Resources
International trade and customs
An export operation fits in one file: a contract, an incoterm, a document set, a customs regime and a payment method. Mastering that sequence makes a small company able to sell beyond its borders.
The incoterm decides everything else
The chosen incoterm splits transport costs, insurance, export and import formalities, and the point where risk transfers, between seller and buyer. That split then determines the price to quote, the documents to produce and when payment may be demanded. A quotation made without that decision proves inaccurate at the first transport incident, when the question of responsibility genuinely arises.
- An incoterm chosen before quotation, never after the order
- A complete document set: invoice, packing list, certificate of origin
- An established tariff classification, which determines the duties owed
- A customs value built under the applicable rules
- A payment method suited to the level of trust in the relationship
The export file, item by item
- 01
The sales contract
It sets the goods, the price, the incoterm, the lead time and the governing law. The whole file follows from it.
- 02
The document set
Invoice, packing, transport, origin: one missing item immobilises the goods, not the order.
- 03
The customs declaration
Classification, value, regime: three decisions determining duties and clearance time.
- 04
Settlement
Documentary credit, documentary collection or guarantee: the choice secures collection and is negotiated with the contract.
The career titles in this field
Three professional titles covering declaration, transit and supply chain management. Levels and hour counts come from the official catalogue.
| Professional title | Level | Duration | Credits | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customs Declarant and Freight Forwarding Agent | Level 5 | 9 months | 60 | 600 h |
| Logistics and Forwarding Manager | Level 5 | 9 months | 70 | 700 h |
| Supply Chain Manager | Level 6 | 1 year | 80 | 800 h |
Exporters' questions
Which incoterm should I choose for a first operation?
The one matching what you genuinely control: taking charge of main carriage assumes you can organise and insure it. The foreign trade techniques block works that choice on real quotations, with the associated full-cost calculation.
How do I secure payment from a new customer?
With a documentary credit, which makes payment conditional on presenting compliant documents. The international financing block covers the mechanisms, their cost, and the cases where a lighter guarantee suffices.
Does the programme cover regional agreements?
The first block covers the world trade environment: international organisations, regional agreements, customs policies, over 160 taught hours. It is the frame within which the rest of the file is built.
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