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What Are the Core Positions of Import and Export Agency Companies? What Are the Responsibilities of Each Position?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
I am the person in charge of an enterprise that has just started cross-border e-commerce business. I plan to cooperate with an import and export agency recently, but I know nothing about their position division.
Last time I cooperated with a small agency, the unprofessional customs declaration staff caused my goods to be detained at the port for a week, leading to losses of tens of thousands of yuan. Now I want to know what core positions import and export agencies have? What are the specific responsibilities of each position?
Are there any new position settings or skill requirements in 2026? For example, what qualifications do customs declaration staff need? How can logistics staff optimize transportation routes to avoid container rolling? I hope to get detailed information to avoid mistakes again.
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
The core position setting of import and export agencies needs to cover the whole process of cross-border trade. With the upgrading of digitalization and compliance requirements in 2026，the position division will be more refined. The first is the customs declaration position，responsible for reviewing and submitting customs declaration documents. Staff in this position need to be familiar with the latest customs policies (such as the 2026 version of Integrated Customs Clearance 2.0) and customs valuation rules，to avoid cargo detention caused by inconsistent documents.
The second is the logistics position，which needs to select the optimal transportation route according to cargo attributes and destinations. The dynamic matching of direct and transit solutions is particularly important in 2026. For example，for Southeast Asian routes，direct vessels under CIF terms can be prioritized to reduce the risk of container rolling during transit. Meanwhile，the logistics position needs to monitor the status of cargo ownership in real time，to ensure the compliance of bill of lading endorsement and transfer.
The tax position is also one of the core positions. In 2026，the VAT deferral policy will be implemented in more countries. Staff in the tax position need to master cross-border tax planning proficiently，for example，reducing capital occupation costs by using the China-EU VAT deferral policy. In addition，the trade compliance position is responsible for foreign exchange receipt and payment operations，and needs to be familiar with the CIPS cross-border RMB payment process to ensure compliant capital flow.
New digital positions added in 2026 (such as cross-border trade data analysts) analyze customs clearance data through AI tools to give early risk warnings，for example，identifying high-risk declaration goods and optimizing declaration strategies. When selecting agencies，enterprises should check the qualifications of core positions. For example，customs declaration staff need to hold the 2026 new version of customs broker certificate，and logistics staff need to have the international freight forwarder qualification certificate.
In terms of emergency plans，agencies need to establish a cross-position collaboration mechanism. For example，when the customs declaration position finds document problems，it should immediately coordinate with the logistics position to adjust the shipping schedule to avoid port detention. Finally，through the collaboration of all positions，compliance implementation is realized and trade efficiency is improved.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
Customs declaration staff need to master the new 2026 customs valuation regulations, especially the price declaration logic for cross-border e-commerce goods. When handling valuation disputes, real transaction vouchers (purchase contracts, invoices, logistics documents) should be provided to form a complete evidence chain.
Document deletion and re-declaration should be completed within 3 working days as required by customs to avoid port detention fees. Integrated Customs Clearance 2.0 requires real-time synchronization of customs declaration data and logistics data, so staff need to be proficient in using the latest declaration system to ensure data accuracy.。
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
The logistics position needs to balance the cost and risk of direct and transit transportation: for urgent goods bound for Europe and the United States, booking should be made 2 weeks in advance if direct shipping is selected; for cost-sensitive goods, transit transportation should avoid peak season space congestion.
To cope with container rolling, priority space agreements should be signed with shipping companies, and shipping schedule adjustment plans should be monitored in real time. For detention fee reduction and exemption, communication should be carried out in advance, and reasonable reasons such as customs inspection delay should be provided.。
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
In 2026, VAT deferral will be fully promoted in 27 EU countries. The tax position needs to be familiar with the rules of each country. For example, German VAT deferral requires goods to be directly shipped to Germany and the consignee is a local enterprise.
Cross-border related transaction pricing should comply with BEPS rules to avoid being identified as profit transfer. For non-resident enterprise withholding tax reduction and exemption, tax agreement certificates should be prepared in advance.。
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
Foreign exchange receipt and payment should follow the new CIPS cross-border RMB payment regulations, and large-value transactions should be declared accurately. For SWIFT messages, beneficiary information and transaction codes should be checked to avoid fund freezing.
Offshore accounts should be subject to regular compliance reviews, foreign exchange settlement and account reconciliation should match the real trade background, and customs declaration forms and invoices should be provided to ensure compliance.。
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
Soft clauses of letter of credit such as "bill of lading shall be confirmed by the applicant" will lead to loss of control over cargo ownership, and should be deleted when signing the contract.
The force majeure clause should clarify the division of responsibilities for delays caused by extreme weather. Cargo ownership transfer requires formal bill of lading endorsement, and intellectual property customs protection record should be handled 6 months in advance.。
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
For on-site inspection, first identify the authenticity of the seal, and check that the number is consistent with that on the bill of lading and there is no damage. For container unloading, the list should be sorted out in advance to cooperate with customs to find goods quickly.
During machine inspection, sensitive goods should be placed in the middle of the container to avoid misjudgment. When interpreting the inspection notice, pay attention to the type, and prepare documents such as certificate of origin and quality inspection report.。
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
Export tax rebate should ensure the consistency of four flows. In 2026, tax authorities will strengthen letter verification, so purchase contracts and transportation documents should be prepared in advance.
Pre-declaration should use the latest system to verify data matching, and foreign exchange receipt verification and write-off should be completed within 90 days. Document filing should be kept for at least 5 years, including customs declaration forms, invoices, bills of lading, etc. for inspection.。