Do You Dare to Step into the Black Hole of Export Agency Claims?

Mr. Zhang stared at the email on the computer screen, his fingers unconsciously tapping the desktop—the $200,000 worth of goods had arrived at the destination port for two weeks, but the customer's balance payment had not been paid yet. What made him even more anxious was how many unknown risks were hidden behind the agent's perfunctory "being followed up"? Today, we will uncover the industry truth of export agency claims.

According to the foreign trade dispute data statistics of Zhongshitong in the past three years, 80% of claims disputes are concentrated in the following scenarios:

• The division of responsibilities is ambiguous when the goods are damaged or lost
• The "full package service" promised by the agent actually has exemption clauses
• Exchange rate fluctuations lead to the shrinkage of the settlement amount

Ms. Li's case is particularly typical: Her agent promised "All Risks of Sea Transportation", but when the goods were damp, the insurance company refused to pay compensation on the grounds that "the packaging did not meet the standard", and Article 17 of the agent contract details actually attributed the packaging responsibility to the consignor.

Step 1: "Microscope" Inspection of the Contract

Require the agent to provide a Chinese-English comparison contract, with key markings:

• Compensation ceiling (whether it covers the value of the goods + expected profit)
• Exemption clauses (usually presented in small print)
• Place for dispute settlement (preferably choose Chinese courts or arbitration)

Step 2: Real-Time Solidification of the Evidence Chain

From the booking confirmation to the photos of goods damage, it is recommended to use blockchain evidence storage tools. A merchant in Yiwu successfully overturned the agent's accusation of "original factory packaging defect" precisely by virtue of the container loading video certified by the timestamp.

If negotiations are fruitless, the following can be taken:

• Apply to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade for mediation
• Submit a claim for import and export credit insurance through the "Single Window"
• Entrust a professional agency to conduct trade background investigation (some agents may conceal the credit risk of the buyer)

Instead of spending several months chasing debts after the dispute, it is better to ask three questions before cooperation: Whether the agent discloses past claims cases? Whether there is an independent legal team? Can it provide a real-time logistics tracking system? Remember, a truly professional agent will take the initiative to expose risks, rather than cover up loopholes with "absolute peace of mind".

Have you encountered more difficult claims cases? You are welcome to share your experiences in the comment area. We will select typical questions for free analysis by the expert team of Zhongshitong.