What are the rules for the establishment of foreign international freight forwarding enterprises in China?

In order to promote the healthy development of China's international freight forwarding industry and standardize the establishment and operation of foreign-invested international freight forwarding enterprises, the Regulations on the Administration of Foreign-invested International Freight Forwarding Enterprises are formulated in accordance with the national laws and regulations on foreign-invested enterprises and the Regulations on the Administration of People's Republic of China (PRC) International Freight Forwarding Industry.

The term "foreign-invested international freight forwarding enterprise" as mentioned in these Provisions refers to a foreign-invested enterprise (hereinafter referred to as "foreign-invested international freight forwarding enterprise") established by a foreign investor in the form of Sino-foreign joint venture, Sino-foreign cooperation and wholly foreign-owned, and entrusted by the consignee or consignor of import and export goods to handle international freight forwarding and related business for customers in its own name or in its own name.

The specific time for accepting applications for the establishment of foreign-controlled Sino-foreign joint ventures, Sino-foreign cooperative international freight forwarding enterprises and wholly foreign-owned international freight forwarding enterprises shall be announced separately by the administrative department of foreign economic relations and trade of the State Council. Prior to this, the proportion of foreign investment in establishing Sino-foreign joint ventures and Sino-foreign cooperative international freight forwarding enterprises in China shall not be less than 50%.

A Chinese-foreign party applying for the establishment of a foreign-invested international freight forwarding enterprise must meet the following conditions:

(1) At least one party in China is an international freight forwarding enterprise engaged in international freight forwarding business for more than 1 year, or an enterprise with import and export operation rights for more than 1 year, or an enterprise engaged in related transportation or warehousing business for more than 1 year, and the Chinese joint venture meeting the above conditions shall be the largest shareholder of China;

(2) At least one foreign joint venture has been engaged in international freight forwarding business for more than 3 years, and the foreign joint venture that meets the above conditions shall be the largest shareholder of the foreign party;

(3) Within three years before the date of application, the Chinese-foreign joint venturer has not violated industry regulations.