In brief
Import and export rights are not a single licence. Customs, e-Port, banking and tax systems must recognise the same company details. One missing setup can stop the goods, the declaration or the payment.
What trade readiness means
A ready company can declare goods, exchange electronic data, pay or receive foreign currency and reconcile commercial documents with tax records. Customs registration is necessary, but it is only one part of that operating chain.
| Flow | System | Required result |
|---|---|---|
| Goods | Customs / Single Window | Company recognised in the declaration |
| Data | China e-Port | Electronic access and operator permissions |
| Payments | Bank and foreign-exchange setup | Foreign-currency collection and settlement |
| Tax | Tax authority | Consistent invoicing and VAT treatment |
1. Map the commercial model
Define the product, direction of trade, Incoterm, contracting entity, importer or exporter of record and payment currency. The business scope should support the real trade in goods or technology.
- Identify the products and likely Customs codes.
- Decide which company will act as importer or exporter of record.
- Check whether the product needs an additional licence, inspection or certification.
- Align contracts, invoices, payments and logistics responsibility.
2. Register with Customs
The company registers through the China International Trade Single Window and obtains its Customs identification. Company name, licence details, bank information and tax identity must match across systems.
Abolition did not mean deregulation
The former foreign-trade-operator filing was abolished in late 2022. Customs, e-Port, banking and tax requirements still remain.
3. Configure China e-Port
Set up the operator card and user permissions, then decide who will use them: internal staff, a Customs broker or another service provider. Outsourcing declarations should not mean losing control of access.
4. Prepare foreign-currency payments
The bank may reconcile the contract, invoice, Customs declaration and payment amount. Differences in names, currency or value can delay settlement, so test the document flow before a critical supplier payment.
- Open the required currency accounts.
- Confirm evidence required for inbound and outbound payments.
- Assign foreign-exchange approval responsibilities.
- Test the bank workflow before the first shipment.
5. Design export VAT treatment early
An exporter seeking VAT rebates needs the appropriate taxpayer status and a document chain connecting the invoice, declaration, payment and accounting entry. Rebuilding that chain after shipment is considerably harder.
Run a pre-shipment test
- Confirm product classification and restrictions.
- Check the company identity in every system.
- Verify e-Port access and broker responsibility.
- Have the bank and accountant review a sample document pack.
- Simulate the order, invoice, payment and declaration reconciliation.
Common mistakes
- Assuming Customs registration activates every system.
- Selecting a Customs code from the commercial product name alone.
- Allowing a service provider to control all e-Port access.
- Discovering bank requirements at the payment deadline.
- Preparing VAT treatment only after exports begin.