I. The import trade situation and policy background of Australian red wine

In recent years, China-Australia economic and trade cooperation has shown the characteristics of "deep water". With the warming of Sino-Australian relations in 2023, Australia's wine import policy has gradually stabilized. According to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), Australian wine that meets the rules of origin can enjoy tariff preferences (HS code 2204210000, Most-Favored-Nation tariff rate of 14%, and a gradually decreasing tariff rate under the RCEP). Coupled with the continuous demand for imported wine in China's consumer market (according to customs data in 2024, the import volume of Australian wine increased by 18% year-on-year), new opportunities have emerged for import trade.

However, it should be noted that there are still uncertainties in the international trade environment: fluctuations in the global supply chain have led toMaritime transportThe price rises cyclically. The proportion of "double random" inspections of imported food by customs remains high (about 12%-15%), and starting from 2024, Chinese customs will strengthen the dynamic audit of the registration of overseas production enterprises of imported food (Announcement No. 228), further raising the compliance threshold.

II.Import customs declarationAnalysis of the Core Processes of Full-Process Agency Services

As a professionalforeign tradeAgent,Zhong Shen International Trade Co., Ltd.Break down the import service into four stages: "Consultation - Contract Signing - Execution - Delivery", and focus on strengthening the two core capabilities of document processing and logistics to ensure full control of the entire supply chain.

(I) Preliminary Consultation & Contract Review: Risk Control Up-Front

During the client consultation phase, the agent needs to clarify three core requirements: import volume (full container/LCL), target ports (primarily Shanghai/Shenzhen/Guangzhou), and customs clearance timeline (general sea freight takes 30-40 days, including a 10-15-day customs clearance period after arrival). At the same time, review key terms of the trade contract, such as payment methods (T/T 30% prepayment + 70% upon presentation of documents, or other arrangements).?L/C?For the contract, it is necessary to include the following clauses: Letter of Credit (L/C), quality standards (which need to comply with GB 2758-2012 "National Food Safety Standards for Fermented Wine and Its Blended Wine"), and dispute resolution clauses (it is recommended to stipulate the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission), in order to avoid subsequent performance disputes.

(II) Order Execution & Logistics Management: Full-Chain Control from Winery to Port

After confirming the order, the agent selects the transportation method based on the quantity of goods: a 20-foot small container (about 25,000 bottles) is suitable for small and medium-sized importers, a 40-foot high container (about 50,000 bottles) matches large orders; and LCL can reduce the cost for small-batch customers through groupage. Key monitoring points in the logistics process include:

• Booking a shipping space: We prioritize cooperating with shipping companies such as Maersk and CMA CGM, securing sailing schedules, and purchasing marine all-risks insurance (which covers risks of damage and water damage during transportation).
• Shipping supervision: Require Australian exporters to provide "clean bills of lading" and confirm that the goods comply with the contract specifications (alcohol content, residual sugar content, etc.) through third-party inspections (such as SGS);
• Tracking in transit: Use the logistics system to obtain the container's location in real time (e.g., by integrating with the ShipTrack API), and notify customers to prepare customs clearance documents 7 days in advance to avoid port congestion fees (overdue storage fees are approximately USD 50/day/container).

III. Document Processing: The "Digital Pass" for Compliant Customs Clearance

The core of customs clearance is "document consistency and document-form consistency". The agent needs to assist the client in completing the review and preparation of more than 10 documents, including:

Special Note: In 2024, the customs authorities will strengthen the "document traceability" system. If it is found that the certificate of origin does not match the shipper on the bill of lading (e.g., due to third-party transshipment), the consignment will face the risk of being returned. Agents can effectively avoid such problems by verifying the logical relationship between documents through the system.

IV. Responding to Special Situations: VTB's Business in RussiaConvert foreign exchange into RMBAdvantage Description

For clients involved in re-export or settlement with Russia, Zhong Shen International Trade relies on its long-term cooperation with VTB Bank to provide efficient foreign exchange settlement solutions:

• Settlement efficiency: As a systemically important bank in Russia, VTB has established a direct clearing channel with major Chinese banks (such as Bank of China), reducing the time required for cross-border wire transfers to 1-2 working days (compared to 3-5 days for regular banks).
• Exchange rate risk management: We offer spot exchange and forward lock-in options, allowing clients to lock in exchange rates based on market expectations (e.g., triggering a lock-in when the EUR/CNY fluctuation exceeds 3%).
• Compliance Assurance: Strictly follow the screening of the OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury) and the EU sanctions list to avoid the risk of account freezing caused by "shadow banking" channels.

5. Certification Tips: Compliance Points That Customers Need to Pay Attention to on Their Own

Although Zhong Shen International Trade Co., Ltd. does not directly provide certification services, we would like to remind our clients to pay attention to the following certification requirements and confirm them with their Australian suppliers in advance:

1. Registration of Overseas Food Production Enterprises for Imported Food (Announcement No. 228): Australian wineries are required to register with the General Administration of Customs as "imported food producers".CosmeticsImport and exportAfter completing the registration on the "Business Registration System", you can check its validity through the official website.
2. Organic certification: If importing organic red wine, you need to provide an Australian organic certification (such as ACO) and a conversion certificate recognized by the China National Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA);
3. Low-alcohol/alcohol-free red wine: An additional alcohol content testing report (≤0.5% vol.) is required. Some ports require sending the sample to a laboratory for re-examination (with a processing time of 5-10 days).

It is recommended that clients initiate the certification verification three months in advance to avoid customs clearance delays due to incomplete qualifications.

VI. Summary: How professional agents can improve import efficiency

The core challenges of Australian wine imports lie in "policy compliance" and "logistics efficiency". Through professional agents' document review (reducing the rate of return orders to less than 3%), full-chain logistics tracking (shortening customs clearance time by 5-7 days), and special scenario responses (such as foreign exchange settlement with Russia), clients can focus their main efforts on market expansion rather than tedious customs clearance operations. With 20 years of experience, Zhong Shen International Trade has developed a "1+N" service model (1 project team + N professional supports), ensuring that the risks of each import business can be predicted, the process can be controlled, and the results can be traced.