Law<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nMost common commercial words used in contracts for purchasing goods are defined and interpreted by the Incoterms regulations established by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).<\/span><\/p>\nInternational transactions will be handled by the agreed-upon Incoterm, which will establish the party at law that must bear the expenses and risks associated with the transaction. All shipping documentation will include an explicit statement of Incoterms.<\/span><\/p>\nSeven of the Incoterms 2020 Terms cover almost every modes of transportation and are summarized below.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>EXW (Ex Works\/ Ex Warehouse)<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nGoods are considered “ex works” when made available to the customer at the seller’s premises or a specified location (i.e., warehouse, factory, works, etc.).<\/span><\/p>\nThe vendor does not have to load the products on any pickup vehicle. It is also not required to obtain export approval if and where needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>FCA, or Free Carrier<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nUpon the buyer’s request, the seller will deliver the products to the buyer’s designated carrier or another designated individual at the seller’s location.<\/span><\/p>\nBecause the risk moves to the purchaser at the point of delivery, the parties should be as specific as possible about where the delivery will take place inside the designated place of shipment.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>FAS or Free Alongside Ship<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nThe seller delivers when the products are deposited along the vessels (e.g., on a dock or a barge) specified by the purchaser at the named shipping port.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen the merchandise is ashore, the ship takes on the risk of damage or loss to them. After that point, all fees are the responsibility of the buyer.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>FOB or Free On Board<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nAt the designated shipping port, the seller either loads the items onto the vessel designated by the buyer or arranges to have them loaded onto the vessel.<\/span><\/p>\nOnce products are loaded into the vessel, responsibility for their safekeeping and protection is transferred to the shipper. The customer bears all charges from that point onwards.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>CFR or Cost and Freight<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nEither the seller physically loads the items onto the ship, or the seller pays for the products to be loaded onto the ship. When an item is loaded onto a ship, responsibility for its safekeeping and protection from loss or damage is transferred from the shipper to the buyer.<\/span><\/p>\nTo get the items to the agreed-upon port, the seller is responsible for arranging and paying for all transportation fees and freight.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>CIF or Cost Insurance Freight<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nThe seller either brings the products onto the ship or pays for them to be brought aboard. When items are loaded onto a ship, the buyer also passes responsibility for their safety and security.<\/span><\/p>\nTo get the items to the agreed-upon port, the seller is responsible for arranging and paying for all transportation fees and freight. In addition, the seller arranges for insurance to protect the customer if the items are lost or damaged in transit.<\/span><\/p>\nNote that under CIF, the seller is only obligated to have minimal cover insurance, which the buyer should be aware of. Any additional insurance coverage must come from the seller’s express agreement or the buyer’s independent arrangement.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>CPT stands for Carrying Paid To<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nThe seller makes the goods available for pick up by the carrier or the seller’s designated third party at the designated delivery location.<\/span><\/p>\nSeller shall arrange for and pay for all transportation costs incurred in delivering the products to the Delivery Location.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>CIP or Carriage and Insurance Paid To<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nThe seller is responsible for the same things as CPT, plus they’ve agreed to insure the items against the buyer’s risk of loss or damage during transport.<\/span><\/p>\nThe buyer needs to know that the CIP only mandates the seller to get the bare minimum in insurance coverage. Any additional insurance coverage must come from the seller’s express agreement or the buyer’s independent arrangement.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>DAP or Delivered At Place<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nWhen the items are loaded into the arriving mode of conveyance and made available for offloading at the agreed-upon location, the vendor has met their responsibility. The seller is responsible for ensuring the safe delivery of the items to the agreed-upon location.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>DPU (Delivery at Place Unloaded (replacing Incoterm 2010 DAT))<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nIncoterm DAT has been replaced by DPU (Delivered At Terminal). The seller has fulfilled their obligation to transport when the products have been unloaded and made available to the buyer at the agreed-upon location.<\/span><\/p>\nThe seller is responsible for all costs and dangers associated with transporting and unloading the products at the agreed-upon location.<\/span><\/p>\n