New Trends in Sino-Australian Food Trade: Opportunities and Challenges of Australian Cookie Imports

In recent years, the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) has continued to deepen, coupled with the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), which has gradually reduced tariffs on Australian food imports. For Australian biscuits under HS code 2106.9090, the agreement tariff rate has been reduced from the Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) rate of 15% to zero tariffs (effective from 2023), creating significant cost advantages for domestic importers. However, at the same time, the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) has strengthened food export supervision, and Chinese customs has implemented a full-chain management of imported foods, including "pre-import review + port inspection + follow-up supervision", which has increased the risk of technical barriers to trade (TBT). Against this backdrop, professionalImport Agent ServicesThe value of the service is becoming increasingly evident. Its core lies in assisting enterprises to avoid risks such as customs clearance delays and tariff supplementation by means of accurate document processing, efficient logistics coordination, and strict compliance control.

Core competence of import agents: professional barriers in document processing and logistics services

First, the document system: the "digital pass" for import customs clearance

The documents involved in the import of Australian biscuits can be divided into three categories:

1. Basic commercial documents: Business invoice (which must show the FOB value, freight charges, insurance premiums, and other details, in accordance with the contract).?L/C?The payment terms (strictly matching the T/T payment terms), the packing list (listing the net/gross weight and specifications of each box, which must be consistent with the "goods description" on the bill of lading), and the bill of lading itself.Maritime transportThe bill of lading must pay attention to the "clean bill of lading" clause, and for the electronic bill of lading, it is necessary to confirm the shipping company's authorization in advance.
2. Official Compliance Documents: Export Health Certificate issued by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWR), which must specify the product ingredients and the registered number of the manufacturing company, and the China-Australia Free Trade AgreementOrigin Certificate(FORM E, which directly affects tariff concessions, requires verification of the "fully obtained or produced" standard), ingredient testing reports (which must cover microbiological indicators and ensure that the use of food additives complies with GB 2760);
3. Domestic declaration documents: Imported Food Consignee Registration Certificate (must be obtained in advance from the "Imported Food" section of the National Import and Export Commodity Inspection and Quarantine Administration website).CosmeticsImport and exportThe "Business Registration System" (must be completed), the customs declaration form (HS code 2106.9090 must be accurately declared to avoid tariff differences due to misclassification), and the entry goods inspection form (which must indicate the special supervision condition of "imported food").

   Our team has over 1,000+ cases of food import document review experience and can implement the "dual track review" process: the system automatically validates field logic (e.g., bill of lading gross weight ≥ packing list gross weight), and manual review ensures the validity of official documents (e.g., FORM E visa agency stamp, health certificate expiry date). This ensures document consistency and a clearance success rate of over 98%.
   

II. Logistics Network: Full-chain control from Australian warehouses to Chinese shelves

The import logistics of Australian biscuits is mainly by sea (accounting for 95%), and the transportation solution needs to comprehensively consider the cargo volume (full container FCL or LCL), delivery time (about 18-22 days from Sydney/Melbourne to Shanghai Port) and cost (FCL sea freight fee in 2023 is about USD 1,500/20GP). Our company has established long-term agreements with shipping companies such as Maersk and CMA CGM, which can lock in shipping space and secure a 10%-15% discount on freight charges.

On the control of key nodes:

• Before loading the ship: Supervise Australian suppliers to pack the goods according to the "moistureproof and shockproof" standards (cookies are fragile items and must be packed in corrugated cardboard boxes with cushioning air pillows), and verify that the lead seal numbers match those on the packing lists.
• During transportation: Track the location of containers in real time through the shipping company's EIR system, and when faced with force majeure such as typhoons, coordinate port changes or delayed arrivals as soon as possible;
• After arrival at port: Prioritize "advanced customs declaration" (declare three days before the goods arrive at the port), and utilize the "two-step declaration" model (summary declaration + full declaration) to shorten the customs clearance time to within 48 hours (which normally takes 5-7 days).
• Domestic distribution: We have established partnerships with JD Logistics and SF Express Cold Chain, and set up distribution centers in the East China and South China markets to support "door-to-door" delivery (using room-temperature transportation to prevent cookies from softening due to high temperatures).

Special scenario response: VTB in Russian business operationsConvert foreign exchange into RMBAdvantages

If the client is involved in activities related to RussiaRe-export Services(For example, Australian biscuits transiting through China to Russia), our company can provide VTB Bank (Russia) with relevant services.foreign tradeBank's special foreign exchange settlement services. Compared with conventional USD settlement, VTB's foreign exchange settlement offers significant advantages:

• Settlement efficiency: Support direct exchange between the RMB and the ruble, reducing the fees charged by US dollar interbank market (averaging a savings of 1.5% in exchange losses);
• Compliance guarantee: VTB is a systemically important bank in Russia, and it maintains partial connectivity with SWIFT, which helps it avoid the risk of payment freezes caused by sanctions.
• Exchange Rate Lock - in: We offer spot/forward foreign exchange settlement options to help enterprises lock in profits (e.g., locking in a 6.8:1 exchange rate when signing contracts to avoid losses from ruble fluctuations). Since 2022, we have completed foreign exchange settlements for 12 clients in Russia, with a total amount exceeding USD 20 million and no dispute records.

Certification Notice: Compliance requirements that enterprises need to pay attention to on their own

Please note: Our company does not directly provide product certification services, but we can highlight the key certification requirements for clients' reference:

• Australian export side: Producing enterprises must hold a DAWR registration number (AUS-FOOD registration number), and biscuits exported to China must comply with the Australian Food Standards Code (FSANZ).
• China Import Terminal: Before importing, it is necessary to check whether the Australian production enterprises are registered in China through the "Imported Food Overseas Production Enterprise Registration Management System" (the registration number can be checked on the official website of the General Administration of Customs); after importing, it is necessary to obtain the "Inspection and Quarantine Certificate for Imported Goods" (issued by the customs, which is a necessary document for putting the goods on the shelf for sale).
• Other notes: If cookies are added with functional ingredients (such as probiotics), an additional application for a "special food" certification (health food approval) is required. It is recommended to start the declaration process 6-12 months in advance.

Full-Process Agency Service: Closed-Loop Management from Consultation to Feedback

Our company's import agency services strictly follow the "9-step standardized process", ensuring that every step is traceable and controllable:

1. Client Consultation: Through the "Import Demand Survey Form", clarify key information such as the product composition (whether it contains dairy products/nuts), the quantity (annual import volume/single invoice value), and target ports (Shanghai/Shenzhen/Qingdao);
2. Negotiation and Contract Signing: Design contract clauses based on trade terms such as CIF and DAP, with a focus on reviewing the claim period for "quality non-compliance" (suggested to be set as 30 days after arrival at the port) and the responsibility allocation for "port congestion fees" (clearly stating that the supplier shall bear the responsibility for shipment delays).
3. Orders & Payment: We support payment methods such as T/T (30% prepayment + 70% payment upon arrival) and letters of credit (L/C at sight, subject to review of the issuing bank's creditworthiness). Payments can be registered through the "Digital Foreign Exchange Administration" platform of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
4. Production supervision(For customized orders): Assign QC specialists to the Australian factory to verify the batch of raw materials (wheat flour/sugar sources), the production environment (GMP certification status), and the packaging labels (which need to be affixed with the draft of the Chinese pre-packaging labels);
5. Customs Compliance: Pre-verifying the HS code (2106.9090), calculating the customs duty and taxable price (CIF price = value of the goods + freight + insurance premiums), paying the import VAT (13%) on behalf of the client, and providing the original copy of the "Customs Duty Payment Notice";
6. Delivery and Distribution: According to the client's needs, we support either "port direct pickup" (self-pickup by the client) or "warehouse-delivery integration" (entrusted to our company's supervised warehouse for order distribution).
7. Quality Assurance: Extract 5% of the goods for third-party testing (SGS or Huace), with a focus on testing peroxide value (≤0.25g/100g) and total bacterial count (≤10000 CFU/g). For unqualified products, we will assist in arranging for their return or destruction.
8. Summary Feedback: Provide an "Import Execution Report" (including logistics efficiency, cost structure, and analysis of customs clearance issues), and assist clients in optimizing their next batch of import plans.

The core value of choosing a professional agent: reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and controlling risks

In the import of biscuits to Australia, typical losses that may arise from non-professional operations include: port detention fees caused by document errors (about USD 500/day); additional tariffs due to classification errors (which may reach 15% of the goods value); and the return of goods due to missing certifications (with losses including the value of the goods and the round-trip freight costs). However, by using professional agency services, companies can achieve the following benefits:

• Professional support: By taking advantage of the preferential tax rates to save on customs duties and reducing shipping costs through logistics agreements, the overall cost can be reduced by 8% to 12%;
• Lead time improvement: The customs clearance time has been reduced from 7-10 days to 3-5 days, and the period from the Australian factory to the Chinese supermarket shelves has been shortened to 30-35 days.
• Controlled risks: Output: Identify potential risks in advance, such as HS code disputes (e.g., cookies with chocolate coating may be classified under 1806.9000) and missing documentation (e.g., failure to obtain a FORM E may result in the inability to enjoy zero tariffs), to avoid unexpected losses.

Conclusion: The import of Australian biscuits has entered the era of "professional service-driven". Choosing an agent service provider with the ability to handle documents, coordinate logistics, and ensure compliance is the key for enterprises to seize market opportunities.Zhong Shen International Trade Co., Ltd.Having been engaged in import agency for 20 years, we help clients achieve the leap from "compliant import" to "efficient operation" by adopting the model of "full-process standardization + personalized demand response".