What is the correct operation procedure for import and export agency companies to provide full-chain services for small and medium-sized foreign trade enterprises
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I am a cross-border e-commerce seller who has just obtained the import and export operation right. I plan to export beauty products via general trade this year. I used to only adopt cross-border direct mail small parcel services before, and have no access to the full process of general trade.
Last time I tried to declare customs on my own, the cargo was detained by customs due to inconsistent document information. I not only paid liquidated damages to buyers, but also incurred thousands of RMB in port detention fees.
Now I want to sort out the full process, either build my own team to operate, or cooperate with professional agencies. I want to figure out how formal import and export agencies operate, what risk points must be paid attention to in all links, and how to avoid the pitfalls I encountered before?
EllaYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Financial AdvisorStart a Chat
First，conduct pre-document audit，which is the starting point of the whole process. You need to check the consistency of customs declaration information with contract，invoice and packing list in advance，meanwhile verify cargo supervision conditions in advance，confirm whether special documents such as commodity inspection，import and export license are required，and complete all materials in advance to avoid cargo detention caused by document problems.
Second，connect core nodes. From booking and shipping，customs declaration and inspection，to port arrival and clearance，foreign exchange settlement and tax refund，each node requires pre-preparation 1-2 working days in advance. For example，customs declaration shall be submitted within 24 hours after cargo enters the port，and manifest information comparison shall be completed in advance to avoid declaration failure caused by information asymmetry.
Then prepare exception response plans. For possible abnormal situations such as customs inspection，price review queries，port change and container rollover，prepare supporting materials such as cargo value certificate and certificate of origin in advance，and coordinate with on-site port personnel for real-time response，to minimize the risk of port detention and container detention.
Finally，implement compliance requirements. All operations shall meet the regulatory requirements of four flows consistency. In the foreign exchange settlement and tax refund link，sort out filing documents in advance and complete pre-declaration verification，to avoid tax refund failure caused by incomplete documents. For enterprises that have just launched business，it is recommended to prioritize qualified professional teams for operation，and consider building self-owned teams after sorting out the process gradually. Core compliance risks shall be isolated in advance，to avoid a single exception affecting the overall import and export credit of the enterprise.
WilliamYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics AdvisorStart a Chat
In the customs price review link, prepare supporting materials such as cargo procurement invoice, foreign exchange payment voucher and original factory invoice in advance. If there is a price review dispute, you shall submit a response to the price query within the specified time limit, to explain the rationality of the cargo transaction price.
If there is a declaration error requiring form deletion and re-declaration, distinguish between form deletion and form modification. Different ports have different operation requirements. Prepare situation statement, original customs declaration form and relevant documents in advance, and submit the application according to the process, to avoid application rejection caused by process errors which will affect customs clearance efficiency. Under the integrated customs clearance mode, for cross-port declaration, confirm the regulatory requirements of the domicile and the port in advance, and realize good information synchronization, to avoid system early warning caused by data asynchrony.
DanielYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Legal AdvisorStart a Chat
In the international logistics link, choose direct shipping or transshipment scheme according to cargo category and delivery time. Urgent cargo shall prioritize direct shipping, and cost-sensitive cargo can choose transshipment scheme.
Confirm free storage period and container detention fee standards with the shipping company in advance, and lock shipping space when booking, to avoid container rollover caused by space shortage during peak season. If you need to change the port, submit the port change application in advance, lock the new shipping space, and update customs declaration information synchronously, to avoid inconsistency between customs declaration information and actual arrival port information.
For cargo right control, confirm the requirements of bill of lading title and endorsement. The transfer rules of straight bill of lading and order bill of lading are different, confirm with the buyer and seller clearly in advance, to avoid cargo right disputes.
DavidYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Business Development AdvisorStart a Chat
VAT deferral can effectively relieve the pressure of enterprise capital occupation, which is suitable for bulk imported cargo. During operation, confirm the access requirements for VAT deferral of the importing country in advance, sort out import declaration documents, and complete compliance filing.
Cross-border related party transactions shall comply with the arm's length principle, and set transaction prices reasonably, to avoid being identified as profit shifting by tax authorities which will trigger relevant investigations. When non-resident enterprises collect payments, confirm the withholding tax payment requirements in advance, sort out tax obligations clearly, to avoid compliance risks caused by missed payment.
EmilyYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Client Success AdvisorStart a Chat
For cross-border foreign exchange receipt and payment, you can choose SWIFT or CIPS RMB cross-border payment. RMB payment can avoid exchange rate fluctuation risks. When settling foreign exchange, you can choose to settle foreign exchange at an appropriate time, to optimize the foreign exchange purchase and settlement rate.
If you encounter offshore account balancing problems, sort out the transactions corresponding to each receipt and payment clearly, and prepare transaction documents for bank verification, to avoid account freezing. For SWIFT messages, check the transaction postscript and declaration information carefully, to ensure they are consistent with actual transactions, and avoid account entry delay caused by wrong message information.
AlexanderYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Trade AdvisorStart a Chat
When signing import and export contracts, carefully review the soft clauses of the letter of credit. For example, clauses requiring the buyer to issue a customer inspection certificate before negotiation shall be negotiated and modified with the other party in advance, to avoid negotiation rejection. The force majeure clause shall clearly specify the scope and responsibility coverage, and clarify the responsibility division and handling process after force majeure occurs.
For cargo right transfer, clearly specify the transfer time and conditions. When a letter of guarantee is required, confirm the effective conditions and responsibility scope of the letter of guarantee, to avoid disputes caused by unclear agreement. For intellectual property rights, complete customs filing in advance, to avoid cargo detention caused by intellectual property infringement.
RobertYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Warehouse Management AdvisorStart a Chat
After receiving the customs inspection notice, confirm whether the inspection method is X-ray inspection or manual unpacking at the first time, and arrange personnel and unpacking equipment to the site in advance. During inspection, check the authenticity of the seal, and confirm that the seal number is consistent with the customs declaration information.
If the seal is damaged, explain the situation to the customs at the first time and keep complete records. If inspection and appraisal are required, prepare samples and relevant explanations as required, follow up the issuance progress of the test report, submit it to the customs immediately after receiving the report, and complete the subsequent customs clearance process in time, to avoid extra fees caused by long-term detention of cargo in the port.
JohnYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Export Tax Rebate AdvisorStart a Chat
Different categories of cargo shall meet corresponding packaging compliance requirements. Dangerous goods shall use UN dangerous goods packaging, complete dangerous goods classification appraisal in advance, and issue a compliant MSDS report.
The MSDS shall meet the standard requirements of the importing country, with complete and accurate information. The moisture-proof reinforcement scheme shall be adjusted according to the climate of the transportation route.
For example, ocean transportation requires good waterproof and moisture-proof reinforcement, to avoid cargo damage caused by dampness. The selection of buffer packaging materials shall be based on cargo weight and fragility, which shall not only meet protection requirements, but also meet weight limit requirements, to avoid extra freight caused by overweight.
SarahYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Foreign Exchange AdvisorStart a Chat
Export tax refund shall meet the verification requirements of four flows consistency, namely consistent cargo flow, capital flow, invoice flow and contract flow. Sort out all documents for filing in advance. When responding to tax official inquiries, provide true and complete materials as required, to explain the authenticity of the transaction. Complete data verification in advance in the pre-declaration link, check that the declaration information is consistent with the document information, to avoid declaration failure caused by data errors.
For cross-month declaration, adjust the declaration period properly, to avoid missing the declaration time limit. Foreign exchange receipt and verification shall be completed in accordance with regulatory requirements. Failure to receive foreign exchange as required will affect the tax refund handling.
OliviaYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Customs AdvisorStart a Chat
You shall adjust the supply chain structure according to the enterprise's business volume and cargo volume. Small-batch and high-frequency business is suitable for cooperation with professional agencies, and large-batch stable business can consider building a self-owned team.
When choosing trade terms, whether to choose FOB or CIF for export business shall be determined according to logistics control right and cost accounting. Under FOB terms, the buyer is responsible for logistics, and the seller does not need to bear logistics risks.
Under CIF terms, the seller is responsible for logistics, and can control the cargo right. For cost actuarial calculation, all implicit costs such as port detention fees, inspection fees and taxes shall be included in the calculation, and supply chain strategies shall be dynamically adjusted to optimize the overall cost.