Exposure of the Black Industrial Chain of Import Agency

Mr. Zhang recently wanted to import a batch of red wine from abroad but was in a dilemma when choosing an import agency - the quotations ranged from 30,000 to 100,000 yuan, and the service promises were varied. Some even claimed that "the customs will definitely pass". This can't help but make people wonder: How many tricks are hidden in the import agency industry? Today, we will uncover this seemingly professional but full of reefs field.

When Ms. Li first tried to import cosmetics independently, it took her three days just to research the HS code, and finally her goods were detained by the customs for two weeks due to incorrect declaration. The value of a professional import agency lies here:

• Avoid the circular nightmare of "being sent back for re-filling" of the customs declaration form
• Grasp the latest preferential tariff policies (such as the RCEP agreement tariff rate)
• Handle professional documents such as fumigation certificates and certificates of origin

Trap 1: Low-price Fishing Quotation
An agency quoted a total price of 20,000 yuan, but after signing the contract, it continuously added "unexpected expenses": commodity classification fees, customs inspection fees, over-storage fees... In the end, the cost tripled.

Trap 2: False Qualification Promise
The subtext of "We have connections at the customs" is often forging the sanitary certificate. Last year, a food importer was punished because the agency forged quarantine documents, resulting in the whole batch of goods being destroyed.

Trap 3: Hidden Bundled Services
Forcing the use of a designated logistics company and high-priced handling of foreign exchange payment, these tricks can allow the agency to earn an additional 15%-20% "service fee".

• Check Qualifications: Require to present the original copy of the customs AEO certification certificate
• Verify Cases: Require to provide customs clearance records of the same category of goods
• Compare Terms: Pay special attention to the division of responsibilities for "force majeure"
• Test Response: Intentionally inquire about rare tariff numbers (such as "which category does the singing doll belong to")

With the explosive growth of cross-border e-commerce, the import agency is undergoing a deep reshuffle:

• The AI automatic classification system will replace 70% of manual document review
• The blockchain traceability technology will end the chaos of "document forgery"
• The service fee model will shift from ticket-based charging to annual membership-based charging

The next time you hear the promise of "We have strong connections", you might as well ask back: Can these "connections" be written into the breach of contract compensation clause? True professionalism never requires gray endorsement. Now use the pit-avoidance guide in this article to re-evaluate your agency cooperation partner, or share it with partners who are currently in trouble - after all, only import business in the sunlight can go further.