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Does the statutory business scope of goods import and export cover various agency customs declaration, inspection and logistics supporting services?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
I am the head of the foreign trade department of a small precision hardware manufacturer that has been established for only 6 months in Shanghai. Last month, we received our first order of 120,000 euros from a European customer. We originally planned to handle the import and export procedures on our own, but when sorting out documents last week, we found that our company has not applied for the import and export operation right yet, and we even failed to process the certificate of origin.
Now the goods have been packed in the warehouse waiting for container loading, and only 10 days are left before the booked sailing date. I was so anxious that I lost sleep for two consecutive nights. I always thought that goods import and export only meant finding logistics providers to ship goods on my own.
Today I heard from peers that we can entrust an agency company to handle all matters, but I have no idea whether goods import and export include agency services at all. Does the agency service cover all links including customs declaration, inspection, foreign exchange collection and tax refund? Will there be hidden charges or compliance risks that affect shipment?
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
First of all，it is clarified that the business scope of goods import and export naturally includes third-party agency services. All operation modes from customs declaration and inspection，logistics transportation to foreign exchange collection and tax refund are legal and compliant. For your current emergency，carry out pre-document review first: immediately entrust a qualified agency company to operate on your behalf in the "double-title" mode with its import and export operation right，and at the same time carry out urgent pre-examination for reissuance of certificate of origin，to ensure 100% consistency between documents and goods information，and avoid document review delays.
For core node connection，the agency company shall synchronously connect with the warehouse and shipping agent，complete container loading and booking confirmation within 48 hours，and ensure the time difference between customs declaration and sailing date is no less than 72 hours，to avoid container rollover caused by customs declaration delay. For contingency plan，lock spare shipping space of the same route within the following 3 days in advance. If you fail to catch the current sailing date，you can directly transfer allocation without going through the booking approval process again.
For final compliant implementation，you shall require the agency company to provide full-link compliance vouchers，including real-time synchronization of customs declaration forms，manifest confirmation copies and foreign exchange collection receipts，to ensure all links comply with the latest cross-border trade facilitation requirements of Shanghai Customs in 2026，and avoid problems in subsequent tax refund or customs verification.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
From the perspective of customs policies, the scope of goods import and export includes agency customs declaration services, and Shanghai Customs explicitly supports the paperless declaration mode for agency customs declaration in 2026. For your current situation of no import and export operation right, the agency company can declare in the "double-title" mode with its customs declaration qualification, that is, the operating unit is the agency company, and the consignee unit is your factory, which is compliant and will not affect subsequent tax refund.
It should be noted that real invoices and packing lists of goods must be submitted for agency customs declaration, and vague goods names are strictly prohibited, otherwise it will trigger customs valuation disputes, and even lead to customs detention. Port detention fee can be up to 0.5% of the container value per day. You shall confirm the valuation plan with the agency company in advance, to ensure the deviation between declared price and market fair price is no more than 10%, and avoid triggering secondary valuation.
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
The logistics link of goods import and export fully includes agency services. For your current urgent sailing schedule, the agency logistics provider can give priority to arranging the "warehouse to port" direct trailer service, skipping the queuing link of transit warehouses, and at the same time connect with the shipping company to apply for the green channel of "priority berthing, priority loading and unloading", to reduce terminal operation time. In 2026, Shanghai Port provides green channel support for small and medium-sized enterprises with their first foreign trade order.
The agency company can apply for this service with the copy of your factory's business license. It should be noted that the agency logistics provider shall check the seal number of the container in advance to ensure it is consistent with the packing list, to avoid being judged as cargo ownership dispute due to inconsistent seals during inspection. If this happens, contact the shipping company to reseal the container within 24 hours, otherwise the goods will be detained by customs.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
The tax link of goods import and export includes agency tax refund services. For you as a small manufacturer, the agency tax consultant can assist you in applying for the "VAT deferral" policy, that is, you do not need to pay value-added tax in the import link, but deduct it in the domestic sales link, directly reducing capital occupation cost. In 2026, the application scope of VAT deferral for cross-border trade in Shanghai has covered all precision hardware products, and the application cycle can be shortened to 3 working days.
It should be noted that "four-flow consistency" must be ensured for agency tax refund, that is, contract flow, capital flow, goods flow and invoice flow are fully matched, otherwise it will trigger tax inquiry, and the tax refund cycle will be extended from 30 days to 90 days. The agency company can assist you in completing pre-verification in advance to check inconsistencies.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
The foreign exchange collection and payment link of goods import and export includes agency foreign exchange collection services. In 2026, the Shanghai Branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange allows agency companies to collect overseas payments on behalf of customers through the "to-be-verified account", and then settle foreign exchange to your factory account, which fully complies with the compliance requirements of CIPS cross-border RMB payment.
For your 120,000 euro order, the agency company can apply for "large-value foreign exchange collection filing" with the SAFE in advance, to avoid being listed as abnormal transaction due to excessive capital amount and leading to delayed foreign exchange settlement. It should be noted that real trade contracts and copies of bills of lading must be submitted for agency foreign exchange collection, and false trade backgrounds are strictly prohibited, otherwise you will be included in the key supervision list of the SAFE, and the subsequent annual foreign exchange collection and payment quota will be limited to less than 500,000 euros.
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
The legal link of goods import and export includes compliance guarantee for agency services. For your entrustment situation, you shall sign an "agency service agreement" with the agency company, to clarify clauses such as cargo ownership, responsibility division, breach of contract compensation, etc., to avoid cargo ownership losses caused by agency operation errors.
In 2026, the Shanghai International Trade Arbitration Commission explicitly stipulates that the agency agreement must include a "force majeure clause as the bottom line", that is, losses caused by unforeseen circumstances such as container rollover by shipping companies and customs detention of goods can be divided according to the agreement, to avoid full compensation. In addition, you shall require the agency company to provide a copy of its Import and Export Agency Qualification Certificate with official seal, to ensure it has legal import and export agency qualification, and avoid compliance risks caused by entrusting unqualified institutions.
Victor SunYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat
The on-site inspection link of goods import and export includes agency services. For your precision hardware products, the agency inspection specialist can apply for "machine inspection priority" to Shanghai Customs in advance, to avoid goods damage caused by manual unpacking inspection. In 2026, the machine inspection pass rate of Shanghai Port has reached 95%. The agency specialist can predict inspection risks in advance according to the machine inspection report.
If the goods name is found inconsistent with the declaration, the deletion of the declaration form and re-declaration can be completed within 12 hours, to avoid customs detention. It should be noted that during agency inspection, the goods packaging must meet customs requirements, and damaged containers are strictly prohibited, otherwise it will be determined that the goods have physical risks, triggering secondary inspection, and the port detention fee will be doubled. The agency company can assist you in checking the container condition in advance and replacing qualified containers.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
The export tax refund link of goods import and export includes agency services. For your small manufacturing plant, the agency tax refund auditor can assist you in completing the verification of "four-flow consistency", that is, the information of contract, capital, goods and invoice is fully matched, to ensure compliance with the tax refund requirements of the Shanghai Tax Bureau in 2026.
It should be noted that the tax refund declaration must be submitted within 90 days after the goods are declared for export for agency tax refund, otherwise you will not be able to enjoy the tax refund preference. Currently, only 10 days are left before your sailing date, so you need to prepare invoices, bills of lading and other documents in advance.
The agency company can assist you in pre-declaration verification, check inconsistencies in advance, and ensure you pass the audit at one time. In addition, if there is capital return, you shall explain to the tax department in advance to avoid triggering tax inquiry.
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
The full-link supply chain of goods import and export includes agency services. For your first foreign trade order, the agency supply chain planner can assist you in optimizing the link cost of "factory-port-overseas customer", and select the most suitable quotation mode by comparing the cost difference between CIF and FOB trade terms. In 2026, the FOB operation cost of Shanghai Port is 8%-10% lower than that of CIF.
The agency company can assist you in negotiating with overseas customers to convert trade terms and reduce logistics costs. It should be noted that the inventory turnover cycle must be locked in advance during supply chain planning, to avoid inventory backlog caused by goods detention at the port. The agency company can assist you in establishing an inventory linkage strategy, to ensure goods are delivered to overseas customers immediately after arriving at the port, reduce storage costs and improve capital turnover rate.