Agency Export

Agency export refers to a trade method in which a foreign trade enterprise (the agent) accepts the entrustment of a domestic manufacturing enterprise or cargo owner (the principal) to handle export customs declaration, foreign exchange collection, tax refund, and other procedures in the agent's name, and charges an agency fee. Usage scenarios: commonly used when the principal has no import-export operating rights, lacks export experience, or seeks to avoid risks by leveraging the agent's channels. Precautions: a clear agency export agreement must be signed, specifying the agency fee, division of responsibilities, and ownership of tax refund (usually the tax refund belongs to the principal, but the agent must cooperate); the agent does not bear commercial risks such as cargo quality or delivery time and is only responsible for procedural operations; unlike buyout export (self-operated export), in agency export the agent does not own the goods, does not earn a price difference, and only charges a commission; similar to entrusted export, but entrusted export emphasizes acting in the principal's name. Key differences: in agency export, the agent is the operating unit on the customs declaration form, while the principal is the shipping unit; when applying for tax refund, a certificate of agency export goods must be provided.