Is the process of import customs clearance too complicated? 80% of people have fallen into these 5 pits

Mr. Zhang recently ordered a batch of precision instruments from overseas. He thought he could pick up the goods smoothly once they arrived at the port, but got stuck in the customs clearance process - incomplete documents, incorrect tax numbers, and inspection delays. Just the demurrage fee cost him tens of thousands of yuan. When chatting with Ms. Li about this, he found that she had also fallen into the same pits when she was acting as an agent to import cosmetics last year...

According to statistics, 85% of first-time import enterprises will encounter the following problems during the customs clearance process:

• Not understanding the HS code classification rules, resulting in deviation of the declared value
• Lacking key documents such as certificates of origin and quarantine certificates
• Being insensitive to the latest customs policies (such as the recent new regulations on lithium battery imports)

Value One: Compliance Guarantee

Taking food imports as an example, professional agencies will confirm in advance:

• Whether the Chinese labels comply with the GB 7718 standard
• Whether the additives are on the permitted list
• Whether the overseas production enterprises have completed their registrations in China

By reasonably applying policies such as free trade agreements and temporary imports and exports, in a certain medical device import case, the Zhongshitong team saved 37% of the tariff costs for the client.

Value Three: Time Limit Control

Establishing a standardized process of "document pre-audit - berth reservation - immediate declaration upon arrival at the port", compared with the enterprises' own operations, the average customs clearance time is shortened by 5 - 8 working days.

• Inspection Response Ability: Is there an emergency handling team?
• Information System Level: Can it provide full-process visual tracking?
• Industry Case Accumulation: Are there successful customs clearance records for similar products?
• Service Transparency: Are all possible costs clearly listed?

When the following signs appear, it is recommended to consider professional agency services:

• The value of a single batch of goods exceeds 500,000 yuan
• Involving CCC-certified/Special Permit Commodities
• The annual import frequency is ≥ 3 times