International Trade Blog

Before you can ship dangerous goods by air, you need to properly complete the required transport documents: the air waybill and the Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods.

The main purpose of the Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) is for the shipper to provide critical information to the aircraft operator or carrier in a format that is consistent throughout the transportation industry. This standard is part of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).

Read More

The days, weeks and months immediately after signing a new international distributor are crucial for the distributor’s long-term success. One piece of advice I always share with clients regarding new distributors is this: You must be ready to guide them and help them hit the ground running from day one to launch the brand, start making sales and gain market share as soon as possible.

So, what can you do to help a new distributor have the best chance for success in the short term and build a solid foundation for long-term success?

Read More

If you are involved in international shipping at your company, chances are you’ve heard mention of the term “landed cost.” Understanding the landed cost of your international transactions is a key factor in making strategic business decisions. But what exactly is landed cost?

This blog post explains what landed cost is, why it’s important, the role of Incoterms in determining landed cost, how to calculate landed cost, and the benefits of using landed cost software.

Read More

As new products come on the market and existing products change, the harmonized system numbers used to classify them need to be updated. To make these changes, the World Customs Organization (WCO) undertakes a formal process.

On Jan. 1, 2022, a new version of HS numbers, called HS 2022, went into effect. In this article, we’ll discuss the changes to HS classification and how exporters can stay up-to-date when classifying products.

Read More

In my previous article on political risk, I explained that emerging markets present a greater likelihood of peril due to political and economic instability, the latter often caused by political decisions. Still, many emerging markets offer significant opportunities and deserve serious consideration.

Read More

What’s the most rewarding, and sometimes frustrating, aspect of being an exporter for you? For many, it’s simply getting paid on time, in the correct amount.

The rewarding part is self-explanatory. Obviously, we need to be able to earn a living! But the frustrating part is worth considering.

Take a look at these 10 terms and see if they can help you better understand the payment process (so you can make a profit sooner!).

Read More

As the world’s largest trading nation, with more than $5.6 trillion in exports and imports of goods and services in 2019, the United States is a cornerstone of the global economy. Currently, the U.S. has trade relations with more than 200 countries, territories and regional associations around the globe.

In this article, we’ll share the top U.S. exports based on recent numbers and explain how exporters can pursue exporting to these markets.

Read More

Incoterms 2020 rules are the latest revision of international terms of trade published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). They are recognized as the authoritative text for determining how costs and risks are allocated to parties conducting international transactions.

Incoterms 2020 rules outline whether the seller or the buyer is responsible for, and must assume the cost of, specific standard tasks that are part of the international transport of goods. In addition, they identify when the risk or liability of the goods transfer from the seller to the buyer.

In this article, we’re discussing the Incoterm CPT, also known as Carriage Paid To.

Read More

Sourcing is an upstream part of the supply chain: It’s the process of strategically choosing the right services and goods that a company needs to run their business. Sourcing is also the act of buying goods, including seller selection, contract negotiation and measuring the long-term performance of your suppliers.

Sourcing greatly impacts an organization’s operations, so establishing long-term relationships will help companies gain a competitive advantage. Because after all, suppliers impact a company’s operations on many levels: finances, inventory levels, quality of goods and timely arrival. A stable sourcing process ensures your inventory levels will meet market supply and demand.

Read More

In a previous article, I explained the purpose of several common export documents and the information they typically include. This article expands on that discussion and explains how to use them in the export shipping documentation process.

Here’s how they work together:

Read More