An Open Letter of Initiative to Chinese Cross-Border Sellers and Logistics Colleagues

2026-03-09

Since January 2026, the cross-border logistics market has been discussing the large-scale return of shipments due to customs inspections. At its core, this is still a compliance issue in declaration. It is not a problem of any single individual, but a common problem accumulated by the industry (dual-clearance tax-inclusive logistics companies) over a long period, and a common problem of deep binding between upstream and downstream, which can only be solved with changes in the macro environment or sufficient external force!

At present, the intensity of US customs inspections has increased significantly, infinitely amplifying the risks borne by practitioners and the goods themselves. This is a sufficiently large external force. Improvement of the macro environment always requires someone to push it forward, so we jointly issue this initiative, hoping sellers will consider using "small investment" in exchange for "great certainty"!

If you share the same idea as us, you are also invited to join our initiative team, so that more people are willing to consider compliance and promote compliance!

Looking back over more than ten years of cross-border history, we grew together from a minority to the mainstream, weathered the platform store-closure wave together, adapted together to the rule reshaping of European collection and remittance, and evolved from barbaric growth to refined operations. Today, platform rules, supply chain management, product selection operations and brand building have all matured in every aspect, yet tax compliance alone is the last missing piece of the puzzle in the entire chain. And the risk brought by this missing piece is rapidly bearing down on us!

Today, we are jointly experiencing the pain that cuts to the bone. With the contradiction and concern that "the more you do, the more mistakes you make," we send you this solemn initiative!

We see: the storm has arrived, not is about to arrive

Since January 2026, a large number of containers inspected by US customs have been forcibly returned due to issues involving trade authenticity. The scope is broad and far-reaching, which will bring huge losses to sellers and logistics providers. We believe everyone has been paying attention recently, and perhaps is experiencing it right now! More severely, US customs and the Department of Justice have launched a new phase of criminal enforcement. For behaviors such as false trade and false importers, once a case is filed, the persons involved may face criminal prosecution.

We understand: the dilemma lies not in "individuals," but in "systems"

We understand the cost pressure that increasingly expensive traffic and a more competitive ecosystem bring to sellers. It is not that you do not want to be compliant, but that you dare not be the first to be compliant. Choosing "dual-clearance tax-inclusive" is not ignoring risks, but because many people do it this way, you have no choice but to do it too! Individual rationality often leads to collective irrationality! Even if you believe logistics providers should cover the risks, you must ask whether customs will let this loophole go unattended for long. After all, Chinese cross-border business has become mainstream, and mainstream is bound to be closely watched!

Like many logistics colleagues, we hold a greater or lesser degree of fluke mentality, but with the advancement of technology, the cost of regulation and enforcement has dropped significantly. As events develop, the risk of betting on probabilities is rapidly increasing, and the price of losing the bet may far exceed your and my imagination!

We understand the dilemma of "no business without doing it, but doing it causes trouble"; the awkwardness of "waiting to die if you do nothing, and courting death if you act." We do not intend to claim who is nobler, nor to criticize who walks slower. We only wish to illuminate the next step the industry should take!

We advocate: exchange "small investment" for "great certainty"

True risk control is not in post-hoc remedies, but in strengthening the source. We call on sellers to use a small compliance investment to exchange for the safety of goods and the certainty of customs clearance: for example, using a Shipper Bond or applying for a Bond with the store entity company as the legal importer (IOR), achieving single-shipment single-clearance, a closed trade chain, and clear responsible parties — fundamentally responding to customs' questioning of "trade authenticity," so that both upstream and downstream can be compliant and long-lasting!

Finally, we want to say: going global is not a sprint, but a marathon. Operation is not about betting on probabilities, and customs clearance is not about opening blind boxes!

We initiate:

Compliance depends on the macro environment, and someone must always push the macro environment first. We are willing to join you in using small investments to promote great compliance! Let us walk steadily and far, letting going-global brands win the market and win respect.

Da Sen Lin Global Logistics (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Founder Zhang Juanjuan

Desu E-commerce Logistics (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., General Manager Pang Liangzhi

Guangdong Lianyu Logistics Co., Ltd., Founder Zhang Yiyu

Qianhai Newku (Shenzhen) International Supply Chain Co., Ltd., Chairman Jiang Liming

Shenzhen Kaiqi Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd., Founder Feng Linyong

Shenzhen Jiufang Tongxun E-commerce Logistics Co., Ltd., Founder Chen Jian

Zhejiang Yinghe International Logistics Co., Ltd., Chairman Cheng Keyuan

Zhejiang Tengxin International Logistics Co., Ltd., Chairman Li Shu

Zhejiang Jinlian International Logistics Co., Ltd., Chairman Li Xueyuan

Zhejiang Yangcheng International Logistics Co., Ltd., Chairman Cheng Kechao