International Trade Blog

I get a lot of emails from exporters who are confused about whether or not their products require an export license. Their initial search through the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) indicate that they do, but then they hear or read about export license exceptions that may be available.

I've put together an overview that explains what license exceptions are and how they work. This discussion assumes you know the basics of export licenses. If you are new to the export license process, I recommend that you first download and read our free white paper, How to Determine if You Need an Export License.

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One of the more common questions we hear from new exporters is, “What are these fees on my freight forwarder's invoice?”

We spoke to Tom Hullinger, regional vice president at Global Distribution and Logistics, a freight forwarder based out of Chicago, to find out what charges—common and non-standard—you can expect to see when you get your freight forwarder pricing list.

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We recently received an email from one of our customers informing us they are considered an essential service and hoping we are available to meet their needs to help keep their business running. Although most of our staff are working from home, Shipping Solutions is still available to meet the needs of the international trade community.

If you need to reach us, an email is the most efficient way to communicate. We are still answering our phone if you prefer to call. However, you may be more likely to get a voice mail message than you normally would. Don't worry, we will get back to you in a timely manner.

Here is a breakdown of the services we continue to provide.

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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 transfers from the seller to the buyer.

In this article, we’re discussing the Incoterm DPU, also known as Delivered At Place Unloaded.

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Are you adrift in the sea of export acronyms? Like many industries there are scores of acronyms that get bandied about like tennis balls at Wimbledon. Some of them you probably have heard of; others only come up in specific circumstances.

One of the most important of these acronyms is EEI, which stands for Electronic Export Information. You’ve probably heard it used along with another set of acronyms—AES, ACE, and SED. Let’s take a look at what it means and why it’s important.

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I recently got a call from someone trying to gain a better understanding of the differences between standard and routed export shipments (also called routed export transactions) and how responsibilities change when dealing with routed export shipments. 

Then, I got another call, and then an email or two, and so on—so perhaps you have these questions as well. Let me explain.

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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 transfers from the seller to the buyer.

In this article, we’re discussing the Incoterm DAP, also known as Delivered At Place.

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May is fast approaching, which means World Trade Month 2020 is almost here! A number of government, private and public organizations are hosting events celebrating the importance of international trade to the U.S. economy and educating people how to begin and grow their exports.

The World Trade Month Association publishes a list of these events organized by date, location and topic to make it easy to find events in your area or available online. Register now for free email updates of these events.

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In the exporting industry, we tend to talk about our roles in general terms: I’m the exporter, you’re the importer, he’s the freight forwarder, etc. However, these terms aren’t always precise enough.

In some circumstances, it's more accurate to say "I am the U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI)" instead of "I am the exporter." It's important to understand the difference in meaning between these two terms.

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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 transfers from the seller to the buyer.

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

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