Is Your Imported Goods Detained? Maybe It's Lacking This Key Player!

Mr. Zhang recently ordered a batch of precision instruments from overseas, but they were stuck at the customs for a full two weeks; Ms. Li's cross-border e-commerce business of cosmetics lost a six-figure order due to customs declaration issues of a batch of goods. Behind these scenarios, there is a key player hidden - the customs declaration agency for imports. Today, let's unveil the mystery of this "gatekeeper" in cross-border trade.

Why Do You Need Professional Customs Declaration Agency Services?

According to the data of the General Administration of Customs, the volume of national import and export customs declarations in 2022 exceeded 120 million, of which 78% were completed through professional agencies. The core value of choosing a professional service provider lies in:

• Compliance Firewall: The customs codes are adjusted by more than 2,000 items every year, and the professional team can accurately match the HS CODE.
• Cost Controller: The case of Zhongshitong shows that optimizing the declaration scheme can save customers 12%-35% of tariffs.
• Timeliness Guarantor: Skilled in handling special processes such as sanitary quarantine and 3C certification, and the customs clearance speed is increased by 3-5 times.

Five Golden Criteria for Choosing a Customs Declaration Company

The service providers in the market are of varying quality. It is recommended to evaluate from five dimensions:

• Qualification Verification: Check the customs AEO certification and the registration certificate of the customs declaration enterprise.
• Industry Accumulation: A company specializing in customs declaration of medical devices has an advantage in handling cold chain logistics.
• System Capability: Digital services such as docking with the electronic port and real-time tracking of customs declaration status.
• Emergency Plan: When the inspection rate suddenly increases, whether there is a standby customs clearance plan.
• Fee Transparency: Be vigilant against the "tax-inclusive" services that are far lower than the market price, which may hide legal risks.

New Challenges in the Customs Declaration Industry in 2023

With the implementation of RCEP and the introduction of new policies for cross-border e-commerce, the industry is facing three major changes:

• Changes in declaration materials brought about by the digitalization of rules of origin.
• The expansion of the pilot supervision of cross-border e-commerce B2B exports to the whole country.
• The upgrade of the customs intelligent supervision system raises the requirements for the quality of documents.

The case of a cross-border e-commerce platform missing out on tariff reduction and exemption benefits due to not understanding the cumulative rules of origin in RCEP is worthy of vigilance.

Which Customs Declaration Scheme Does Your Goods Need?

Different business models need to be matched with different services:

• General Trade: Focus on the examination and approval of the dutiable value and the declaration of royalty fees.
• Cross-border E-commerce: Need to handle special requirements such as "three-way matching" and positive list management.
• Temporary Import and Export: Special services such as the calculation of guarantee funds and the application for extension.

The customs declaration experts of Zhongshitong suggest that enterprises should establish a customs declaration risk assessment form and regularly review the compliance of the supply chain.

Action Suggestions: Three Steps to Find a Reliable Partner

If you are looking for a customs declaration service provider, you can:

• Log in to the "China Customs Enterprise Import and Export Credit Information Publicity Platform" to verify the qualifications.
• Ask the service provider to provide 3 successful cases in the same industry.
• Try out its customs declaration status query system to experience the level of digital services.

Have you ever encountered any impressive customs declaration problems? Welcome to share your experiences in the comment area, and we will select typical problems and ask professional customs declarers to answer them.