由 caicai8478 Double customs clearance refers to a logistics service model in which the export declaration and import customs clearance are fully handled by the logistics service provider or agent, and the customer does not need to handle the customs declaration and customs clearance procedures by himself. Although this model simplifies the process, it also hides many risks. The following are common risks in double customs clearance and corresponding avoidance methods:
I. Common risks
- Compliance risk: false declaration or illegal operation
Risk manifestation:
In order to reduce costs, logistics providers may deliberately under-report the value of goods and conceal the types of goods (such as classifying high-tax goods as low-tax goods), resulting in the goods being seized by customs.
Failure to truthfully declare sensitive goods (such as battery products, liquids, food, etc.) violates the import regulations of the destination country.
Typical consequences: Goods are detained, fined, or even included in the customs blacklist, affecting subsequent trade. - Risks of logistics provider qualifications and capabilities
Risk manifestation:
Choosing unqualified or unprofessional logistics providers may cause customs clearance delays due to insufficient customs clearance experience (such as incomplete document preparation and poor communication with customs).
Some logistics companies promise to “guarantee customs clearance” in order to attract goods, but actually operate through “gray channels” (such as borrowing other people’s tax numbers for customs clearance), which poses legal risks.
Typical consequences: delayed delivery of goods, customer complaints, and even legal liability. - Risk of policy changes in the destination country
Risk manifestation:
Customs policies of various countries (such as tariff rates and regulatory requirements) may be adjusted suddenly, for example:
The EU implements a new VAT (value-added tax) policy for cross-border e-commerce products, and customs clearance may not be possible without a registered VAT tax number.
The United States requires FCC certification for electronic products, and goods will be rejected if it is not provided.
Temporary trade barriers (such as anti-dumping duties and import quotas) may increase the difficulty of customs clearance.
Typical consequences: additional tax costs increase, and goods cannot be cleared and returned. - Compliance risk of the goods themselves
Risk manifestation:
The goods are prohibited or restricted goods in the destination country (such as animal and plant products, counterfeit goods, controlled drugs, etc.), or require special certification (such as CE certification, FDA registration).
The packaging or labeling does not meet the requirements of the destination country (such as ingredients not marked in the local language, no origin mark).
Typical consequences: The goods are confiscated, destroyed, or high rectification costs are required. - Risk of unclear division of responsibilities
Risk manifestation:
The contract signed with the logistics company does not clearly define the responsibility for “customs clearance failure” (such as whether compensation is borne due to the logistics company’s operational errors).
Some logistics companies use “customs clearance package” as a gimmick, but in fact they are only responsible for assisting in declaration and do not bear the final customs clearance responsibility.
Typical consequences: It is difficult to protect rights when disputes arise, and losses must be borne by themselves. - Avoidance methods
- Choose a compliant and professional logistics service provider
Operational suggestions:
Verify qualifications: Require the logistics company to provide a certificate of customs clearance agency qualifications (such as the destination country customs registration number, tax registration certificate), and give priority to companies with formal brand endorsements or industry reputation.
Verification cases: Understand their past customs clearance cases, especially whether products similar to your own goods have successful experience.
Reject “low price trap”: Be wary of service providers who promise “ultra-low tariffs” and “100% customs clearance”, as low prices may be accompanied by illegal operations. - Ensure that the declared information is true and compliant
Operational suggestions:
Proactively provide accurate information: Provide detailed commercial invoices, packing lists, and product lists to logistics providers, indicating the true value of the goods, materials, uses and other information.
Avoid “rushing goods” behavior: Do not conceal sensitive goods, and confirm in advance whether the goods require special permits (such as cosmetics require health permits from the destination country).
Entrust professional customs brokers: For high-value or complex goods, you can additionally entrust independent customs brokers to review the declaration content to reduce the error rate. - Understand the policies and requirements of the destination country in advance
Operational suggestions:
Study customs regulations: Check the corresponding tariff rates, certification requirements, and restricted goods lists of goods through the official website of the customs of the destination country, industry associations or professional consulting agencies. For example:
Electronic products exported to the European Union must comply with CE certification, and textiles must pass REACH testing.
Food exported to the United States must be registered with the FDA in advance.
Necessary qualifications for registration: If you are conducting EU e-commerce business, register for a VAT tax number in advance and declare it in compliance; Amazon sellers in the United States need to register an EIN tax number.
Pay attention to policy dynamics: Subscribe to policy update notifications from customs or trade platforms to avoid customs clearance failures due to the introduction of new regulations. - Strictly control the compliance of goods
Operational suggestions:
Self-check the properties of goods: confirm whether the goods are prohibited or restricted goods in the destination country (refer to the “China Prohibited Export Goods Catalogue” and the import regulations of the destination country).
Apply for certification in advance: For goods that require special certification, complete the certification application (such as CE, FCC, ISO, etc.) before production or shipment, and keep the certificate documents.
Standardized packaging labels: Label product information according to the requirements of the destination country (such as product name, ingredients, and origin in English/local language), and dangerous goods must be affixed with warning labels. - Clarify the contract terms and division of responsibilities
Operational suggestions:
Sign a detailed agreement: clarify the scope of the logistics company’s customs clearance responsibilities in the contract (such as whether it includes tariffs, whether it bears the loss of seizure), and agree on the compensation standard for customs clearance delays (such as a certain percentage of the freight per day).
Additional protection clauses: require logistics companies to provide “customs clearance failure protection”. If the goods cannot be cleared due to the service provider’s reasons, they must bear the return shipping costs or the loss of the goods value (which can be covered by insurance).
Retain the chain of evidence: properly preserve the communication records, declaration documents, and expense vouchers with the logistics company to protect rights in case of disputes. - Purchase freight insurance and additional protection
Operational suggestions:
Insure “all risks”: cover the risk of damage and loss of goods during transportation and customs clearance. Some insurances can be supplemented with “customs clearance delay insurance”.
Agree on insurance liability with logistics companies: clarify which party purchases the insurance, as well as the claims process and scope. - Summary: The core principles of double customs clearance
The risks of double customs clearance essentially stem from “information asymmetry” and “compliance loopholes”. The key to avoiding risks lies in:
Proactively control compliance: from the goods themselves, declaration process to the policies of the destination country, check layer by layer;
Choose reliable partners: The professionalism of the logistics provider directly determines the success rate of customs clearance;
Clear responsibilities and guarantees: Reduce accidental losses through contracts and insurance.
Through the above measures, the uncertainty in the double customs clearance process can be greatly reduced to ensure the smooth customs clearance of goods.