International Marketing Practices

as everything conforms to the prearranged terms. Letters of credit are explained extensively in Chapter 5.

Commercial invoice. A commercial invoice serves as a comprehensive bill from the seller to the buyer in alignment with all predetermined components of the transaction; it is imperative that the exporter complete this form to prove ownership and secure payment [39, 179]. The document should include an itemized merchandise list, customer-purchase number from the pro forma invoice, payment method and currency, shipping terms, bill of lading, container number, ports of exit and entry, and transport instructions [23, 38]. A commercial invoice is also used to accurately value goods when assessing customs duties, so it might be beneficial for an exporting firm to prepare the document in both English and the language of the final destination [39, 178, 179]. Consular invoice. A consular invoice lists the consignor, consignee, and shipment cost and is often used by customs officials to verify the value, quantity, and nature of the shipment [39, 178]. These documents are only required by some countries and must be certified by the destination country’s embassy or consulate in the U.S. [38, 39, 178]. Export license. An export license is a document that authorizes the export of goods, regulating based on product type, quantity, and destination [178]. Most products do not require a license and are shipped under the classification “No License Required,” which is presumably the category forest products exports would fall under [179]. However, should your product be subject to export controls, your firm may need to obtain a “validated” license, specifically when there is potential to threaten national security, affect certain foreign policies, or create a short supply in domestic markets [38, 179]. Electronic export information filing (formerly known as the shipper’s export declaration). An EEI filing is used to keep a record of shipments valued at more than $2,500 or requiring an export license [23, 178]. EEI is required for nearly all shipments from the U.S. to foreign trade zones and contains information regarding product descriptions, value, weight, and license information [23, 180]. This document assists the U.S. Census Bureau in monitoring U.S. exports. An online version of the form can be completed using the bureau’s Automated Export System (https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/index.html) [178, 179]. Packing list. A packing list informs the transporter what goods are being delivered, as well as verifies shipment to the customer [38]. The packing list is typically attached to the outside of the shipping container, which can assist customs officials in checking cargo [23, 178, 179]. An export packing list will extensively detail the parties involved, invoice number, shipment date, and mode of transport, as well as

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