I. Business qualifications form the foundational threshold for agency services

According to Article 41 of theforeign tradeForeign Trade Law, equipmentImport Representationbusiness operations requireDual certification completenessbasic conditions:

• Business license scope must explicitly include importExport Representationor electromechanicalEquipment Imports”
• Foreign Trade Operator Registration Record (Customs code with 10th digit as 3 for agency enterprises)

The General Administration of Customs 2024 new requirements indicate that agencies for large precision instruments (HS codes chapters 84-90) need additionalspecial equipment operation filing. A provincial agency company in 2025 had CT equipment worth $12 million detained at port due to failure to update filing, resulting in direct losses of 370,000 yuan.

II. Industry-specific certifications determine the ceiling of service capabilities

Special qualifications for equipment imports directly affect customs clearance efficiency:

• Import license for electromechanical products (key verification for cataloged products)
• CCC certification agency qualification (for products requiring mandatory certification)
• Special equipment safety license for pressure vessels

2025 customs data shows that agencies withAEO Advanced Certificationcertifications achieved 42% faster average clearance times. In one medical equipment import case, certified agencies achieved 72-hour rapid clearance, 5 working days faster than regular companies.

III. Operational capability verification requires penetrating surface data

• Customs team requirements:
  • At least 3 certified customs declarants
  • Electromechanical product classification experts ≥30%
• Whether there are multimodal transport solutions covering the target market
  • Overseas warehouse coverage in major equipment origin countries
  • Special transport vehicle certification

A semiconductor equipment import case revealed that agencies with bonded warehouse qualifications saved tax expenditures up to 15% of goods value.

IV. Compliance record review should establish dynamic mechanisms

Compliance review should focus on three dimensions:

• Customs credit rating (priority to AEO certified enterprises)
• Administrative penalty records in past three years (focus on classification error rates)
• Foreign-related legal dispute cases (especially intellectual property disputes)

After the 2025 Customs Credit Management Measures revision, single fines exceeding 500,000 yuan will be included indiscredited enterprise list. Monthly verification of agency company credit status is recommended through theimport and exportChina Customs Enterprise Credit Information Publicity Platform.

When selecting import equipment agency companies, establishFour-Dimensional Review Model: Basic qualification verification → Special capability assessment → Operational resource confirmation → Compliance record tracking. A certain automobile production line import project successfully avoided a 1.6 million yuan breach of contract risk caused by the agents expired license through systematic review.