Introduction to International Trade Documentation – Part 4

The Exporter/Seller                                     
The exporter/seller is an individual or company engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling, or brokering raw materials, component parts, finished goods or services to the importer/buyer for manufacture, assembly, resale or direct consumption.
The Importer/Buyer
The importer/Buyer is an individual or company engage in the business of purchasing raw materials, component parts, finished goods or services from exporter/seller for import to a domestic market for manufacture, assembly, resale, or direct consumption.
Freight Forwarder/Logistics Company
International freight forwarders are in the business of moving goods from one country to another. Logistics firms are in business of planning and controlling the flow of raw materials, work in progress, or finished products from point of origin to point of destination. The destinations can include a factory for further processing, a warehouse for storage, or the market place for sale. With significant industry consolidation in recent years almost all companies in this field are now offering logistics services that include the services of import custom brokerage as well. These firms are familiar with the rules and regulations of both the country of export and the country of import. They can also recommend appropriate packing methods and materials or arrange to have good packed and/or containerized. They can provide pre-shipment and pre-bidding advice on the costs of insuring, packing, and shipping goods, as well as documentation compliance, inspection services, fees, tariffs and taxes, thus allowing the exporter to make more accurate costing.
Custom Broker
A custom broker is an individual or company licensed by a government authority to act on behalf of others in customs (generally import) transactions. The customs broker assists in all aspects of clearing imported goods through custom. Customs broker handle issues involving entry and admissibility of goods, classification and valuation, the payment of duties, taxes, or other charges assessed or collected, or the refunds, rebate, or drawback. In essence, they handle the sequence of customs formalities and other detail critical to the legal and speedy import and export of goods.
Freight Carrier (Shipping Line/Airline/Railroad/Barge Line/Courier)
International freight carriers are in the business of moving cargo from one country to another. Carriers range from huge ocean shipping lines that move ship load quantities of crude oil or gain, to courier companies that handle small package shipments of less than one-half kilogram (1.1 pound). It is important to realize that some carriers are specialists in only one mode of transport. Since international shipments often require more than one mode of transport (sea, air, land) it may be necessary to use a shipper (or logistics firm) that can act as a multi-modal transport operator and take responsibility for the entire shipping process from point of origin to point of final destination.
International Bank
International banks handle all aspects of international payments for exporters and importers, including documentary collections and letter of credit. In the course of fulfilling their responsibilities, international banks process checks, drafts, credit cards, and bank wires in payment for transactions; structure documentary collection transactions for exporters and importers; and structure documentary letter of credit transactions for exporters and importers.
Insurance Company/Agent
Insurance companies provide coverage by contract of indemnity or guarantee another part against risk of loss for a stated peril, such as the risk of loss or damage to shipments of cargo in international trade. Importers and exporters can work directly with an insurance company or an agent. In many cases, freight forwarders, custom brokers, shipping liners, railroads and other couriers act as agents for insurance companies.
International Attorney
Attorney and law firms are in the business of providing legal advice to clients. Individual attorneys and firms have developed different areas of specialization. Please assist to note that the role of attorneys varies greatly from one country to one country.
Inspection Company
Inspection companies are in the business of providing testing services for exporters, importers, export authorities and import authorities. Inspection companies are often licensed by government agencies or have professional affiliations with recognized industry group. In order to protect the health, safety and economic well-being of its citizens, many countries require inspections for products before they may be imported. Some countries require that samples of products be sent in advance for the full shipment for testing by laboratories within the country of import, while others are satisfied with certificates generated in the country of export prior to shipment.
Notary Public
 Import authorities may require some documents to be certified or notarized. Most countries have appointed or commissioned individuals who are given authority to identify and certify the identity of persons who sign documents with proof of their signature. There are some key documents that certified or notarized by notaries.
 Consular Official

The consular official or office of the country of importation, located in the country of export, is often empowered to certify certain documents or forms required for the eventual import of goods. Some countries require that before goods bound for their country can be admitted for import, the documents which accompany the shipment must be certified by an official of their own consulate or embassy residing in the country of export. The process is very similar to that done by a notary republic.


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