The bearing entity of the import agency fees does not have an absolutely fixed standard and is usually determined through negotiation between the importer and the exporter in the trade contract.
Judging from the common situations, if the importer entrusts a freight forwarding company or a trade agency company to handle the import business, the importer will generally bear this expense because it is a service expense incurred for completing its own import affairs.
However, in some cases, in order to facilitate the transaction, the exporter may also be willing to bear part or all of the import agency fees and include them in the product quotation.
Moreover, when there are special agreements in the trade terms, such as under the terms of DAP (Delivered at Place), the exporter is required to bear all the risks and expenses of transporting the goods to the designated destination. At this time, the import agency fees may also be borne by the exporter. In short, the issue of fee bearing must be clearly written in the contract before cooperation to avoid disputes.
Professional consultant answers
Michelle ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Business coordination consultantConsult
The bearing entity of the import agency fees does not have an absolutely fixed standard and is usually determined through negotiation between the importer and the exporter in the trade contract.
Judging from the common situations, if the importer entrusts a freight forwarding company or a trade agency company to handle the import business, the importer will generally bear this expense because it is a service expense incurred for completing its own import affairs.
However, in some cases, in order to facilitate the transaction, the exporter may also be willing to bear part or all of the import agency fees and include them in the product quotation.
Moreover, when there are special agreements in the trade terms, such as under the terms of DAP (Delivered at Place), the exporter is required to bear all the risks and expenses of transporting the goods to the designated destination. At this time, the import agency fees may also be borne by the exporter. In short, the issue of fee bearing must be clearly written in the contract before cooperation to avoid disputes.
William YangYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
International logistics consultantConsult
Generally, it is defaulted that the importer bears it. After all, the import agency mainly serves the import business, helping to handle customs clearance, transportation arrangements and other matters. These are the services needed by the importer, so it is more common for the importer to bear it.
Robert ChenYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customer service consultantConsult
It also depends on the negotiation status of both parties. If the importer has a large demand and is in an advantageous position, the exporter may take the initiative to bear the import agency fees in order to win the order.
Emily LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Settlement and payment expertConsult
Sometimes it will be determined according to the trade model. For example, in the model of processing with supplied materials, the commissioning processing party may bear the import agency fees because they need to import raw materials and so on.
Joseph ZhouYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior foreign trade managerConsult
If it is not clearly stated in the contract, it is easy to have disputes. So no matter who bears it, it must be made clear before signing the contract to avoid conflicts that may affect the cooperation later.
Jennifer WangYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Market development consultantConsult
From the perspective of cost control, if the importer can make the exporter bear the import agency fees, its own cost can be reduced. So the importer can strive for it during the negotiation.
David LiYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior customs declaration consultantConsult
If they are long-term cooperation partners, they may alternately bear the import agency fees to balance the interests of both parties and maintain a good cooperation relationship.
Andrew HuangYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Supply chain optimization expertConsult
In some cases, the freight forwarding company or the agency company will also negotiate with both the importer and the exporter to see which party's bearing is more beneficial to the overall business and then determine the bearing party.
Sarah ZhangYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Document expertConsult
If the imported goods have special regulatory requirements, in order to ensure smooth customs clearance, it is not uncommon for the importer to bear the import agency fees to obtain professional agency services.