I. Basic Qualifications and Certificates
What to look for regarding basic qualifications: Based on foreign trade export practices, consider these “Five Certificates”—the essential credentials a company needs to conduct foreign trade (1. Business License; 2. Customs registration for consignors/consignees of import/export goods; 3. Registration for export tax rebates/exemptions; 4. Registration in the foreign exchange receipt and payment directory; 5. Electronic Port network access and IC card activation).
Business License—Issued by the local Administration for Market Regulation (applications can be submitted in person or online). Business Scope—Ensure the business license explicitly includes “import and export of goods and technology” during registration or modification. Customs Registration—Registration as a consignor/consignee of import/export goods (companies can apply via the “Multi-Certificate Integration” process with market regulation authorities—i.e., checking the relevant box when applying for business registration). Entity Type—The consignor/consignee must fall under specific market entity categories (companies, non-corporate enterprise legal persons, sole proprietorships, partnerships, federations of farmers’ professional cooperatives, individual industrial and commercial households, branches of foreign companies, or other entities defined by law/regulation). Public Disclosure—Registration details are published on the China Customs Enterprise Import/Export Credit Information Publicity Platform (local customs offices can provide a paper “Customs Declaration Unit Registration Certificate” if requested by the applicant). Summary: “Five Certificates, Six Aspects”—Certificate list, business license, business scope, multi-certificate integration, market entity type, and public disclosure/certification; ensure all five certificates are complete.
II.
Registration and Filing
What to look for regarding registration and filing.
Based on the practical implementation of foreign trade operator filing, here is what you need to know about the filing process: **Procedure**—Foreign trade operators engaged in the import and export of goods or technology must complete filing registration with the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) or an agency authorized by it (exceptions apply where laws, administrative regulations, or MOFCOM rules state registration is not required; Article 2 of the *Measures for the Filing and Registration of Foreign Trade Operators*); **Effect**—If a foreign trade operator fails to complete filing registration in accordance with these Measures, Customs will not process import/export declaration and clearance procedures (MOFCOM); **Authority**—MOFCOM is the competent authority for foreign trade operator filing and registration nationwide (the process utilizes a national network and localized management; MOFCOM); **Time Limit**—Operators must use the registration form stamped with the filing seal to complete necessary procedures for conducting foreign trade business—such as those with local Customs, inspection and quarantine, foreign exchange, and tax authorities—within 30 days (forms not used within this period automatically expire; Article 8 of the *Measures*); **Processing (Online)**—Fully online processing (log in to the Guangxi Integrated Digital Government Platform or the “Zhi Gui Tong” app, select the “Enterprise Change ‘One-Stop Service'” zone, fill in change details and upload materials as prompted, complete the electronic signature, and submit; Wuzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce); **Processing (Offline)**—Offline counter service (visit the “Efficient ‘One-Stop Service'” comprehensive counter at the Government Service Center; Wuzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce); **Basis**—When applying for an export license, operators must submit the foreign trade operator filing registration form stamped with the dedicated filing seal to the issuing agency (or a copy of the *Qualification Certificate for Import and Export Enterprises of the PRC* or the *Approval Certificate for Foreign-Invested Enterprises*; *Measures for the Administration of Export Licenses for Goods*). In summary, consider these six aspects of filing compliance: Article 2 of the *Measures*, the requirement for filing prior to customs declaration, the national network/localized management system, the 30-day deadline, online processing options, and the licensing requirement.
III.
Customs Registration
What to consider regarding Customs registration.
Based on customs registration and filing practices, the registration process involves the following six key aspects: **Single Window**—register within the customs system (log in to the China (Sichuan) International Trade Single Window, follow system prompts to register an account, enter relevant information—including basic enterprise details, investor information, and customs declaration personnel details—and obtain the filing receipt for consignors/consignees of import and export goods after approval by the local customs office); **Path**—navigate the China International Trade Single Window (All Applications > Port Law Enforcement Declaration > Enterprise Management > Enterprise Qualifications > Qualification Filing); **Selection**—select “Consignor/Consignee of Import and Export Goods” for self-declaration operations, “Customs Declaration Enterprise” for agency declaration operations, and “Cross-border E-commerce Enterprise” for cross-border e-commerce applications; **Process**—customs qualification filing, specifically the registration of consignors/consignees of import and export goods (Enterprise Management > Enterprise Qualifications > Qualification Filing > Filing Application > Customs Declaration Unit & Related Qualification Filing > Consignor/Consignee of Import and Export Goods > Confirm); **Application**—the enterprise submits an application stamped with the company’s official seal to the local customs office; **Window**—submit the “Customs Declaration Unit Filing Information Form” stamped with the unit’s official seal to the local customs office (the local customs office reviews the application and grants filing status if the materials are complete and meet the requirements for consignors/consignees of import and export goods).
Following these six steps ensures a smooth registration process.
IV. Permit Requirements
What to look for regarding permit requirements.
Regarding export licensing practices, the licensing system can be understood through six key aspects: System—the state implements a unified export licensing system for goods (export license management applies to goods subject to export restrictions; Article 2 of the *Administrative Measures for Export Licensing of Goods*); Centralized Administration—the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) is the competent authority for export licensing nationwide (responsible for formulating regulations, supervising implementation, penalizing violations, and—jointly with the General Administration of Customs—adjusting and publishing the annual catalog of goods subject to export licensing); Application—foreign trade operators must apply for an export license from a designated issuing agency in accordance with regulations prior to export (Customs accepts declarations based on the export license; *Administrative Measures for Export Licensing of Goods*); Catalog—there are 43 categories of goods subject to export licensing in 2026 (operators exporting listed goods must apply to MOFCOM or its authorized local commerce departments for a People’s Republic of China Export License and complete customs clearance procedures using said license; MOFCOM and GACC Announcement No. 89 of 2025); Conditions—requirements for license approval applications regarding restricted goods (1. applicant has completed foreign trade operator registration/filing in accordance with the law; online processing via the MOFCOM Unified Business Platform; 2. applicant has legally concluded a goods export contract; 3. applicant has obtained an export quota, where applicable to quota-managed goods; 4. applicant holds qualifications for state-trading operations or an allocation for non-state-trading operations; MOFCOM); Online—online application is mandatory for goods subject to export quota licensing (applicants must accurately complete the electronic application form online and transmit it to the appropriate issuing agency; *Administrative Measures for Export Licensing of Goods*)—Licensing in six aspects: unified system, centralized MOFCOM administration, pre-export application, 43-item catalog, four application conditions, and online application; these six aspects ensure the licensing process is fully implemented.
V.
Certification Qualifications
What to look for regarding certification qualifications.
Based on practical experience with export certification, the certification process involves six key aspects: AEO (Authorized Economic Operator)—application requires prior customs registration as a declarant entity and compliance with standards for certified or advanced certified enterprises (regarding internal controls, financial status, legal compliance, and trade security; see GACC Announcement No. 34 of 2026 and GACC policy channels); Process—the application procedure (submission of a stamped application to the local customs authority); Products—target market certification (obtaining CE or other certifications required by the importing country; e.g., compliance guidelines for Liuzhou new energy vehicles and construction machinery); Importing Country—compliance with target market requirements (certification and testing per market access rules; Liuzhou Market Supervision Bureau); General—product-specific qualifications beyond general enterprise credentials (e.g., relevant filings based on product category, such as GACC procedures for agricultural and food products); Declaration—customs clearance and release based on export licenses (Announcement No. 89 of 2025). In summary, the certification framework covers six areas: AEO conditions, application process, product certification, target markets, special qualifications, and customs clearance.
Conclusion
What qualifications are required for exporting automation components?
The conclusion is defined by five dimensions: five types of certificates, filings, registrations, permits, and certifications.
“Five Certificates”—Business License (must include wording regarding the import and export of goods and technology; issued by market regulation authorities; newly registered enterprises may opt for the ‘multi-certificate integration’ option), Customs filing for consignors/consignees of import/export goods, filing for export tax rebates/exemptions, registration in the foreign exchange receipts and payments directory, and activation of the ‘Electronic Port’ network access and IC card; Filings—Registration of Foreign Trade Operators (Customs will not process declarations or clearances without this filing; the registration form must be used to complete formalities with Customs, inspection/quarantine, foreign exchange, and tax authorities within 30 days, or it automatically expires; managed locally but networked nationwide); Registration—China International Trade ‘Single Window’ (navigate to Enterprise Management > Enterprise Qualifications > Qualification Filing > Customs Declaration Unit & Related Qualification Filing > Confirm Consignor/Consignee Status), select ‘Consignor/Consignee of Import/Export Goods’ for self-managed declarations, obtain the filing receipt upon approval, and submit the Customs Declaration Unit Filing Information Form via the portal; Permits—National unified export licensing system (as of 2026, 43 categories of restricted export goods require an export permit from the Ministry of Commerce or local commerce authorities for customs clearance; prerequisites include operator registration, export contracts, quotas, and state-trading qualifications; processed online via the Ministry of Commerce’s unified business platform); Certification—AEO Certification (requires completed Customs declaration unit filing and compliance with AEO standards regarding internal controls, financial status, legal compliance, and trade security) and product certification based on destination country requirements (e.g., CE marking);
clearance is granted upon presentation of the export permit.
In summary, export qualification requirements follow this rule: secure the ‘Five Certificates’ first, complete necessary filings, register via the ‘Single Window,’ and obtain permits for restricted goods—navigate these four steps, and export operations will proceed smoothly.
