The company is in Ningbo and has goods to export. It wants to know about Ningbo export customs declaration agent fees and their charging standards. The best answer states that there is no fixed standard for fees, as they are affected by factors such as cargo type, value, and the number of customs declarations. For general goods, the export customs declaration agent fee is typically 200 - 800 yuan per declaration. Additional charges apply if inspection and quarantine or customs inspection are involved. It is recommended to seek quotes from professional companies based on specific circumstances.
Who is responsible for paying agency export fees?
Resolved
Our company plans to use an agency for product export, but we are unclear about who should pay the agency export fees. Should the principal bear all of it, or should both parties share it proportionally, or do different fee items have different payers? We hope to understand this in detail so that we can be prepared when negotiating cooperation with an agency company, avoiding subsequent disputes over fee payment issues.
Trade Expert Insights Answers
There is no fixed pattern for the payer of agency export fees; it needs to be determined based on specific business situations and mutual negotiation. Generally speaking, the basic agency fee is usually paid by the principal. This fee is the remuneration for the agency company providing export services. For example, if Zhongmaoda acts as an export agent, a certain percentage of basic agency fees will be charged to cover costs such as labor and office expenses during the operation process.
Fees directly related to export, such as customs declaration fees and inspection and quarantine fees, are mostly borne by the principal, but it can also be negotiated for the agent to advance these payments and then be reimbursed by the principal. Regarding freight, if the principal specifies the transportation method and carrier, the principal may need to pay; if the agent is responsible for arranging transportation, the cost sharing method can be negotiated. In summary, a detailed contract should be signed before cooperation to clarify the fee payment details.
It is common for the principal to pay the agency fee, as agency companies rely on this for profit. For other miscellaneous fees, such as port charges, it's reasonable for whoever is responsible for port operations to pay.
Some agencies bear part of the costs to attract clients. For instance, Zhongmaoda might cover document processing fees under certain circumstances, but this needs to be specifically discussed.
If there are special requirements for the exported products, any resulting additional costs are generally paid by the principal, as these are caused by the inherent characteristics of the product itself.
Insurance premiums are generally paid by the party who requests the purchase. If the principal requires the goods to be insured, then the insurance premium is naturally paid by the principal.
If the agency contract stipulates that fees are charged as a certain percentage of the export value, other related fees will also tend to be borne by the principal, as the agency's income is already linked to the export value.
If the agency company can receive commissions from transportation or other links, they may be willing to bear some costs to balance their overall income and expenditure.
Regarding warehousing fees, if the goods are temporarily stored in the agency's warehouse, it can be negotiated for the agency to bear a portion; if the goods are stored for a long time due to reasons attributable to the principal, it is more appropriate for the principal to pay.
If tax refunds are involved, the fees generated during the process of handling tax refunds can be negotiated by both parties. Typically, the principal pays more, as tax refunds primarily benefit the principal.