My Amazon company is looking for an import specialist to help us get going with Amazon Global Logistics (AGL). We have asked AGL to give us a phone contact to discuss our requirements but they insist we open a case with their support team, which we all know is as much use as a chocolate fireguard…

My company imports various products from China. Up to now, we have been shipping small, lightweight quantities via express air freight. We are now looking to import larger products via container load and have recently signed up to AGL.

Some of our suppliers in China are very small and do not ship outside of China themselves. Therefore, we ship these goods to our Chinese agent in Chengdu who up to now has been shipping goods on an express air freight service to the Amazon FBA in the UK.

Our Amazon account is now approved to use AGL and our first air freight shipment is currently sitting in Chengdu waiting to be shipped. Upon booking the shipment with AGL, AGL has stated that we need to do the following:
• Apply for an export license from the Chinese government
• Open a foreign currency bank account in China to send payments for goods to

I have imported from China for 20 years via various freight forwarders and have never heard of having to do the above, so I am worried wires have been crossed here, hence the need for an expert to tell us exactly what needs to be done and the most effective way of doing it.

If you have experience with importing from China and more importantly have experience with shipping via AGL, please get in touch.