Following the special enforcement campaign launched by the General Administration of Customs in 2024, the industry landscape has shifted as follows:
Customs authorities have intensified inspections and penalties regarding violations such as "buying declarations" (using a third party's export license for customs clearance) and the misdeclaration or concealment of cargo details. Relevant judicial precedents have established that cargo owners and freight forwarders share equal liability for such violations; both parties face substantial fines (e.g., RMB 196,000) and additional financial losses, such as container demurrage charges.
- Leading enterprises have established compliance review systems.
- The market share available to small and medium-sized freight forwarders has shrunk by 50%.
- Cargo owners no longer need to handle tax filing and customs clearance themselves when purchasing logistics services.
Furthermore, market awareness has deepened; industry practitioners increasingly recognize the "double-edged sword" nature of "all-inclusive clearance and tax" services (*shuangqing baoshui*). There is now widespread concern regarding the compliance risks, hidden costs, and safety hazards underlying their convenience. When selecting service providers, the market places greater emphasis on compliance, transparency, and clear accountability.
