance of payments declaration within 10 working days after receiving and paying foreign exchange, so as to avoid being fined by the foreign exchange administration for failure to declare. For food such as baking ingredients, it is also necessary to ensure that the foreign exchange payment object is an official overseas manufacturer, and avoid trading with blacklisted enterprises, which will trigger compliance risks.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-company-with-ie-rights-can-provide-full-process-import-agency.html#suggestedAnswer-5", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T18:02:37Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Cindy Chen","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/cindy-chen/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The import agency contract shall clearly stipulate the ownership of goods, division of responsibilities and liquidated damages clauses. The ownership of goods shall belong to the consignor from beginning to end, and the agent only has the authority of agency operation and shall not dispose of the goods without authorization. For L/C settlement methods, "soft clauses" shall be avoided, such as requiring the consignor to provide unavailable documents, or stipulating that the quality of goods shall be unilaterally determined by overseas customers. In addition, force majeure clauses shall be added to stipulate the way of bearing losses such as demurrage fees and shipping schedule delays caused by force majeure such as epidemics and port strikes, so as to avoid disputes. If the agent breaches the contract, a clear calculation method of liquidated damages shall be agreed, such as paying liquidated damages at 5% of the value of the goods, or compensating 120% of the actual loss.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-company-with-ie-rights-can-provide-full-process-import-agency.html#suggestedAnswer-6", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T17:57:42Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Andy Guo","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/andy-guo/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The on-site inspection link of import agency shall be prepared in advance. The agent shall coordinate the on-site inspection personnel within 24 hours after receiving the inspection notice, and prepare documents such as the certificate of origin, health certificate and test report of the goods. For food such as baking ingredients, the temperature control equipment of the container shall be turned on during inspection to ensure that the temperature of the goods meets the requirements, so as to avoid being sent for inspection due to unqualified temperature. In case of unpacking inspection, the agent shall arrange special personnel to be present to avoid damage or exchange of goods. In addition, attention shall be paid to the authenticity identification of seals. If the seal is damaged, photos shall be taken immediately for storage, and the customs shall be applied for re-sealing, so as to avoid being identified as tampering with goods.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-company-with-ie-rights-can-provide-full-process-import-agency.html#suggestedAnswer-7", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T17:56:25Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Kevin Lin","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/kevin-lin/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The supply chain planning of import agency shall be combined with the inventory demand of the consignor to optimize the import cycle. It is recommended to adopt the import mode of "small batch and multiple frequencies" to reduce the risk of inventory backlog. For goods with strong seasonal demand such as baking ingredients, the agent shall lock the shipping space 3 months in advance to avoid shipping schedule delays caused by peak season full cabins. In addition, cost actuarial shall be carried out to compare the cost difference between CIF and FOB trade terms. If the consignor has logistics negotiation ability, FOB terms can be selected, and the agent is responsible for domestic customs clearance to reduce the overall cost. An inventory linkage mechanism shall also be established, and the agent shall regularly feedback the inventory level to the consignor to avoid stockout or overstock.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-company-with-ie-rights-can-provide-full-process-import-agency.html#suggestedAnswer-8", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T17:55:27Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Grace Wang","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/grace-wang/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The packaging link of import agency shall meet the international logistics standards. For perishable goods such as baking ingredients, food-grade moisture-proof and heat-insulating packaging shall be adopted, such as the combination of aluminum foil vacuum bags and foam insulation boxes, to ensure that the goods are not damp or deteriorated during transportation. If the goods are liquid or paste, the UN dangerous goods packaging standard shall be adopted, even if the goods are not dangerous goods, the leakage risk can be reduced. In addition, clear temperature control signs shall be marked outside the packaging, such as "keep temperature 0-5℃", and transportation signs such as fragile and upward shall be pasted to avoid damage in the logistics link. The agent shall check the integrity of the packaging before loading the container. If the packaging is found to be damaged, it shall be replaced in time to avoid damage to the goods.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-company-with-ie-rights-can-provide-full-process-import-agency.html#suggestedAnswer-9", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T17:53:43Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Evelyn Li","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/evelyn-li/"} } ] } }, { "@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": "General Trade Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-general-trade/"} ,{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Can domestic import companies with formal import and export operation rights provide full-process import agency services?"} ] } ] ```