由 caicai8478 “My shipments were detained by customs again!”
“Is it an inexplicable pile of extra fees?”
“It was supposed to arrive in a week, but it ended up sitting at the port for half a month…”
Are these familiar nightmares in your cross-border trade? Every time your shipment gets stuck at customs, it not only means lost time and money, but it can also lead to missed business opportunities and damage your reputation.
Why is it always you who gets hurt? The root of the problem may be that you don’t truly understand and utilize the key to “double customs clearance.” Many people think double customs clearance is as simple as finding a freight forwarder, but they don’t realize the complexities involved can determine whether your shipments are cleared instantly or held indefinitely.
- High-Incidence Areas of Customs Stucks: Where Are You Falling?
Before we explain how “double customs clearance” can help you, let’s first look at where goods often stumble:
A “heads-on” from the customs of the destination country
Incomplete/erroneous documentation: For example, shipping to the US lacks an ISF number, shipping to Europe lacks an EORI number, and the commercial invoice information doesn’t match the actual goods.
Tax calculation issues: Lack of understanding of the destination country’s tariffs and VAT leads to false declarations of goods value, resulting in insufficient tax or tax evasion.
Product qualification flaws: Goods lacking the certifications required by the destination country (such as CE, FCC, FDA, etc.) can lead to detention or return orders.
Understated underdeclaration: Deliberately understating goods value to save taxes can be detected by the customs’ big data risk assessment system and result in hefty fines.
A “lost start” from the customs of the exporting country
Inconsistent declaration elements: HS code classification errors, inaccurate product name, weight, and quantity declarations.
Missing regulatory documents: Goods requiring export licenses (such as those involving endangered species and chemicals) are not properly processed.
The core of these issues lies in the fact that what you think of as “customs clearance” may only be “partial customs clearance.”
II. True “Double Customs Clearance”: More than just “guaranteed customs clearance,” it’s also “guaranteed risk.”
Many people misunderstand “double customs clearance,” believing it simply means “I pay a little more and the freight forwarder takes care of everything.” While this is true, the deeper value lies in transferring the uncontrollable risk of customs clearance in the destination country from you to the service provider.
A professional “double customs clearance” service should be as follows:
Front-end intervention, not after-the-fact firefighting: Before accepting the shipment, we’ll review your cargo information and anticipate any difficulties with customs clearance in the destination country (for example, “Your batch of electrical products requires US UL certification”), thus mitigating risks at the source.
Localized expertise, not “blind men touching an elephant”: Having our own team or closely partnered agents in the destination country allows us to communicate with customs immediately, in the local language, and according to local regulations, to efficiently resolve issues. This is an advantage that ordinary traders simply don’t have.
Tax planning, not passive payment: Leverage your understanding of the destination country’s tax system to optimize your tax situation within the legal framework through compliant classification and recommendations, avoiding unnecessary costs or legal red lines.
Full-process control, not just “fate”: From domestic warehouses to overseas warehouses, every step of the way is visible. If problems arise at customs, the responsible party is clearly identified, and the service provider will fully resolve them, rather than leaving you to worry from afar.
- Choose the right “double customs clearance” service and say goodbye to “stuck” nightmares
If your shipments are constantly experiencing problems, it’s time to review whether your “double customs clearance” service is up to standard. Next time you choose a service provider, be sure to ask these three soul-searching questions:
“Do you have your own team for customs clearance at the destination country, or outsource?” (To assess their core control capabilities)
“What common problems do I encounter at the destination port for my type of shipment? How do you prevent them?” (To assess their expertise and experience)
“Does your quote include all possible destination port taxes and fees? Can they be included in the contract?” (To assess their integrity and transparency)
Summary:
Shipments stuck at customs may appear to be a matter of luck, but in reality, they stem from a lack of professionalism and risk management. Leaving professional matters to professionals is the most efficient solution.
To truly understand “double customs clearance” is more than simply hiring a “porter,” but rather hiring a “professional steward” to escort your cross-border shipments from start to finish. It frees you from the hassles and uncertainties of shipping goods globally, allowing you to truly achieve the ease and peace of mind of “shipping goods globally and waiting for them to arrive in the warehouse.”