Frustrated by Complex Import/Export Procedures?

When Mr. Xiong first saw the 12-page customs declaration regulations for import and export goods, his entrepreneurial passion for foreign trade instantly cooled by half. This is perhaps a common dilemma for many SME owners: their products are competitive in the international market, but they get bogged down by cumbersome administrative procedures. Today, we will break down this "customs clearance code" and explain the underlying logic of import and export procedures for enterprises in the most straightforward language.

I. Preliminary Preparations: More Important Than Business Licenses

90% of delays stem from incomplete documentation. The essential document checklist compiled by the Zhongmaoda foreign trade consultant team includes:

• Original Foreign Trade Operator Registration Form with company seal
• Copy of the basic bank account opening permit
• Scanned front and back of the legal representative's ID card (must be clear enough to recognize anti-counterfeiting features)
• Pre-classification report for product HS codes (it is recommended to entrust a professional agency)

Mr. Xiong garment factory once had an entire container detained at the port due to failure to submit the certificate of origin, incurring nearly 10,000 yuan in daily demurrage fees. Special reminder: Food, medical devices, and other special categories require additional export commodity registration certificates.

II. Customs Clearance Operations: Analysis of Three Key Bottlenecks

The customs declaration phase is most prone to "repeated rejections." Taking common cross-border e-commerce B2B exports as an example:

• When declaring in the electronic port system, product specifications must match the registered information with millimeter-level precision.
• Freight, insurance, and miscellaneous fees must be itemized separately; combining them will trigger manual review.
• Wooden packaging must provide fumigation certificates (IPPC mark).

During a case where Zhongmaoda assisted a client with returned goods, we discovered that a difference of over 5% between the declared value and the purchase invoice would trigger a price inquiry. It is recommended to retain complete value chain proof documents (including R&D, design, and other stage costs).

III. Post-Clearance Maintenance: Don't Let Qualifications Become "Single-Use Items"

Receiving the customs import and export goods consignor/consignee registration receipt is just the beginning. Annually, you need to:

• Complete the annual customs report by March 31st (late submissions will be listed in the abnormal directory).
• Timely update the electronic port IC card (validity period is generally 2 years).
• Documents should be kept for at least 3 years (customs inspections can trace back up to 3 years).

A client once had their export tax rebates suspended for 6 months due to failure to promptly update their business license's scope of business. Dynamically managing qualification documents is the true path to peace of mind.

What Are Your Customs Clearance Pain Points?

After breaking down import and export procedures into 18 standardized actions, we found that 80% of problems are concentrated in the same areas. We welcome you to leave your specific challenges in the comment section, and perhaps we will customize a solution for you in the next article. After all, on the road of cross-border trade, every issue deserves to be taken seriously.