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What are the core points of full-process compliant operations that domestic freight forwarders must follow for export goods?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
I am the head of a factory producing outdoor camping equipment in Suzhou. Last month, I entrusted a freight forwarder to export a batch of customized tents to Germany for the first time.
As the fire resistance rating composition of the tent fabric was omitted in the documents, the goods were detained at Hamburg Port for 12 days, which not only incurred nearly 20,000 yuan in port detention fees and warehouse rent, but also made us miss the customer's sales window for the autumn camping season, resulting in more than 50,000 yuan in liquidated damages. Now I get a headache whenever export is mentioned.
This time, 1,000 sets of folding tables and chairs are to be sent to Southampton, UK. I want to know how domestic freight forwarders should standardize the export of goods? Can you give me specific explanations from pre-document review, core logistics node connection, risk prediction and avoidance to cost optimization? I really don't want to fall into the same pit again!
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
First comes the details of pre-positioned document review，which requires focusing on verifying the consistency of core fields of commercial invoice，packing list，customs declaration form and certificate of origin: the material of goods and HS code on the commercial invoice must fully match those on the customs declaration form，the error between the quantity，weight and volume on the packing list and the actual goods shall not exceed 5%，and the exporter title on the certificate of origin shall be consistent with the operating unit on the customs declaration form，so as to avoid customs control triggered by inconsistent documents.
Core node connection requires opening up the full link of "factory pickup - port warehousing - customs declaration and inspection - shipment and departure": confirm the container seal number and container integrity one day before pickup，follow up the validity of free storage period during port warehousing，obtain the release receipt within 2 hours after customs declaration and synchronize with the shipping company to arrange shipment，so as to avoid container rollover due to overbooking caused by node delay.
Abnormal response plans shall be formulated in advance: in case of customs control and inspection，immediately arrange special personnel to check the consistency between goods and documents，and communicate with the customer synchronously to adjust the delivery date，in case of container rollover by the shipping company，coordinate the space of the next 3 ships on the same route at the first time，and apply for reduction of container detention fees at the same time.
The final compliant implementation requires completing document filing，scanning and archiving all export documents for no less than 5 years，and following up the customs clearance feedback after the goods arrive at the port，to ensure that the entire export process meets the customs supervision requirements of both China and the UK.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
When declaring export goods, it is necessary to strictly follow the logical closed-loop requirements of integrated customs clearance: the HS code on the customs declaration form must correspond to the actual function and material of the goods. If there is a dispute over customs valuation, prepare supporting materials such as procurement contracts, payment slips and cost accounting details in advance to ensure the rationality of the declared price.
If it is necessary to delete the declaration form and re-declare, complete the data correction within 3 working days as required by the customs, and update the manifest information synchronously, to avoid port detention of goods caused by inconsistency between the manifest and the customs declaration form. In addition, for cross-border e-commerce B2B export goods, it is necessary to use the cross-border e-commerce module of the single window for declaration, to ensure that the data is directly connected to the customs system and improve customs clearance efficiency.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
International logistics path optimization shall be combined with the characteristics of goods and delivery time requirements: for general cargo such as 1,000 sets of folding tables and chairs, if the delivery time is loose, you can choose the transshipment route of "Shanghai Port - Rotterdam Port - Southampton Port", which saves about 15% of sea freight compared with direct routes; if you pursue timeliness, you can choose direct routes, but you need to lock the space 7 days in advance, and follow up the free container period policy of the shipping company.
Usually, general cargo can apply for a 14-day free container period to avoid container detention fees. When endorsing and transferring the bill of lading, ensure that the endorsement seal is completely consistent with the title of the bill of lading, and synchronize the scanned copy of the endorsed bill of lading to the consignee, to avoid obstruction of goods pick-up due to delayed delivery of the bill of lading.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
For tax planning of export goods, the VAT deferral policy can be adopted: for goods sent to the UK, you can apply for UK VAT deferral, without paying value-added tax in advance at the time of import, but declare uniformly in the subsequent VAT declaration period, which effectively relieves the pressure of capital occupation.
In addition, it is necessary to make reasonable use of the tax difference advantage, conduct compliant deduction of the tax difference between the procurement cost and export selling price of goods, and ensure that the pricing of cross-border related transactions conforms to the arm's length principle, to avoid triggering BEPS investigations. In addition, small, medium and micro enterprises can enjoy the expedited declaration policy for export tax rebates, and complete the tax rebate within 3 working days after all documents are available, to improve capital turnover rate.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
Cross-border receipt and payment of foreign exchange shall comply with the compliance requirements of CIPS RMB cross-border payment: if RMB settlement is adopted, core information such as transaction code, contract number and invoice number shall be accurately filled in the CIPS system to ensure that the capital flow is consistent with the cargo flow and invoice flow.
When managing offshore accounts, check the correspondence between account statements and export goods on a monthly basis, to avoid triggering compliance inspections by the foreign exchange bureau due to abnormal capital reflux. When settling foreign exchange and balancing accounts, you can choose to settle foreign exchange when the exchange rate is high, and use forward foreign exchange settlement tools to lock the exchange rate, avoid exchange difference risks, and maximize returns.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
When entrusting a freight forwarder for export, it is necessary to clarify the coverage of force majeure clauses in the agency contract: including epidemics, port strikes, customs policy adjustments, etc., and agree on the division of responsibilities and loss bearing ratio of both parties. In addition, it is necessary to clarify the cargo right transfer clause of the bill of lading.
If a straight bill of lading is adopted, ensure that the consignee's title is accurate; if an order bill of lading is adopted, clarify the endorsement method to avoid cargo right disputes. For high-value goods, you can require the freight forwarder to provide a letter of guarantee to ensure that the freight forwarder shall bear the corresponding compensation liability when the goods are lost or damaged.
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
During on-site customs inspection, prepare supporting materials such as material test reports and packing details of the goods in advance: if unpacking inspection is required, cooperate with the inspection personnel to check the quantity, weight and material of the goods to ensure consistency with the information on the customs declaration form. When identifying the authenticity of the seal, check whether the seal number is consistent with the number on the manifest and bill of lading.
If the seal is found to be damaged, take photos immediately for retention and synchronize with the freight forwarder and shipping company to apply for re-sealing. When passing the machine inspection, ensure that the goods packaging has no metal shielding, to avoid secondary inspection triggered by blurred machine inspection images, which will prolong the customs clearance time.
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
For general cargo such as folding tables and chairs, although they are not dangerous goods, it is necessary to ensure that the packaging meets the requirements of international logistics: when corrugated cartons are used for packaging, the compressive strength of the cartons shall reach 150kg/㎡, to avoid damage to the goods due to extrusion deformation during transportation.
If the goods have moisture-proof requirements, PE moisture-proof film can be added inside the carton, and stretch film can be wrapped around the pallet at the same time, to ensure that the goods are not affected by moisture during sea transportation. In addition, clear shipping marks shall be marked on the outer packaging carton, including consignee information, number of pieces, destination port, etc., to avoid wrong or missing delivery of goods due to blurred shipping marks.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
Export tax rebates must strictly follow the requirement of consistency of four flows: that is, capital flow, cargo flow, invoice flow and contract flow are fully corresponding. When verifying foreign exchange receipt, complete the foreign exchange receipt within 90 days after the goods are exported. If the foreign exchange cannot be received on time due to special circumstances, apply to the tax authority for deferred verification.
When filing documents, scan and archive documents such as customs declaration forms, commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading and foreign exchange receipt slips for no less than 5 years, to avoid rejection of tax rebates due to missing documents. During pre-declaration verification, check the data through the export tax rebate pre-declaration module of the electronic tax bureau, to ensure the accuracy of the declared data and reduce the error rate of formal declaration.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
Supply chain planning should be optimized in combination with the sales cycle of goods and logistics costs: for seasonal goods such as 1,000 sets of folding tables and chairs, FOB trade terms can be adopted to transfer logistics risks to the consignee and reduce their own logistics costs. In terms of inventory linkage strategy, a small amount of goods can be stored in the destination port in advance according to the customer's sales forecast, to ensure timely replenishment during the peak sales season and improve customer satisfaction.
The cost actuarial model shall cover all cost items such as sea freight, customs declaration fees, warehousing fees and insurance premiums. By comparing the quotations of different freight forwarders, select the most cost-effective service plan to optimize the overall supply chain cost.