You may decide to supervise the complicated issue of customs as an internal
operation. If you are new to the subject and you are confronted with a complex
customs operation, we advise you consult specialists, even if only for the
first occasion, in order to acquire experience of the field.
Definition 
The customs agent is the person who, in his professional activities
accomplishes in his name, or that of a third person, the customs formalities
for import, export or transit.
The
customs agent
acts
as a representative or in his own name. On behalf of the operators, he
completes the customs clearance formalities. Upon import he may put forward the
money for owed duties and taxes. He must be authorised and respond to the
conditions of practice of his job. On top of his salary, he often receives a
percentage of the sum repaid at customs : advance of funds (duties, taxes,
delivery credit) and repayment of the above. He is responsible to his
employer/client for the non-execution or poor execution of his duties. However,
he may sue his employer/client if mistakes arise due to poor instructions.
Advantages
Customs
agents have a perfect knowledge of customs procedures, they understand customs
administration and they may act as lenders by paying duties and taxes upon
export.
Limitations
The
operations undertaken are on the whole "classic". They concern the three basic
customs operations : import, export and transit. Their efficiency in those
three areas allow a great number of different shipments to be treated rapidly,
but it includes an automatism hardly compatible with marginal and
non-repetitive operations.