Document

1. Document • WHAT EXPORT SHIPPING DOCUMENTS DO I NEED? • vary widely according to the country of destination and the type of product being shipped. • Failure to comply can delayed or end payment; goods could be seized or you could be fined, denied further export privileges, or jailed.

2. Most Commonly Required Documents • U.S. Shipper's Export Declaration • Used by the U.S. Census Bureau to compile trade statistics and to help prevent illegal exports. • The SED and instructions on how to fill it out are available from a variety of sources including the U.S. Government Printing Office (202-512-0000) and the U.S. Census Bureau's home page. • Do I Need to Submit an SED for My Shipment? • Required for any shipment valued at $2,500 or above (If the shipment is valued at over $2,500 but is made up of various commodities falling under several Schedule B numbers none of which is valued at $2,500 or higher, no SED is required.) • Required for any shipment to particular countries, such as Cuba, Libya, and North Korea, and for any shipment requiring a validated export license. • Required for shipments to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the former Pacific Trust Territories even though they are not considered exports (unless each Schedule B item is under $2,500). • Shipments to Canada do not require an SED. (Shipments to third countries passing through Canada do need an SED.) • Sample http://www.citd.org/startup/eb/appendix.cfm?sec=89

3. Bill of Lading • Def.: “Document issued by a carrier to a shipper, signed by the captain, agent, or owner of a vessel, furnishing written evidence regarding receipt of the goods, the conditions on which transportation is made, and the engagement to deliver goods at the prescribed port of destination to the lawful holder of the bill of lading.” “Both a receipt for merchandise and a contract to deliver it as freight.” • Contract among three parties to provide transportation of cargo • Consignor -party delivering goods to the carrier; usually the seller • Carrier - party accepting legal responsibility to provide transportation; often the transportation company • Consignee - party entitle to receive the cargo; buyer, bank, an agent

4. Types of Bill of Lading • Straight bill of lading: • Indicates that the shipper will deliver the goods to the consignee. • Document does not give title to the goods. It is non-negotiable. • Consignee need only to identify himself to claim the goods. • Often used when payment for the goods has been made in advance. • http://www.export911.com/e911/ship/docBL.htm(See for ocean bill of lading) or http://www.citd.org/startup/eb/appendix.cfm?sec=91

5. Shipper's order bill of lading: • Def. Title document to the goods, issued “to the order” of a party, usually the shipper, whose endorsement is required to effect its negotiation. Title remains with whose order it is made out to. If made to ‘to order’ title remains with shipper –until it is endorsed. • Commonly used for letters of credit transactions. • Negotiable and the surrender of the original, properly endorsed (by the shipper), is required for delivery of the merchandise. • Title remains with whose order it is made out to. If made to out ‘to order’ title remains with shipper –until it is endorsed. • The customer usually needs the original or a copy as proof of ownership to take possession of the goods.

6. Air waybill - carrying agreement between the shipper and the air carrier. • In contrast to the ocean bill of lading it is a non-negotiable instrument and serves as a shipping contract and receipt to the shipper. • certifies that the airline has accepted the goods as listed on the air waybill and agreed to carry the goods to the airport of destination in accordance with the conditions of the contract. • Sample http://www.export911.com/e911/ship/docAWB.htm (See for airway bill of lading) Or http://www.citd.org/startup/eb/appendix.cfm?sec=92

7. Export Packing List • itemizes the material in each individual package and indicates the type of package: box, crate, drum, carton, and so on. • shows individual net, legal, tare, and gross weights and measurements for each package (in both U.S. and metric systems). • The list is used by the shipper or forwarding agent to determine the total shipment weight and volume and whether the correct cargo is being shipped. • Sample http://www.citd.org/startup/eb/appendix.cfm?sec=90

8. Certificate of Origin • Some nations require a signed statement as to the origin of the export item. • Available through chamber of commerce. • May be required even though the commercial invoice contains the information • Sample http://www.citd.org/startup/eb/appendix.cfm?sec=96