Is the export agency's qualification incomplete? Your foreign trade business may be engaged in "illegal operation"!

Recently, Mr. Zhang's foreign trade company received a large overseas order. While excited, he encountered a difficulty - the export agency company's qualifications were incomplete, and the order almost fell through. Ms. Li's factory also encountered a similar problem. Due to not understanding the qualification requirements, the goods were detained at the customs for a month. Such cases happen every day. The Qualifications of the Export Agency Company, this seemingly dull topic, actually relates to the survival of enterprises.

In international trade, qualifications are like passports. Without them, even the best products can't go abroad. Firstly, qualifications are the proof of a company's legal operation. The customs, banks, and overseas customers will all check them. Secondly, having complete qualifications enables a company to enjoy preferential policies such as tax rebates, directly reducing the company's costs. Finally, a company with complete qualifications is more likely to gain the trust of customers and stand out in the competition.

• The Right to Engage in Import and Export Operations: This is the most basic qualification and needs to be registered with the commerce department.
• Customs Registration Certificate: Handled at the China E-Port, it is a prerequisite for customs clearance.
• Registration with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange: It is related to foreign exchange receipts and payments. Without it, normal settlement cannot be carried out.
• Tax Registration Certificate: Especially the identification of the eligibility for export tax rebates, which directly affects the company's profits.

Besides the above core qualifications, there are three types of qualifications that are often overlooked by enterprises:

• Export Licenses for Specific Products (such as medical devices, chemicals, etc.)
• Access Certifications of the Target Country (such as CE, FDA, etc.)
• International Transportation Qualifications (such as Dangerous Goods Transportation Permits)

In the process of handling qualifications, enterprises often fall into the following misunderstandings:

• Thinking that it will be a once-and-for-all solution after entrusting an agency company to handle it (actually, it requires regular annual inspections and updates).
• Only focusing on domestic qualifications while ignoring foreign requirements.
• Choosing non-compliant handling channels to save money.

It is recommended that enterprises establish a specialized qualification management system:

• Appoint a dedicated person to be responsible for qualification management.
• Establish a reminder mechanism for the validity period of qualifications.
• Regularly check the newly added regulatory requirements.

After reading this article, you might as well do three things immediately: check whether the existing qualifications are complete, list the items that are lacking, and formulate a handling plan. Has your enterprise ever suffered losses due to qualification problems? Welcome to share your experiences in the comment section. On the track of international trade, don't let a certificate be the reason for you to fall behind.