Home?Trade Essentials? What exactly is the export agency certificate? 7 key issues that foreign trade enterprises must know
1. Export RepresentationIs the certificate an official document issued by the government?
In the international trade practice in 2025,The Chinese Customs and the Ministry of Commerce have not established an official certificate named export agency certificate.13.. This concept is commonly seen in the following two scenarios:
Applied for independently by enterprisesimport and exportBusiness operation record - filing documents
foreign tradeSigned in agency servicesAgency Export Agreement
It should be noted that some non - standard service agencies may package the agency cooperation agreement as a so - called certificate, which requires enterprises to carefully screen.
2. Cant do foreign trade without an export agency certificate?
The core of carrying out import and export business lies in obtaining legal qualifications, which are specifically divided into two methods:
Self - operated mode:
Apply for registration as a customs importer/exporter
Complete the record - filing with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange
Obtain the Electronic Port IC card
Agent - export mode:
Sign a contract with an agency company with import and export rights
In summary,There is no export agency certificate in the legal sense.Enterprises should choose the self - operation or agency export mode according to their actual needs. It is recommended that small and medium - sized enterprises with an annual export volume of less than 5 million RMB give priority to the agency mode to reduce operating costs. For specific business operations, enterprises can consult the local commerce department or professional trade service agencies to obtain the latest policy guidance.