2026 Full Process Guide for Import & Export Agency Services

1.Destination Port Certification: The "Key" to Customs Clearance in Various Countries

Requirements for import product certification vary greatly across countries.In particular,the EU REACH Regulation will be updated to the 19th batch of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in 2026,and the US FDA has added 12 new testing standards for food contact materials.As a critical link in import & export agency procedures,oversights in destination port certification may result in customs clearance delays at best,or the seizure of entire cargo shipments by customs at worst.

1.1 EU CE Certification and REACH Regulation

For exports of electronic devices,furniture,etc.to the EU,it is necessary to verify in advance whether products meet CE certification standards.For example,in 2025,an electronic parts enterprise had its cargo detained at Hamburg Port for 3 days because it failed to label the phthalates controlled by the REACH Regulation contained in its products.We assisted the enterprise in conducting special testing and applying for an EU-officially recognized test report,which finally enabled rapid release and avoided approximately RMB 500,000 in detention fees.

• Practical Details: The agency must verify segmented standards such as ECOCERT certification (for organic products) and RoHS 2.0 compliance (for electronic products) 15 working days before shipment
• Risk Points: The EU’s requirements for "carbon footprint" labels are becoming stricter; failure to fill in carbon footprint data during declaration will result in a 20% fine

1.2 Practical Key Points for US FDA and FCC Certification

For exports of medical devices and health supplements to the US,FDA registration and listing must be completed 30 days in advance.In early 2026,a health supplement enterprise had its cargo detained at Los Angeles Port because it failed to submit FCC certification (for electronic products),causing it to miss the US Health Food Exhibition.Through a dual-track model of "pre-declaration + third-party testing",we assisted it in completing the certification within 10 working days,and finally achieved order placement through rapid customs clearance during the exhibition.

2.Anti-Dumping Warning: The "Firewall" Against Trade Barriers

The number of global anti-dumping investigations will increase by 17% year-on-year in 2026,with industries such as photovoltaic modules and aluminum profiles becoming the hardest-hit areas.If enterprises ignore anti-dumping warnings,they may face high retrospective taxation.Our "Global Anti-Dumping Database" can real-time capture customs announcements of target countries to identify risks in advance.

• Key Actions: Before export,it is mandatory to verify whether the target country has issued an anti-dumping investigation announcement (e.g.India’s sunset review of Chinese chemical products)
• Alternative Solutions: If already subject to anti-dumping investigation,apply for market economy status (e.g.application for individual tax rate for Chinese enterprises by the EU) to reduce tax rates

In 2025,a machinery enterprise exporting bearing products to Turkey was levied a 23% anti-dumping tax during customs clearance because it failed to track the anti-dumping investigation initiated by Turkey against Chinese bearings.We assisted it in supplementing response materials and finally obtained a 15% tax rate preference,recovering approximately RMB 380,000 in losses.

3.Export Tax Refund Optimization: The "Accelerator" for Legal Tax Savings

Export tax refund policies will be adjusted frequently in 2026,especially for cross-border e-commerce retail exports,which need to pay attention to changes in the "tax exemption without invoices" policy.Agencies must have professional pre-audit capabilities for tax refunds to avoid delays caused by declaration errors.

Practical Experience: Starting from 2026,electronic information of "foreign exchange collection vouchers for exported goods" must be uploaded for export tax refund declaration.Agencies must confirm the status of foreign exchange collection slips with banks in advance to avoid tax refund failure due to "non-collection of foreign exchange".

4.Foreign Exchange Collection Security: The "Moat" for Capital Chains

With the expansion of SWIFT system sanctions,the risk of foreign exchange collection security has intensified.In March 2026,a chemical enterprise received payment,but the counterparty’s bank suddenly froze the account,resulting in USD 1.2 million being unable to arrive.We resolved the crisis through the following measures:

• Settlement Method Optimization: Change T/T to "L/C + confirming bank" mode to lock in payment guarantees
• Account Risk Control in Advance: Verify the counterparty’s credit rating in advance (refer to Dun & Bradstreet DUNS Score)
• Currency Hedging: Use forward foreign exchange settlement and sale tools to lock in exchange rates and avoid exchange losses

In addition,be alert to property right traps such as "fake bills of lading" and "straight bills of lading".A building materials enterprise trusted a "straight bill of lading",and after the goods arrived at the port,the shipping company released the goods to a third party due to delayed payment,resulting in a loss of RMB 2 million in cargo value.We ensured control over property rights through a combined solution of "sea waybill + telex release letter of guarantee".

5.Compliance Red Lines for Import & Export Procedures in 2026

High-Supervision Areas:

• Consistency between declaration elements and physical goods (brand/model/material): The customs system automatically verifies,and non-compliant items will be directly placed under control for inspection
• Authenticity verification of certificates of origin: If there is an "error in the content of non-originating materials" in RCEP certificates of origin,it will trigger EU anti-circumvention investigations
• Supervision of sensitive commodities: Nuclear-related materials and endangered species require additional Dual-Use Item License processing

Hidden Cost Avoidance: Common traps such as "demurrage fee traps" (caused by delayed document exchange) and "fumigation certificate forgery" (prevalent in Southeast Asian countries) require advance warning from agencies.It is recommended to choose an agency with "national port linkage" capabilities,such as Zhongshitong,which covers 20 major ports including Shanghai,Ningbo,and Shenzhen,and reduces hidden costs through localized operations.

As a well-established import & export agency in Shanghai,Zhongshitong has handled over 120,000 agency transactions in the past 20 years,and has always adhered to the service principles of "compliant procedures,risk prevention in advance,and data-driven".For the latest 2026 import & export procedure checklist or one-on-one consultation,contact Supervisor Zhu (139-1777-6136) to obtain customized solutions.