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Acronymes
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A. & C.P. - Anchors and chains proved
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a.a. - "Always afloat, after arrival"
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A.A.D. - Annual aggregate deductible
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a.a.r. - Against all risks
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A.B. - Able-bodied seaman
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A.B.S. - American Bureau of Shipping is an American ship classification society.
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a.c. - Account
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A.C.A.S. - "Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service"
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A.C.I.I. - Associate of Chartered Insurance Institute
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A.C.V. - Air cushion vehicle (hovercraft)
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A.F. - Advanced freight
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a.f.a.a. - as far as applicable
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A.G.W.I. - "Atlantic, Gulf, West Indies Limits"
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a.h. - After hatch
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A.H.F. - American hull form (insurance policy)
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A.I.M.U. - American Institute of Marine Underwriters
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A.I.R.M.I.C. - Association of Insurance and Risk Managers in Industry and Commerce "Fonds Africain de Developpement, FAD) is an affiliate of the African Development Bank (AfDB) which provides interest-free loans to African countries for projects which promote economic and social development and improve international trade among members o" -
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A.M.I. - Absolute maximum loss
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A.M.V.E.R. - Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue
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A.O. Voy. - Any one voyage
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A.O.B. - Any one bottom
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A.O.E. - Any one event
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A.O.L. - Any one loss
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a.o.loc. - Any one location -
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A.O.O. - Any one occurrence
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A.O.R. - Any one risk
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A.O.V. - Any one vessel
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A.P. - Additional premium
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A.P.L. - As per list
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A.R. - All risks
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A.S.E.A.N. - Association of South East Asian Nations
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A.T.L. - Actual total loss
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A/C - Account current
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A/o - Account of
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A/P - Additional premium
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A/R - All risks. Against all risks
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A/S - "After sight, Account sales, Alonside (chartering)"
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A/T - American terms (grain trade)
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A/v - "Average, ad valorem (according to value)"
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AADFI - Association of African Development Finance Institutions
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AAEI - American Association of Exporters and Importers
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AAIB - Arab-African International Bank
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AATP - Association of African Trade Promotion Organizations
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ABC - American Business Center
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ABCA - Association des Banques Centrales Africaines
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Abdnt. - Abandonment
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ABEDA - Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
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ABI - "American Business Initiative, Automated Broker Interface"
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Absorption - "Absorption is investment and consumption purchases by households,businesses, and governments, both domestic and imported. When absorption exceeds production, the excess is the country's current account deficit."
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Abt. - About
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ABTA - Association of British Travel Agents
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Abu Dhabi Fund for Arab Economic Development. - "ADFAED promotes economic and social development in African, Arab, and Asian developing countries. The Fund, which was created in July 1971, began operations in September 1974; headquarters are in Abu Dhabi"
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ACAB - Association of Central African Banks
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ACC - Arab Cooperation Council
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Acc. - Acceptance. Accepted
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Accession - "Accession is the process by which a country becomes a member of an international agreement, such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) or the European Community. Accession to the GATT involves negotiations to determine the specific obligat"
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Accession - "This refers, in general, to the process of a country joining the GATT. During accession to the GATT, a country accords tariff and other concessions that are its 'price of admission' to the GATT. Although accession to the GATT binds a country to the Genera"
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ACCJ - American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
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accomplished bill of lading - Original bill of lading surrendered to the carrying ship at the discharge port in exchange for the goods.
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ACCT - Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation
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Acct - Account
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ACDA - Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
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ACEP - Advisory Committee on Export Policy
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ACH - Automated Clearinghouse
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ACP - "African, Caribbean, and Pacific"
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ACP - "African, Caribbean and Pacific States"
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ACPC - Association of Coffee Producing Countries
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ACS - Automated Commercial System
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ACTPN - Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations
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ACU - Asian Clearing Union
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AD - Antidumping
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Ad Val - Ad Valorem
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Ad Valorem - "Literally: according to value. Any charge, tax, or duty that is applied as a percentage of value. "
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Ad Valorem Equivalent - "AVE is the rate of duty which would have been required on dutiable imports under that item, if the United States customs value of such imports were based on the United States port of entry value. "
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AD Valorem Tariff - "A tariff assessed as a percentage of the value of the goods cleared through customs. For example, 10 percent Ad Valorem means the tariff is 10 percent of the value of the goods."
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Ad. val. - Ad valorem-according to value
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ADB - Asian Development Bank
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ADB - Asian Development Bank
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ADF - "African Development Foundation, African Development Fund, Asian Development Fund"
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ADFAED - Abu Dhabi Fund for Arab Economic Development
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Administrative Exception Notes - "CoCom controls exports at three levels, depending on the item and the proposed destination. At the lowest level, ""national discretion"" (also called ""administrative exception""), a member nation may approve the export on its own, but CoCom must be notified"
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Administrative Protective Order - "An Administrative Protective Order, APO, is used to protect proprietary data that is obtained during an administrative proceeding. Within Commerce, APO is most frequently used in connection with Antidumping and Countervailing Duty investigations to prohi"
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Administrative Review - "Each year, beginning on the anniversary of the date of publication of an antidumping duty order, the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration is required to review and determine the amount of any antidumping duty, if an interested party re"
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ADRs - American Depository Receipts
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ADS - Agent Distributor Service ADS provides a custom search overseas for interested and qualified foreign representatives on behalf of a U.S. exporter. Officers abroad conduct the search and prepare a report identifying up to six foreign prospects that have examined the U.S. firm's product literature and have expressed interest in representing the U.S. firm's products.
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Advanced Technology Products - "About 500 of some 22,000 commodity classification codes used in reporting U.S. merchandise trade are identified as ""advanced technology"" codes and they meet the following criteria: -The code contains products whose technology is from a recognized high tec"
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Advisory Committee on Export Policy - "The Advisory Committee on Export Policy, ACEP, is an interagency dispute resolution body that operates at the Assistant Secretary level. ACEP is chaired by Commerce; membership includes the Departments of Defense, Energy, and State, the Arms Control and "
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Advisory Committee on Trade Negotiations (ACTN) - "A group appointed by the U.S. President to advise him on matters of trade policy and related issues, including trade agreements."
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Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations - "The ACTPN is a group (membership of 45; two-year terms) appointed by the President to provide advice on matters of trade policy and related issues, including trade agreements. The 1974 Trade Act requires the ACTPN's establishment and broad representation"
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Advocacy Center - "The Advocacy Center, established in November 1993, facilitates high-level U.S. official advocacy to assist U.S. firms competing for major projects and procurements worldwide. The Center is directed by the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee; offices ar"
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AECA - Arms Export Control Act
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AEF - Africa Enterprise Fund
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AEN - Administrative Exception Note
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AERP - Automated Export Reporting Program
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AfDB - African Development Bank
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AfDF - African Development Fund
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AFESD - Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
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Affiliate - An affiliate is a business enterprise located in one country which is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a person of another country to the extent of 10 percent or more of its voting securities for an incorporated business enterprise or an equi
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Affiliated Foreign Group - "An affiliated foreign group means (a) the foreign parent, (b) any foreign person, proceeding up the foreign parent's ownership chain, which owns more than 50 percent of the person below it up to and including that person which is not owned more than 50 pe"
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"Affreightment, contract of " - "An agreement by a steamship line to provide cargo space on a vessel at a specified time for a specified price to accommodate an exporter or importer, who then becomes liable for payment even if he is later unable to make the shipment."
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AFREXIMBANKAfrican Export-Import Bank -
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Africa Enterprise Fund - "The AEF, operating under the International Finance Corporation, began operations in late 1989. The Fund assists small and medium-size enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa, supports investment projects, and promotes development of private enterprises in Afri"
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Africa Project Development Facility - The APDF seeks to accelerate development of productive enterprises sponsored by private African entrepreneurs as a means of generating self-sustained economic growth and productive employment in Sub-Saharan Africa. The facility provides advisory services
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African Development Bank - AfDB (French: Banque Africaine de Developpement) provides financing through direct loans to African member states to cover the foreign exchange costs incurred in Bank-approved development projects in those countries. Fifty-one African countries are member
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African Development Foundation - "ADF provides economic assistance to groups and institutions involved in development projects at the local level. The foundation's assistance, designed as a complement to the U.S. foreign aid program, is awarded only to native African organizations and in"
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African Development Fund - The ADF (or AfDF) (French:
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African Export-Import Bank - "AFREXIMBANK offers short-term export trade financing to African exporters aimed at enhancing intra-African trade and Africa's exports. Agreement to create the bank was basedon a January 1993 agreement reached in Cairo, Egypt among African governments, ce"
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African Management Services Company - "AMSCO provides temporary managers and management training to support the development of African companies. AMSCO works through a network of representatives in Africa; its clients include privately owned companies, public sector companies, and subsidiarie"
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African Regional Organization for Standardization - "ARSO (French: Organisation Regionale Africaine de Normalisation, ORAN) promotes and coordinates standardization, quality control, certification, and metrology practices in Africa. The Organization has been developing African Regional Standards (ARS) in "
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aft - At or towards the rear of a ship.
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AFTA - ASEAN Free Trade Area
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After Date - "A term used on a draft, bill of exchange or note indicating the date from which a draft will begin counting days until maturity. If an exporter draws a draft and stipulates a payment ""30 days after date"", the draft is due 30 days from the date on which it"
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AG - "Aktiengesellschaft, Australia Group"
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Agence de Cooperation Culterelle et Technique - "The ACCT (English: Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation) was created in 1970 to promote cultural and technical cooperation among French-speaking countries. Members include: Belgium, Benin, Burkina. Burundi, Canada, Central African Republic, Ch"
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Agency for International Development - "AID was created in 1961 to administer foreign economic assistance programs of the U.S. Government. AID has field missions and representatives in approximately 70 developing countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Near East. "
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Agent/Distributor Service - "The Agent/Distributor Service, ADS, is an International Trade Administration (ITA) fee-based service which locates foreign import agents and distributors."
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Agrement - Agreement by one government to accept the accreditation of an ambassador from another government.
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AGRICOLA - Agricultural OnLine Access
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Agricultural Marketing Service - "Among its activities, the Agriculture Deparment's AMS is available to foreign buyers to assure that any product shipped overseas meets contract specifications. The service is operated on a user-fee basis. AMS works with the buyers to write a specificati"
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Agricultural Officers - "Agricultural officers are embassy officials who are responsible for addressing agricultural trade policy issues and preparing reports on agricultural commodities such as rice, wheat, and dairy products. These officers promote U.S. exports by providing ma"
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AGRIS - Agriculture Information System
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Agt. - "Agent, Against, Agreement"
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AIB - Arab International Bank
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AIBD - Association of International Bond Dealers
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AID - Agency for International Development
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AID - Agency for International Development
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Aide-Memoire - A short written summary of oral remarks made to a foreign government representative and left with that individual.
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AIES - Automated Information Exchange System
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AIG - Airbus Industries Group
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AIMS - Agriculture Information and Marketing Services
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Air Cargo Agent - A type of freight forwarder who specializes in air cargo and acts for airlines that pay him a fee (usually 5%). The Air Cargo Agent is registered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
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Air Freight Forwarder - "A type of freight forwarder who specializes in air cargo. The Air Freight Forwarder usually consolidates the air shipments of various exporters, charging them for actual weight and deriving his profit by paying the airline the lower consolidated rate. He "
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Air Waybill - "An AWB is a bill of lading which covers both domestic and international flights transporting goods to a specified destination. Technically, it is a non-negotiable instrument of air transport which serves as a receipt for the shipper, indicating that the "
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Air Waybill (Of Lading) - "A signed receipt and a contract to deliver goods by air. Such bills are non-negotiable and do not convey title to the goods as do ""To Orders"" bills of lading used by ocean and land carriers. The title passes to the party to whom the goods are consigned (t"
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Airbus Industries Group - "AIG is a supernational management organization responsible for design, development, manufacture, marketing, sales and support of selected commercial aircraft. Member countries are France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Airbus Industrie, G.I.E. "
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Aircraft Agreement (ATCA) - "Formally known as the ''Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft.'' (ATCA), this MTN agreement is the only major sector-specific civil aircraft agreement. It establishes a framework of rules governing the conduct of trade in civil aircraft based on commercial"
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AIST - Agency for Industrial Science Technology
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AIT - American Institute in Taiwan
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AIT - American Institute in Taiwan
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AKA - Ausfuhrkredit-Gesellschaft
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Aktiengesellschaft - "AG (German, meaning: ""stock company"") is a corporation with a separate legal personality which must have at least five partners. The firm name usually reflects the activities of the company and must include ""AG."" "
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ALADI - Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion
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ALIDE - "Association Latinoamericana de Institutiones Financieras, de Desarrollo"
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All Risks Coverage - "All Risks Coverage, a type of marine insurance, is the broadest kind of standard coverage, but excludes damage caused by war, strikes, and riots."
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All-Risk Clause - An insurance provision that all loss or damage to goods is insured except inherent vice (self-caused).
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Alongside - "A phrase referring to the side of a ship. Goods to be delivered ""alongside"" are to be placed on the dock or lighter within reach of the transport ship's tackle so that they can be loaded aboard the ship. Goods are delivered to the port of embarkation, b"
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AMB - Ambassador
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AMCHAM - American Chamber of Commerce
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Amendments - Article XXX of the GATT Agreement provides that amendments (that become effective upon acceptance by two thirds of the Contracting Parties) are to be effective only for those parties which accept them.
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American Business Center - "The ABC program provides U.S. companies which are exploring or establishing commercial opportunities in the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union with business services such as telephone and fax, temporary office space, market information, a"
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American Business Initiative - "The ABI, or American Business and Private Sector Development Initiative for Eastern Europe, emphasizes the export of American telecommunciations, energy, environment, housing, and agriculture products and services to Eastern European countries. "
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American Depository Receipts - "ADRs are negotiable receipts for the securities of a foreign company which are kept in the vaults of an American bank, allowing Americans to trade the foreign securities in the United States while accruing any dividends and capital gains. "
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American Institute in Taiwan - "The AIT is a non-profit corporation that represents U.S. commerical, cultural, and other interests in Taiwan in lieu of an embassy. In 1979, the United States terminated formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan when it recognized the People's Republic of "
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American Traders Index - "The American Traders Index, ATI, is the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service headquarters compilation of individual US&FCS domestic client files, for use by overseas posts to generate mailing lists. "
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AMF - Arab Monetary Fund
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amidships - At or towards the middle of a ship.
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AMS - "Agricultural Marketing Service, Automated Manifest System"
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AMSC - African Management Services Company
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amt. - Amount
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AMU - Arab Maghreb Union
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Andean Group - The Andean Group (Spanish: Grupo Andino; sometimes referred to as Pacto Andino or Corporation Adino de Fomento; formal reference is Acuerdo de Cartegana in recognition of the Group's establishment in Cartegena in October 1969) is an association of Latin
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Andean Reserve Fund - "The Andean Reserve Fund (Spanish: Fondo Andina de Reservas), associated with the Andean Group, was established to strengthen the balance of payments positions of member countries by offering credit, guarantee loans, and promoting compatibility among memb"
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Andean Trade Preference Act - "The ATPA is a unilateral trade benefit program designed to promote economic development through private sector initiative in the four Andean countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The ATPA encourages alternatives to coca cultivation and produ"
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ANF - Arrival notification form
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Anti-Dumping Clause - A tariff imposed to discourage sale of foreign goods in the United States market at very low prices (below foreign country's domestic market) which might hurt U.S. manufacturers.
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Antidumping - "Antidumping, as a reference to the system of laws to remedy dumping, is defined as a converse of dumping."
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Antidumping Duty - A duty assessed on imported merchandise which is subject to an antidumping duty order. The antidumping duty is assessed on an entry-by-entry basis in an amount equal to the difference between the United States price of that entry and the foreign market v
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Antidumping Duty Order - "A notice issued following final determination of sales at less than fair value and material injury, or threat of material injury, providing for the imposition of antidumping duties."
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Antidumping Investigation Notice - The notice published in the Federal Register announcing the initiation of an antidumping investigation. An investigation must be initiated within 20 days of the filing of a valid petition.
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Antidumping Petition - "A petition filed on behalf of an affected United States industry, alleging that foreign merchandise is being sold in the United States at ""less than fair value"" and that such sales are causing or threatening material injury to, or materially retarding the"
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Antidumping/Countervailing Duty System - "The Antidumping/Countervailing Duty System, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, contains a case reference database and a statistical reporting system to capture data for International Trade Commission reports on antidumping and countervailing "
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AOSIS - Alliance of Small Island States
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AP - Administrative Protective Order
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APAC - Auto Parts Advisory Committee
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APDF - Africa Project Development Facility
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APEC - Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation
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API - American Petroleum Institute
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Appd. - Approved
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Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa - The ABEDA (French: Banque Arabe pour le Developpement Economique en Afrique -- BADEA) was created by the League of Arab States in November 1973 (began operations in March 1975) to promote economic and technical cooperation between Arab and African states
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Arab Cooperation Council - "The ACC was created in 1989 to promote economic cooperation and integration. Members include Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and North Yemen. The ACC, partly intended as a counterpart to Gulf Cooperation Council, was created one day subsequent to the establishment"
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Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development - "AFESD promotes regional economic integration and social development in Arab states. Members include: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia,"
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Arab International Bank - "The AIB provides financing to support development of foreign trade among member nations and other Arab states. The Bank was established in October 1971; headquarters are in Cairo, Egypt. Member include: the governments of Oman, Qatar, and United Arab E"
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Arab Maghreb Union - "The AMU (French: Union du Maghreb Arabe, UMA) encompasses Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia. The Union was established in February 1989 to foster integration of the Maghreb economy. The Union also seeks to join the AMU and the Gulf Coope"
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Arab Monetary Fund - "The AMF, originally aimed at correcting chronic deficits in the balance of payments in most member states, promotes Arab integration in monetary and economic affairs. The Fund's priorities have included: (a) addressing payments imbalances, (b) creating "
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Arab Trade Financing Program - "The ATFP promotes trade among Arab countries and exports from Arab countries. The Program was established in 1989 by the Arab Monetary Fund; headquarters are in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. "
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Arab-African International Bank - The AAIB is a pan-Arab consortium incorporated in 1964 as a self-governing autonomous entity between the Ministry of Finance of Kuwait and the Central Bank of Egypt; each of which as co-founders hold 49.37% of the Bank's shares. A New York branch of the
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Arbitrage - The simultaneous buying and selling of the same commodity or foreign exchange in two or more markets in order to take advantage of price differentials.
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Arbitrage - The practice of exchanging the currency of one country for that of another or a series of countries to gain an advantage from the differences in exchange rates.
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Arbitration Clause - A clause in a sales contract outlining the method under which disputes will be settled.
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Arms Control and Disarmament Agency - ACDA is an independent agency within the State Department. ACDA participates in interagency working groups that discuss export license applications requiring dispute resolution. ACDA is interested in dual-use license applications from a non-proliferatio
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Arr. T. L. - Arranged total loss
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Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits - "The Arrangement is an international agreement under Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development auspices governing the conditions -- such as interest rate, repayment term, and cash downpayment -- of medium- and long-term official export credit; "
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arrest - Seizure of a ship by an authority of a court of law either as a debt security or to prevent the ship from departing until a dispute is settled.
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ARS - African Regional Organization for Standardization
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AsDF - Asian Development Fund
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ASEAN - Association of Southeast Asian Nations
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ASEAN - Association of South-East Asian Nations
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ASEAN Free Trade Area - "The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed in January 1992 to create a free trade area (ASEAN Free Trade Area, or AFTA) with use of a common effective preferential tariff. Under the agreement ASEAN members will cut tariff rates within 15 y"
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Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation - "APEC, established in November 1989, is an informal grouping of Asia Pacific countries that provides a forum for Ministerial level discussion of a broad range of economic issues. APEC includes the six ASEAN countries (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippi"
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Asian Clearing Union - "The ACU promotes regional trade and economic cooperation, including arrangements to conserve foreign exhcange and encourage domestic currencies in trade. Members include Bangladesh, India, Iran, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka; Bhutan, Malaysia, "
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Asian Development Bank - "The ADB helps finance economic development in developing countries in the Asian and Pacific area through the provision of loans on near-market terms, with its Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR), and on concessional terms, through the Asian Development Fund "
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Asian Development Fund - "The ADF (or AsDF), an affiliate of the Asian Development Bank, lends funds on concessionary terms to the Bank's least developed member countries."
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Assessment - The imposition of antidumping duties on imported merchandise.
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Association of African Development Finance Institutions - "AADFI (French: Association des Institutions Africaines de Financement du Developpement, AIAFD) promotes cooperative financing for social development in Africa and economic integration. The Association was established in March 1975; headquarters are in A"
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Association of African Trade Promotion Organizations - "AATPO promotes inter-African trade, harmonization of commercial policies, communication among African states in trade matters, and research and training. The organization, which has about 26 members, was established in 1975 under the auspieces of the Org"
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Association of Central African Banks - "ACAB (French: Association des Banques Centrales Africanines, ABCA) promotes cooperation among monetary, banking, and financial institutions in Africa. Members include two African regional banks and about 32 national banks. The Association was created i"
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Association of International Bond Dealers - The AIBD provides a forum for over 500 members from 30 countries to review international securities market matters. The primary objectives of the Association are to provide a basis for examinaitn and discussion of questions relating to the secondary mark
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Association of Southeast Asian Nations - "ASEAN was established in 1967 to promote political, economic, and social cooperation among its six member countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei. ASEAN headquarters are in Jakarta, Indonesia. In January 1992, ASEAN"
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At. wt. - Atomic Weight
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ATFP - Arab Trade Financing Program
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athwartships - Across the ship or from side to side.
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athwartships - Across the ship or from side to side.
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ATI - "American Traders Index, Andean Trade Initiative"
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Atl. - Atlantic
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ATLAS - Automated Trade Locator Assistance Network
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ATMIC - Agricultural Trade and Marketing Information Center
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ATOs - Agricultural Trade Offices
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ATP - Advanced Technology Products
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ATPA - Andean Trade Preference Act
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ATPI - Andean Trade Preference Initiative
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AUMA - "Die Ausstellungs- und Messe-Ausschuss der Deutschen, Wirtschaft"
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Ausfuhrkredit-Gesellschaft - AKA (English: Export Credit Establishment) is an association of German banks which provide medium and long-term funding for exports.
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Ausstellungs (Die) - und Messe-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft - "AUMA (German: the German Industry Council for Exhibitions and Trade Fairs) promotes exports by bringing together government, semiprivate, and private organizations in the coordination of domestic and overseas trade events. AUMA is a private organization "
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Australia Group - "The Australia Group, AG, is an informal forum through which 22 industrialized nations cooperate to curb proliferation of chemical and biological weapons through a supply approach. The AG's first meeting, held at the Australian Embassy in Paris in June 19"
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Automated Broker Interface - "ABI, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, permits transmission of data pertaining to merchandise being imported into the United States. Qualified participants include brokers, importers, carriers, port authorities, and independent data process"
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Automated Clearinghouse - The Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) is a feature of the Automated Broker Interface which is a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System. The ACH combines elements of bank lock box arrangements with electronic funds transfer services to replace cash or c
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Automated Commercial System - "The Customs Service's Automated Commercial System, ACS, is a joint public-private sector computerized data processing and telecommunications system linking customhouses, members of the import trade community, and other government agencies with the Customs"
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Automated Export Reporting Program - The AERP provides for electronic submission of most information required on the Shipper's Export Declaration. The program was initiated in 1969 with the intent of enabling large volume exporters to submit electronically and facilitate Census Bureau data
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Automated Information Exchange - "AIES, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, allows for exchange of classification and value information between field units and headquarters. "
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Automated Manifest Systems - "AMS, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System (ACS) controls imported merchandise from the time a carrier's cargo manifest is electronically transmitted to Customs until control is relinquished to another segment of the ACS. "
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Automated Trade Locator Assistance Network - "ATLAS is a Small Business Administration-sponsored, contractor-operated, automated system which provides market research information and statistics on world markets by SIC code (and possibly harmonized system). Indirect access is available for businesses"
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AUTOVON - Automatic Voice Network
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Aux. - Auxiliary Vessel
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Av. - Average
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Av. disbts. - Average disbursements
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AVE - Ad Valorem Equivalent
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AWB - Airway Bill
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Balance of Payments - The balance of payments is a statistical summary of international transactions. These transactions are defined as the transfer of ownership of something that has an economic value measurable in monetary terms from residents of one country to residents of
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Balance on - " - Current account; - Goods, services, and income; - Investment income; - Merchandise trade; - Services; - Unilateral transfers See: Balance of Payments."
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Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico - See: Central American Bank for Economic Integration.
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Banco Interamericano de Desarollo - See: Inter-American Development Bank.
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Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones - BLADEX (English: Latin American Export Bank) is a multinational bank which provides short- (95%+) and medium-term financing. Operations are conducted in U.S. dollars. Borrowers are primarily Latin American commercial banks of member countries which fi
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Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior - "BANCOMEXT, Mexico's national foreign trade bank, provides credits, guarantees, and promotion services to support Mexico's foreign trade. BANCOMEXT also assists Mexican importers by providing short-term loans to support importation of selected commodities "
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Bank Advisory Committee - "The Bank Advisory Committee, which in some respects has replaced the London Club, is not a structured or formal organization. The Bank Advisory Committee consists mostly of lead bankers in an individual debtor country. The lead bankers, representing the "
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Bank Affiliate Export Trading Company - An Export Trading Company partially or wholly owned by a banking institution as provided under the U.S. Export Trading Company Act.
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Banker's Acceptance - "A banker's acceptance is a draft drawn on and accepted by a bank. Depending on the bank's creditworthiness, the acceptance becomes a financial instrument which can be discounted."
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Banker's Bank - A bank that is established by mutual consent by independent and unaffiliated banks to provide a clearinghouse for financial transactions.
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Banker's Draft - Draft payable on demand and drawn by or on behalf of the bank itself; it is regarded as cash and cannot be returned unpaid.
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Bank for International Settlements - "BIS, established in 1930, promotes cooperation among central banks in international financial settlements. Members include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irela"
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Bank Guarantee - "An assurance, obtained from a bank by a foreign purchaser; that the bank will pay an exporter up to a given amount for goods shipped if the foreign purchaser defaults. (see: Letter of Credit.)"
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Bank Holding Company - "Any company which directly or indirectly owns or controls, with power to vote, more than five percent of voting shares of each of one or more other banks."
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Bank of Central African States - "The bank (French: Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Central, BEAC) issues a common currency unit, the Central African Franc. Members include The Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, People's Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Equitarial Guinea. France part"
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Bank Release - Negotiable time draft drawn on and accepted by a bank which adds its credit to that of an importer of merchandise.
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Banque Arabe pour le Developpement Economique en Afrique - See: Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.
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Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest - "BECAO, which operates as a central bank under authority of the West African Monetary Union, issues the common currency for member states: Benin, Burkina Faso, C“te d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo."
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Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale - See: Central African States Development Bank.
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Banque de Developpement des Etats du Grand Lac - See: Development Bank of the Great Lakes States.
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Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale - See: Bank of Central African States.
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Banque Fran‡aise du Commerce Exterieur - "BFCE, a government-owned agency, is the French Government lender for officially supported export credits at preferential interest rates. The Bank, which provides financing for international trade, plays a coordinating role between exporters and the Frenc"
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Banque Quest-Africaine de Developpement - See: West African Development Bank.
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Barter - Trade in which merchandise is exchanged directly for other merchandise or services without use of money.
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Basel Convention - "The Basel Convention restricts trade in hazardous waste, some non-hazardous wastes, solid wastes, and incinerator ash. It was adopted in 1989 by a United Nations-sponsored conference of 116 nations in Basel, Switzerland. Twenty nations must ratify the tr"
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Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union - "BLEU (French: UEBL, from Union Economique Belgo-Luxembourgeoise), established in July 1921, introduced a system of monetary association between Belgium and Luxembourg."
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Benelux Economic Union - "Benelux (acronym for Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg) is an economic union originally established in January 1948 and revised in January 1960. Benelux continues as an internal regional association within the European Community (EC) because the associ"
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Best Information Available - "Under GATT rules, when a respondent in an antidumping or countervailing duty case either declines to provide information, or provides inadequate information, the investigating authority has the right to resort to other information, a practice known as bes"
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Bilateral Clearing Agreement - A bilateral clearing agreement is a government-to-government reciprocal trade arrangement whereby two nations agree to a trade turnover of specified value over one or more years. The value of the products trade under the agreement is denominated in accou
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Bilateral Investment Treaty - "A bilateral investment treaty, BIT, ensures U.S. investments abroad of national or most favored nation treatment; prohibits the imposition of performance requirements; and allows the American investor to engage top management in a foreign country without "
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Bilateral Steel Agreements - "The U.S. negotiated ten bilateral steel agreements, BSAs, with major steel trading partners. Under BSAs, the governments agreed to reduce or eliminate state intervention -- that is, domestic subsidies and market barriers."
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Bill of Lading - "Bills of lading are contracts between the owner of the goods and the carrier. There are two types. A straight bill of lading is nonnegotiable. A negotiable or shipper's order bill of lading can be bought, sold, or traded while goods are in transit and i"
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Biological Agents - "Several classes of biological agents have been identified according to their degree of pathogenic hazard, and are controlled by the United States in accord with provisions of the Australia Group. Applications submitted to the Department of Commerce for t"
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Blue Lantern - "Blue Lantern, a procedure pertaining to U.S. Munitions List items, is intended to verify that information stated on export license applications is valid and that the use of the commodity or service exported is consistent with the terms of the license. It"
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Bonded Exchange - Exchange which cannot be freely converted into other currencies.
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Bond System - "The Bond System, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, provides information on bond coverage. A Customs bond is a contract between a principal, usually an importers, and a surety which is obtained to insure performance of an obligation imposed "
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Bonded Warehouses - The U.S. Customs Service authorizes bonded warehouses for storage or manufacture of goods on which payment of duties is deferred until the goods enter the Customs Territory. The goods are not subject to duties if reshipped to foreign points.
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Border Cargo Selectivity - BCS is an automated cargo selectivity system based on historical and other information. The system is designed to facilitate cargo processing and to improve Customs enforcement capabilities by providing targeting information to border locations. The sys
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Border Environment Cooperation Commission - The BECC is a U.S.-Mexican binational commission intended to facilitate border environmental clean-up and to provide additional support for community adjustment and investment related to the North American Free Trade Agreement. The BECC will assist borde
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British High Commission - "The term British High Commission (BHC, or High Commission, HC, or Her Majesty's High Commission, HMHC) is used in lieu of ""embassy"" in Commonwealth countries."
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British Overseas Trade Board - "The BOTB, located in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), advises on international trade and guides the government's export promotion prorgram, including policy, financing, and overseas projects. The Board is composed of industry and government re"
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Brussels Tariff Nomenclature - A once widely used international tariff classification system which preceded the Customs Cooperation Council Nomenclature (CCCN) and the Harmonized System Nomenclature (HS). The BTN was changed in name only to the CCCN in 1976 to avoid confusion with the
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Bulk Cargo - "Bulk cargo is unbound as loaded and carried aboard ship; it is without mark or count, in a loose unpackaged form, and has homongeneous characteristics."
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Bundesbank - "The Bundesbank is the German central bank. The main functions of the Bundesbank are to regulate the money supply, support the general economic policy of the federal government, and issue banknotes. It sets the key discount rate, the Lombard rate, and mi"
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Bundesstelle fur Aussenhandelsinformation - See: Bundesministerium fur Wirtschaft.
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Bundesministerium fur Wirtschaft - "The BMWi (German: Ministry for Economic Affairs) gathers and distributes market information and supports semiprivate and private organizations, such as overseas chambers of commerce. Within the BMWi is the Federal Office for Foreign Trade (Bundesstelle "
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Bureau of International Expositions - "The Bureau of International Expositions, BIE, is an international organization established by the Paris Convention of 1928 to regulate the conduct and scheduling of international expositions in which foreign nations are officially invited to participate. "
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Business Council for International Understanding - "The BCIU is an independent, non-partisan, business association which was formed at the initiative of President Eisenhower. BCIU operates the U.S. Ambassadorial and Senior Diplomat Industry Program in which most U.S. Ambassadors come to BCIU after appoint"
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Business Executive Enforcement Team - "The Business Executive Enforcement Team, BEET, provides a channel for private sector executives to discuss export control enforcement matters with the Bureau of Export Administration."
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Business Facilitation Office - This is usually a booth with a reference desk with product catalogs manned by the Commercial Section or a qualified contractor to assist fair visitors or buyers searching for U.S. products or services at an international trade fair.
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Business Information Office - The business information office or center is a post or contract-staffed commercial reference facility usually at a scheduled international trade exhibition.
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Business Information Service for the Newly Indpendent States - "BISNIS is a one-stop shop for U.S. firms interested in obtaining assistance on selling in the markets of the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, T"
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Buy American Restrictions - "BARs were derived from the Buy American Act (BAA) of March 1933 and amended by the Buy American Act of 1988. Restrictions may take several forms, including: (a) straightforward prohibition of public sector bodies from purchasing goods from foreign suppl"
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Buyback - See: Countertrade.
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B & T cl - Blocking & Trapping clause
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B. or B/- - "Bale, Bag"
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B.B. - "Bill Book, Below Bridges"
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B.B.cl. - Both to blame collision clause
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B.C. - Bristol Channel
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b.d.i. - Both dates inclusive
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B.D.I. - Both days inclusive
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B.D.S. - Broker's daily statement
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B.H.P. - Brake hore-power
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B.I.I.B.A. - British Insurance &Investment Brokers' Association
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b.m. - Board measure (timber)
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B.O. - "Buyer's option, Branch Office"
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B.O.T. - Board of Trade
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B.P.B. - Bank Post Bill
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B.R. - Builders' Risks Insurance
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B.R.C. - "Broker Regulatory Committee (Lloyds's), Brokers Registration Council"
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B.S. - Boiler survey. Balance sheet
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B.S.T. - British Summer Time
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b.t. - Berth terms
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B.T.U. - Bow Thrust Unit(s)
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B.th.U. - British Thermal Unit
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B.V. - Bureau Veritas
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B/Ch - Bristol Channel
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B/D - "Bank Draft, bar draft (grain trade)"
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B/E - "Bill of Exchange, Bill of Entry"
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B/G - Bondage goods
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B/H - "Bill of Health, Bordeaux to Hamburg inclusive"
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B/L - Bill of Landing
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B/O - Brought over
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B/P - Bills payable
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B/R - Bills receivable. Builders' risks. Bordeaux or Rouen (grain trade)
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B/s - "Bags, Bales"
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B/S - "Bill of Sale, Bill of Store"
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B/St - Bill of sight
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BACAT - Barge aboard catamaran
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Bal. - Balance
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Bar. - Barrel
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bbls - Barrels
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Bd. - "Bound, bond"
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Bdls - Bundles
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Bds. - Boards (timber)
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Bg. - Bag
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Bg. - Bag
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bhp - Brake horsepower
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Bk. - "Back, Backwardation, Book"
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Bkge. - "Breakage, brokerage"
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Bls. - Bales. Barrels
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bp - Between perpendiculars
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Brl. - Barrel
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BTN - Brussels Tariff Nomenclature
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bu - Bushels
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Balance of Payments Consultations - The coordination between the GATT and the IMF to ensure that trade and payments implications of trade restrictions imposed for balance of payments reasons are taken fully into account. GATT Articles XII and XVIII allow countries to temporarily deviate fro
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bale (capacity) - Total cubic capacity of a ship's hold available for carrying solid cargo.
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ballast - "A heavy weight, usually sea water, necessary for the stability and safety of a ship at sea that is not carrying cargo."
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bar - Sand bank that forms at the mouths of rivers and that often limits the type of ships that are able to reach up-river destinations.
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base cargo - Relatively heavy cargo stowed at the bottom of a hold to provide a ship with stability when at sea or a minimum quantity of cargo required by a shipping line for calling at a port for loading.
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berth - A location alongside a quay where a ship loads or discharges cargo.
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Binding - "GATT Article 11 provides that signatories may ''bind'' tariff rates by including them in schedules appended to the GATT. Once a duty is bound, it may not be raised beyond that bound level without compensating affected parties."
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bill of lading - "A document issued by a shipowner to a shipper of goods. It serves as a receipt for the goods, contract of carriage, and document of title."
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booking - Reservation made by a shipper or his agent with a carrier to carry certain defined goods between locations.
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Bound Rates - Tariff rates resulting from GATT negotiations or accession which are appended to the GATT in the form of a 'loose-leaf' tariff schedule and are enforceable under ARTICLE 11 of GATT.
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bow - Curved forward part of a ship.
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bulk cargo - Unpacked dry cargo such as grain or coal.
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bunkers - A ship's fuel.
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Buy American Act - An act mandating preferential treatment for American products when awarding some government procurement contracts. This act is waived for purchases covered by the government procurement code.
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BADEA - Banque Arabe pour le Developpement Economique en Afrique
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BAGGAGE - General License - BAGGAGE
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BANCOMEXT - Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior
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BARs - Buy American Restrictions
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BAS - Caribbean/Central America Business Advisory Service
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BCEA - Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
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BCIE - Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico
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BCIU - Business Council for International Understanding
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BCS - Border Cargo Selectivity
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BDEAC - Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
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BDEGL - Banque de Developpement des Etats du Grand Lac
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BEAC - Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
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BEEC - Border Environment Cooperation Commission
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BEET - Business Executive Enforcement Team
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BENELUX - "Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg Economic Union"
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BfAi - Bundesstelle fur Aussenhandelsinformation
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BFC - Business Facilitation Center
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BFCE - Banque Francaise du Commerce Exterieur
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BHC - "Bank Holding Company, British High Commission"
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BIA - Best Information Available
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BID - Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo
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BIE - Bureau of International Expositions
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BI - Business Information Office
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BIS - Bank for International Settlements
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BISNIS - "Business Information Service for the Newly Independent, States"
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BIT(s) - Bilateral Investment Treaty(ies)
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B/L - Bill of Lading
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BLADEX - Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones
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BLEU - Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union
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BMWi - Bundesministerium fur Wirtschaft
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BOAD - Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement
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BOP - Balance of Payments
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BOT - Balance of Trade
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BOTB - British Overseas Trade Board
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BRITE - Basic Research in Industrial Technologies in Europe
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BSA - Bilateral Steel Agreement
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BSP - Business Sponsored or Between Show Promotion
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BTN - Brussels Tariff Nomenclature
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BXA - Bureau of Export Administration
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C - Consulate
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C&F - Cost and Freight
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C&F Named Port - Cost and freight. All costs of goods and transportation to the named port are included in the price quoted. Buyer pays insurance while aboard ship up to overseas inland destination.
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C. - Collected, Currency, Coupon, Coast
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C. & D. - Collected and delivered
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c. & f. - Cost and freight
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c. & i. - Cost and insurance
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C. &/or J. - China and/or Japan
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C.&I. - Cost and insurance
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C.A.C.T.L.V.O. - Compromised &/or arranged &/or constructive total loss of vessel only
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C.A.D. - Cash against documents
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C.B. & H. - Continent between Bordeaux and Hamburg
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C.B.I. - Confederation of British Industry
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C.C. - Current cost, Civil commotions, Cancellation clause, Continuation clause
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C.C.I.S.G. - Convention Contracts of International Sale of Goods
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C.C.S.A. - Collective company signing agreement
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C.D. - Country damage
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C.D.V. - Current domestic value
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c.f. - Cubic feet. Carried forward
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c.f.i. - Cost, freight and insurance
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C.f.o. - Channel for orders. Coast for orders. Calling for orders
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C.F.R. - Code of Federal Regulations (USA)
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C.G.A. - Cargo's proportion of general average
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C.G.S.A. - Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
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C.H. & H. - Continent between Havre and Hamburg
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C.I. - Consular Invoice
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C.I.E. - Captain's imperfect entry (Customs). - c.i.f. - Cost, insurance and freight
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c.i.f. & e. - Cost, insurance, freight and exchange
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c.i.f.c.i. - Cost, insurance, freight, commission and interest
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c.i.f.L.t. - Cost, insurance, and freight London terms
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C.I.I. - Chartered Insurance Institute
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C.K.D. - Completely knocked down
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C.O.B. - Cargo on board
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C.O.D. - Cash on delivery
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C.P.A. - Claims payable abroad
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c.p.d. - Charterers' pay dues
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C.P.P. - Controllable Pitch Propellers
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C.R. - Current rate, Company's risk, Carrier's risk
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C.R.O. - Cancelling returns only
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C.S.D. - Closed shelter deck
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C.S.T. - Central standard time
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c.t.l. - Constructive total loss
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c.t.l.o. - Constructive total loss only
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c.v. - Chief value
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C.W. - Commercial weight
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C/- - Case
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C/D - Commercial dock. Consular declaration
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c/i - Certificate of insurance
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C/L - Craft loss
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C/N - Consignment note. Cover note. Credit note
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C/O - Certificate of origin. Cash order. Case oil
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C/P - Charter Party, Custom of Port (grain trade)
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c/s - Cases
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CABEE - Consortia of American Businesses in Eastern Europe
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CABEI - Central American Bank for Economic Integration
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Cable Address - A code word of less than 10 letters, registered annually with the Central Bureau of Registered Addresses, used in lieu of the entire name and address of a firm receiving or sending cablegrams in order to reduce the number of words required in a cablegram.
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CABNIS - Consortia of American Businesses in the Newly Independent, States
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Cabotage - A law which requires coastal and intercoastal traffic to be carried by vessels belonging to the country owning the coast.
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CAC - Codex Alimentarius Commission
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CACM - Central American Common Market
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CAD - Cash Against Documents
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CAD/CAM - Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing
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CAEU - Council of Economic Arab Unity
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CAF - Corporacion Andina de Fomento
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Cairns Group - The Cairns Group, established in August 1986 in Cairns, Australia, is an informal association of agricultural exporting countries. Members include: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Fiji, Hungary, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, and Uruguay. The Group seeks to reduce export subsidies and internal support measures and to bring about other reforms to international agricultural trade. The Cairns Group countries account for one third of world farm exports.
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Caisse Centrale de Cooperation Economique - The CCCE, a specialized financial institution, is the lead agency in the French Ministry of Cooperation and Development in providing funds for aid and cooperation. The Caisse provides support for development and technical assistance in developing countries, particularly in supporting economic and social development in Africa and in various countries on the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and the South Pacific, and in overseas French departments and territories where it supports productive private and public investment. The Caisse was created in December 1941; headquarters are in Paris, France.
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call sign - Sequence of letters and numbers, unique to each ship, that identify the ship.
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Calvo Doctrine - The Calvo Doctrine (or principle) holds that jurisdiction in international investment disputes lies with the country in which the investment is located; thus, the investor has no recourse but to use the local courts. The principle, named after an Argentinean jurist, has been applied throughout Latin America and other areas of the world.
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Canadian Commercial Corporation - By serving as the prime contractor in government-to-government sales transactions, the CCC facilitates exports of a wide range of goods and services from Canadian sources. In response to requests from foreign governments and international agencies for individual products or services, CCC identifies Canadian firms capable of meeting the customer's requirements, executes prime as well as back-to-back contracts, and follows through with contract management, inspection, acceptance, and payment.
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Canadian International Development Agency - CIDA (French: Agence Canadienne de Developpement International) is Canada's official agency which has the task of supporting sustainable development in developing countries. The Agency was established in 1968; headquarters are in Hull, Quebec.
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Canc. - Cancelled
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cancl. - Cancelling
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cap - Capacity
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CAP - Common Agricultural Policy, Country Action Plan
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Capital Account - See: Balance of Payments.
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Capital Development Initiative - The CDI, administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development, encourages infrastructure investment in countries in central and Eastern Europe. The CDI provides financial and technical services and assists U.S. businesses by providing up to 50 percent of estimated development work and feasibility study costs for proposed projects in energy, telecommunications, and the environment.
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CAR - Commercial Activity Report
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cargo - Goods carried in or on a ship
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Cargo Selectivity System - The Cargo Selectivity System, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, specifies the type of examination (intensive or general) to be conducted for imported merchandise. The type of examination is based on database selectivity criteria such as assessments of risk by filer, consignee, tariff number, country of origin, and manufacturer/shipper. A first time consignee is always selected for an intensive examination. An alert is also generated in cargo selectivity the first time a consignee files an entry in a port with a particular tariff number, country of origin, or manufacturer/shipper.
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Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act - The CBERA affords nonreciprocal tariff preferences to developing countries in the Caribbean Basin area to aid their economic development and to diversity and expand their production and exports. The CBERA applies to merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 1984. This tariff preference program has no expiration date.
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Caribbean Basin Initiative - The CBI is an inter-American program to increase economic aid and trade preferences for 28 states of the Caribbean region. The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act of 1983 provided for 12 years of duty-free treatment of most goods produced in the Caribbean region. The Initiative was extended permanently (CBI II), by the Customs and Trade Act of August 1990. The 23 countries which are currently eligible for CBI beneifts include Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Montserrat, the Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Christopher-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. The following countries may be eligible for CBI benefits but have not formally requested designation: Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Suriname, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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Caribbean Common Market - CARICOM includes 13 English-speaking Caribbean nations: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent/Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago). CARICOM was established in 1973; headquarters are in Georgetown, Guyana.
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Caribbean Development Bank - The CDB promotes economic development and cooperation by providing long-term financing for productive projects in CARICOM member countries and U.K.-dependent territories in the Caribbean. Members include: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, France, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela. The Bank was established in 1969; headquarters are in St. Michael, Barbados, West Indies. Beginning in 1977, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) may make loans through the CDB to all CDB members, regardless of whether those countries are members of the IADB. See: Inter-American Development Bank.
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Caribbean/Central America Business Advisory Service - The BAS helps entrepreneurs in the Caribbean and in Central America to develop project ideas into investment proposals and to obtain long-term finance for them. The Service does not lend or invest, but does provide advice and assistance in project structuring, identification of technical and marketing partners, project appraisal, and identification of financing resources. BAS operates under the auspices of the United Nations Development Program and is managed by the World Bank's International Finance Corporation. BAS was established in 1981 as the Caribbean Business Advisory Service (CBAS). The BAS 1989 expansion to Central America extended its operations to all CBI beneficiary countries. see: Caribbean Basin Initiative.
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CARICCM - Caribbean Common Market
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CARICOM - Caribbean Common Market
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CARICOM - Caribbean Community
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Carnets - Customs documents permitting the holder to carry or send sample merchandise temporarily into certain foreign countries without paying duties or posting bonds. Foreign customs regulations vary widely; in some countries, duties and extensive customs procedures on sample products may be avoided by obtaining an ATA Carnet. The ATA Carnet is a standardized international customs document used to obtain duty-free temporary admission of certain goods into the countries that are signatories to the ATA Convention. Under the ATA Convention, commercial and professional travelers may take commercial samples; tools of the trade; advertising material; and cinematographic, audiovisual, medical, scientific, or other professional equipment into member countries temporarily without paying customs duties and taxes or posting a bodn at the border of each country visited. The carnets are generally valid for 12 months. Telephone: 1-800-CARNETS .
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Carriage Paid To - Carriage paid to (CPT) and carriage and insurance paid to (CIP) a named place of destination. Used in place of CFR and CIF, respectively for shipment by modes other than water.
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Cartagena Agreement - See: Andean Pact.
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Cartagena Group - See: Group of Eleven.
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Cartel - An organization of independent producers formed to regulate the production, pricing, or marketing practices of its members in order to limit competition and maximize their market power.
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CASE - Council of American States in Europe
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Cash Against Documents - A term denoting that payment is made when the bill of lading is presented.
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Cash Against Documents (C.A.D.) - A method of payment for goods in which documents transferring title are given to the buyer upon payment of cash to an intermediary acting for the seller, usually a commission house.
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Cash In Advance (C.I.A.) - A method of payment for goods in which the buyer pays the seller in advance of the shipment of the goods. Usually employed when the goods are built to order, such as specialized machinery.
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Cash With Order - CWO is a means of payment in which the buyer pays cash when ordering; the order is binding on both seller and buyer.
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Cash With Order (C.W.O.) - A method of payment for goods in which cash is paid at the time of order and the transaction becomes binding on both buyer and seller.
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Catalog Exhibitions - These promotions are low-cost exhibits of U.S. firms' catalogs and videos which offer small, less-experienced companies an opportunity to test overseas markets for their products without travel. The International Trade Administration promotes exhibitions, provides staff fluent in the local language to answer questions, and forwards all trade leads to participating firms.
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Category Groups - Groupings of controlled products.See: Export Control Classification Number.
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CBD - Commerce Business Daily
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CBERA - Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
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CBI - Caribbean Basin Initiative
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CBM - Conventional buoy mooring
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CBW - Chemical and Biological Weapons
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CCA - Chambre de Cooperation de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
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CCC - Canadian Commercial Corporation, Commodity Credit Corporation, Customs Cooperation Council
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CCC - Customs Co-operation Council
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CCCE - Caisse Centrale de Cooperation Economique
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CCCN - Customs Co-operation Council Nomenclature
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CCCN - Customs Cooperation Council Nomenclature
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CCD - Conseil de Cooperation Douaniere
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CCF - CoCom Cooperation Forum
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CCFF - Compensatory and Contingency Financing Facility
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CCIR - Comite Consultatif International des Radiocommunications
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CCITT - Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et, Telephonique
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CCITT - Consultative Committee for International Telephone and, Telegraphy
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CCL - Commerce Control List;, formerly: - Commodity Control List
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CCNAA - Coordination Council for North American Affairs
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CCNAA - Coordination Council for North American Affairs
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ccy - Convertible currency
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CD-ROM - Compact Disc-Read Only Memory
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CDB - Caribbean Development Bank
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CDC - Commonwealth Development Corporation
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CDI - Capital Development Initiative
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CDT - Center for Defense Trade
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CE - Committee of Experts, Communautes Europeenes, Conformite Europeene, Council of Europe
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CEA - Chinese Economic Area, Council of Economic Advisors
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CEA - Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
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CEE - Commission Economique pour l'Europe
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CEEAC - Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
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CEEB - Customs Electronic Bulletin Board
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CEFTA - Central Europe Free Trade Association
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CEN - European Committee for Standardization
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CENELEC - European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
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Census Interface System - The Census Interface System, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, includes edits and validations provided by the Bureau of the Census to allow for the accurate and timely collection and submission of entry summary data. Census Interface is accomplished through Automated Broker Interface entry summary transmissions.
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Center for Defense Trade - In 1990, the Center for Defense Trade, CDT, was created within the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs (PM) at the Department of State. CDT was established with the purpose of improving the Department of State's export licensing services. CDT also has responsibility for clarifying all defense trade policy guidelines. The Center includes two offices: - The Office of Defense Trade Controls (DTC) which administers controls on permanent exports and temporary imports of defense articles and technology covered by the U.S. Munitions List (USML) and performs USML export license review and compliance functions. - The Office of Defense Trade Policy (DTP) which seeks to support the efforts of the U.S. defense industry to sell products overseas. DTP provides policy guidance to licensing officers, in support of their efforts to implement the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and provides advice on technology transfer and strategic trade issues.
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Center for International Research - CIR analyzes and forecasts world demographic trends and economic developments in selected countries, based on current statistics obtained through international agreements. The center, which is a component of the Commerce Department's Bureau of the Census, conducts research with funds from government and private business sponsors. See: International Data Base.
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Center for Trade and Investment Services - CTIS, established in September 1992, promotes increased participation of U.S. businesses in generating economic development in lesser developed countries which receive assistance from the Agency for International Development. Telephone: 1-800-USAID-4-U.
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Central African Customs and Economic Union - The Central African Customs and Economic Union (French: Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale, UDEAC) created in 1966 (revised 1974) to promote establishment of a Central African Common Market with a common external tariff. Members include: the Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. The Union's headquarters are in Bangui, Central African Republic.
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Central African States Development Bank - The Central Africa States Development Bank (French: Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale, BDEAC) was created in December 1975 (began operations in January 1977) to provide loans for economic development and to support integration projects. Members include: the Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Bank headquarters are in Brazzaville, Congo.
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Central American Bank for Economic Integration - CABEI (Spanish: Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico, BCIE) was established in 1960 (began operations in September 1961) to promote economic integration and development. The Bank is an institution of the Central American Common Market. Bank members include: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. CABEI is associated with the Central American Common Market; bank headquarters are in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. See: Central American Common Market.
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Central American Common Market - A first effort to establish a Central American Common Market, CACM (Spanish: Mercado Com£n Centroamericano, MCCA) was attempted in 1960 under the auspeices of the Organiztion of Central American States (OCAS). A restructuring was started in 1973. Members include Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The common market will cover all products traded within the region by the end of 1992. A second step toward regional integration will be the establishment of a common external tariff. CACM is associated with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration; headquarters are in Guatemala City, Guatemala. See: Central American Bank for Economic Integration.
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Central Europe Free Trade Association - CEFTA is a trade agreement among the "Visegrad" countries -- Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary -- that is somewhat parallel to the European Free Trade Association.
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Centre Europeen de Recherche Nucleaire - CERN (English: European Center for Nuclear Reseach) is a huge lab used by international collaborators to do frontier work in nuclear and particle physics. The Center, created after World War II and open to physicists from all countries, is funded by countries according to their abilities. The Center is located outside Genvea, partly in Switzerland and partly in France.
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Centre Francais du Commerce Exterieur - See: Direction des Relations Economiques Exterieures.
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Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical - See: Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.
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CEPAL - Comision Economica para America Latina y el Caribe
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CEPGL - Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs
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CEPT - Conference Europeenne des Administrations des Postes et, des Telecommunications
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CERN - Centre Europeen de Recherche Nucleaire
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Certificate of Delivery - See: Delivery Verification Certificate.
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Certificate of Inspection - A document certifying that merchandise (such as perishable goods) was in good condition immediately prior to shipment. Pre-shipment inspection is a requirement for importation of goods into many developing countries.
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Certificate of Manufacture - A document (often notarized) in which a producer of goods certifies that the manufacturing has been completed and the goods are now at the disposal of the buyer.
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Certificate Of Origin - A certified document as to the origin of goods, used in foreign commerce.
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Certificate of Origin - Certain nations require a signed statement as to the origin of the export item. Such certificates are usually obtained through a semiofficial organization such as a local chamber of commerce. A certificate may be required even though the commercial invoice contains the information.
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Certified Trade Fair Program - The Department of Commerce Certified Trade Fair Program is designed to encourage private organizations to recruit new-to-market and new-to-export U.S. firms to exhibit in trade fairs overseas. To receive certification, the organization must demonstrate: (1) the fair is a leading international trade event for an industry and (2) the fair organizer is capable of recruiting U.S. exhibitors and assisting them with freight forwarding, customs clearance, exhibit design and setup, public relations, and overall show promotion. The show organizer must agree to assist new-to-export exhibitors as well as small businesses interested in exporting. In addition to the services the organizer provides, the Department of Commerce will: - assign a Washington coordinator; - operate a business information office, which provides meeting space, translators, hospitality, and assistance from U.S. exhibitors and foreign customers; - help contact buyers, agents, distributors, and other business leads and provide marketing assistance; - provide a press release on certification.
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Certified Trade Missions - Certified trade missions (formerly State/Industry Organized, Government Approved trade missions) are planned and organized by state development agencies, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and other export-oriented groups. To qualify for U.S. government sponsorship, organizers of this type of trade mission must agree to follow International Trade Administration criteria in planning and recruiting the mission. ITA offers guidance and assistance from planning through completion of the mission and coordinates the support of all relevant offices and the assistance of overseas commercial officers in each foreign city on the itinerary. The missions are normally led by a representative of the sponsoring organization. Organizers of certified trade missions recruit for the event and cover the expenses of the event incurred by ITA's overseas post. Certified trade missions may use the seminar format, the exhibit format, the traditional trade mission format, or a combination, such as a seminar/mission or exhibit/mission.
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CET - Common External Tariff
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CFA - Communaute Financiere Africaine - (in West Africa), Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale - (in Central Africa)
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CFCE - Centre Francais du Commerce Exterieur
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CFIUS - Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.
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CFR - Code of Federal Regulations, Cost and Freight
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CFS - Container freight station
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CFS - Country Focused Seminar
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CFTA - Canadian Free Trade Agreement
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CG - Consul General, Consulate General
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CGIAR - Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
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Chaebol - Chaebol are Korean conglomerates which are characterized by strong family control, authoritarian management, and centralized decision making. Chaebol dominate the Korean economy, growing out of the takeover of the Japanese monopoly of the Korean economy following World War II. Korean government tax breaks and financial incentives emphasizing industrial reconstruction and exports provided continuing support to the growth of Chaebols during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1988, the output of the 30 largest chaebol represented almost 95% of Korea's gross national product.
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Chambre de Cooperation de l'Afrique de l'Ouest - See: West African Clearing House.
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Charge d'affaires - See: Title and Rank.
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Charter Party - Renting of an entire vessel or part of its freight space for a particular trip or stipulated period of time.
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CHB - Customhouse Broker
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Chemical Weapons Convention - The CWC prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. The Convention permits monitoring, collection and review of data and on-site inspections that involve questions of protection of proprietary rights and confidentiality. The Convention has been signed by over 160 nations; entry into force is expected in January 1995.
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Chemical/Biological Weapons - The Department of Commerce maintains foreign policy export controls on certain chemical precursors and equipment and biological agents and equipment useful in chemical warfare. Through the Australia Group, AG, the United States cooperates with other nations in controlling chemical and biological weapons proliferation. The AG developed a list of 54 precursors useful for chemical weapons development, along with control on certain biological organisms and on equipment useful in producing CBW agents. The AG also provides the forum in which the member countries share information concerning the activities of non-member countries where the proliferation of these weapons is of concern, including entities that are seeking chemical precursors and related items.
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CHG - Charge d'Affaires
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Chinese Economic Area - The CEA is an informal reference to the economic integration of Southern China with Hong Kong and Taiwan which has proceded without any "arrangement."
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chq. - Cheque
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CIAT - Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical
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CICA - Confederation Internationale du Credit Agricole
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CIDA - Canadian International Development Agency
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CIF - Cost, Insurance and Freight
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cif - Cost, insurance, freight
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CILSS - Comite Permanent Interetats de Lutte contre la Secheresse, dans le Sahel
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CIMS - Commercial Information Management System
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CIPs - Commodity Import Programs
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CIR - Center for International Research
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CIS - Commonwealth of Independent States
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CISG - Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of, Goods
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CIT - Court of International Trade
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CITA - Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
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CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in, Wild Fauna and Flora
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CIV - Customs Import Value
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CJ - Commodity Jurisdiction
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Ck. - Cask
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cld. - Cleared
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CLDP - Commercial Law Development Program
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Clean Bill of Lading - A receipt for goods issued by a carrier with an indication that the goods were received in "apparent good order and condition," without damages or other irregularities.
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Clean Draft - A draft to which no documents have been attached.
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Clean Float - Clean float refers to a system in which exchange rates are determined by market forces rather than government intervention or restrictions. See: Dirty Float.
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Club du Sahel - The Club du Sahel is an informal coalition which seeks to reverse the effects of drought and the desertification in the eight Sahelian zone countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and the Cape Verde Islands. The Club coordinates plans and financing of aid and sustained economic development in the region. The Club (sometimes called "Club des Amis du Sahel"), formed in December 1975, comprises both donor countries (Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and Sahelian zone countries. Headquarters are in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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CMA - Common Monetary Agreement
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CMEA - Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
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CMP - Country Marketing Plan
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Cmpl. - Completed
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CNUSA - Commercial News USA
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COAP - Cottonseed Oil Assistance Program
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COCOM - Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Control
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COCOM - Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls
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CoCom - See: Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls.
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CoCom Cooperation Forum - The CCF provides a venue for emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe and the of the former Soviet Union to discuss international export controls and to help coordinate technical assistance efforts. The Forum, established in June 1992, held its first meeting in November 1992. At the close of 1992, 42 nations were CCF participants, including most states of the former Soviet Union (except Georgia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan) and all of the former Soviet satellites of Eastern and Central Europe (except the former Yugoslav republics).
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CODEX - Codex Alimentarius Commission
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Codex Alimentarius Commission - As a subsidiary body of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization and the World Health Organization, CAC (or CODEX) develops food standards and Recommended International Codes of Hygienic and/or Technological Practices. Commission standards are voluntary, becoming enforceable only if accepted as national standards. The Commission also works in cooperation with Regional Coordinating Committees (Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean) in promoting regional standards activities. The Commission was established in 1962; headquarters are in Rome, Italy.
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COE - Council of Europe
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COFACE - Compagnie Francaise d'Assurance pour le Commerce Exterieur
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Collection Papers - All documents (invoices, bills of lading, etc.) submitted to a buyer for the purpose of receiving payment for a shipment.
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Collections System - The Collections System, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, controls and accounts for the billions of dollars in payments collected by Customs each year and the millions in refunds processed each year. Daily statements are prepared for the automated brokers who select this service. The Collections System permits electronic payments of the related duties and taxes through the Automated Clearinghouse capability. Automated collections also meet the needs of the importing community through acceptance of electronic funds transfers for deferred tax bills and receipt of electronic payments from lockbox operations for Customs bills and fees.
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Colombo Plan - The Colombo Plan was established in 1951 to promote economic and social development among members in Asia and the Pacific. Members include: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Plan's formal name is the Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic Development in South and South-East Asia; headquarters are in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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Column 1 Rates - The U.S. import tariff rates which have been established through negotiation, are congressionally approved and usually bound. These are ''most favored nation'' (MFN) rates, meaning that they must apply equally to all countries receiving MFN tariff treatment from the United States, unless superseded by certain preferential tariff arrangements for developing countries.
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Column 2 Rates - Column 2 rates are statutory established tariff rates dating back to the 1930s Smoot-Hawley period and are substantially higher than column I rates. They are currently assessed only on imports from countries not receiving most favored nation treatment from the U.S. (e.g., certain communist countries).
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COM - Chief of Mission, Cost of Manufacture
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Com. - Commission
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COMECON - Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
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Comision Economica para America Latiana y el Caribe - See: United Nations Regional Commissions.
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Comision Economica para America Latina y el Caribe - See: United Nations Regional Commissions.
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Comision Panamericana de Normas Tecnicas - COPANT (English: Pan American Standards Commission) coordinates the activities of all institutes of standardization in the Latin American countries. The Commission develops all types of product standards, stnadardized test methods, terminology, and related matters. COPANT headquarters are in Buenos Aires, Argentina. U.S. contact with COPANT is maintained through the American National Standards Institute.
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Comite Consultatif International des Radiocommunications - See: International Radio Consultative Committee.
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Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique - See: International Telegraphic and Telephone Consultative Committee.
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Comite Permanent Consultatif du Maghreb - The CPCM (English: Maghreb Permanent Consultative Committee) seeks to improve economic coordination among Maghreb countries, with eventual expectation of establishing a Maghreb economic community. Originally established in October 1964, the committee began operations in February 1966; its headquarters are in Tunis, Tunisia. See: Maghreb States.
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Comite Permanent Interetats de Lutte contre la Secheresse dan le Sahel - See: Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel.
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Commerce Business Daily - CBD is the Commerce Department's daily newspaper which lists government procurement invitations and contract awards, including foreign business opportunities and foreign government procurements.
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Commerce Control List - The CCL includes all items -- commodities, software, and technical data -- subject to BXA export controls and incorporates not only the national security controlled items agreed to by CoCom (the "core" list), but also items controlled for foreign policy (i.e., biological warfare, nuclear proliferation, missile technology, regional stability, and crime control) and short supply. The list is divided into 10 general categories: (1) materials, (2) materials processing, (3) electronics, (4) computers, (5) telecommunications and cryptography, (6) sensors, (7) avionics and navigation, (8) marine technology, (9) propulsion systems and transportation equipment, and (10) miscellaneous.
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Commercial Activity Report - The Commercial Activity Report, CAR, is prepared annually by the economic and commercial sections of the U.S. Embassies covering over 100 countries where the Department of Commerce is not represented. The CAR assesses the country's political, economic, and business activities, and market potential and strategies for increasing U.S. sales.
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Commercial Code - A published code designed to reduce the total number of words required in a cablegram.
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Commercial Counterfeiting - This practice involves the manufacture or sale of goods which defraud the purchaser by falsely implying that the products are produced by a reputable manufacturer.
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Commercial Information Management System - CIMS is a PC-based system used by International Trade Administration staff in export counseling. CIMS is a trade-related application using National Trade Data Bank CD-ROMs to disseminate market research and international economics data to US&FCS domestic offices and overseas posts. The system includes data on foreign traders and supports local collection and update of information on business contacts.
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Commercial Invoice - The commercial invoice is a bill for the goods from the seller to the buyer. These invoices are often used by governments to determine the true value of goods for the assessment of customs duties and are also used to prepare consular documentation. Governments using the commercial invoice to control imports often specify its form, content, number of copies, language to be used, and other characteristics.
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Commercial Law Development Program - The CLDP helps Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic States develop a commercial infrastructure consistent with free market principles. The program, operated through the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration, is part of the U.S. Government's efforts to assist the region. CLPD is also compiling a Language Resources List of U.S. commercial law experts with strong language capabilities.
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Commercial News USA - Commercial News USA, CNUSA, is an International Trade Administration (ITA) fee-based magazine, published 10 times per year. CNUSA provides exposure for U.S. products and services through an illustrated catalog and electronic bulletin boards. The catalog is distributed through U.S. Embassies and consulates to business readers in 155 countries. Copies are provided to international visitors at trade events around the world. The CNUSA program covers more than 30 industry categories. To be eligible, products must be at least 51 percent U.S. parts and 51 percent U.S. labor. The service helps U.S. firms identify potential export markets and make contacts leading to representation, distributorships, joint venture or licensing agreements, or direct sales.
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Commercial Officers - Commercial officers are embassy officials who assist U.S. business through arranging appointments with local business and government officials, providing counsel on local trade regulations, laws, and customs; identifying importers, buyers, agents, distributors, and joint venture partners for U.S. firms; and other business assistance. At larger posts, International Trade Administration staff perform these functions. At smaller posts, commercial interests are represented by State's economic officers. See: Economic Officers Foreign Service.
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Commercial Risks - With respect to Eximbank guarantees, commercial risks cover nonpayment for reasons other than specified political risks. Examples are insolvency or protracted default. See: Political Risks.
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Commercial Treaty - An agreement between two or more countries setting forth the conditions under which business between the countries may be transacted. May outline tariff privileges, terms on which property may be owned, the manner in which claims may be settled, etc.
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Commission Economique pour l'Europe - See: United Nations Regional Commissions -- Economic Commission for Europe.
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Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements - CITA is an interagency committee chaired by the Department of Commerce which exercises the rights of the United States under the Multi-Fiber Arrangement. CITA initiates "calls" for consultation when imports of a particular textile product from a particular country disrupt the U.S. domestic market for that product. Other member agencies include the Departments of Labor, State, and Treasury and the United States Trade Representative. See: Multi-Fiber Arrangement.
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Committee of Experts - The CE is an autonomous body of 20 independent legal experts appointed by the International Labor Organization (ILO) Governing Body. The CE meets annually prior to the June conference to examine reports of governments on ILO conventions, and information provided by governments on what they have done with newly adopted conventions. The CE submits its report and findings to the International Labor Conference Committee on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations.
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Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States - The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, CFIUS, was created in 1975 to provide guidance on arrangements with foreign governments for advance consultations on prospective major foreign governmental investments in the United States, and to consider proposals for new legislation or regulation relating to foreign investment. The authority was amended by Section 5021 (the Exon-Florio provision) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Section 721 of the Defense Production Act), which gives the President authority to review mergers, acquisitions, and takeovers of U.S. companies by foreign interests and to prohibit, suspend, or seek divestiture in the courts of investments that may lead to actions that threaten to impair the national security. By Executive Order in December 1988, Treasury has authority to implement the Exon-Florio provision. CFIUS has 11 members: the Secretaries of the Treasury (the chair), State, Defense, and Commerce, the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, the U.S. Trade Representative, the Attorney General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. The Assistant Secretary for Trade Development serves as Commerce's representative to CFIUS. The Commerce working group is chaired by the International Trade Administration and includes the Bureau of Export Administration, the Economics and Statistics Administration, the Technology Administration, and the Office of the General Counsel. See: Exon-Florio Foreign Direct Investment in the United States.
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Committee on Renewable Energy, Commerce, and Trade - CORECT facilitates the cost-effective use of U.S. renewable energy products and services around the world. The Committee is comprised of 14 federal agencies: the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, Interior, State, and Treasury, the Agency for International Development, Environmental Protection Agency, Export-Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Small Business Administration, Trade and Development Agency, United States Information Agency, and U.S. Trade Representative. The Committee, chaired by Energy, was established by legislation in 1984.
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Committee on Trade and Development - The CTD was established in 1965 to consider how the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) can aid the economic development of Less Developed Country (LDC) contracting parties (that is, LDC members).
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Commodity Control List - See: Commerce Control List.
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Commodity Credit Corporation - The CCC finances a variety of federal domestic and international farm programs, including Title I, Title II, and Title III of Public Law 480 (Food for Peace). The CCC is a government-owned and operated corporation within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and is managed by a board of directors headed by the Secretrary of Agriculture. All members of the board and the corporation's officers and staff are officals of USDA. The CCC provides financing and stability to the marketing and exporting of agricultural commodities.
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Commodity Import Programs - CIPs finance the export of U.S. goods to U.S.-aid recipient countries. Under CIPs, the Agency for International Development (AID) makes dollars available to the assisted country on a loan or grant basis to pay for essential commodity imports. In nearly all cases, these imports come from the United States. CIPs are used to provide relatively fast disbursing balance of payments support or to generate local currency for budget support for project goals, particularly in efforts designed to encourage private sector development. CIP agreements usually provide for AID's financing of a wide variety of basic items including agricultural goods, construction and transportation equipment, fertilizer, chemicals, raw materials, semi-finished products, and foodstuffs. CIPs do not finance military or police equipment, luxury items, or items of questionable safety or efficacy. In some cases, the range of allowable commodities is narrowed in order to tailor them to development needs of particular sectors in the assisted country or to accomplish other, specific development goals.
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Commodity Jurisdiction - Export jurisdiction of products is administered by the State Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls (DTC) if the commodities are defense articles, technical data, and services or by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Export Administration if the commodities are dual-use items. An exporter may request DTC to conduct a commodity jurisdiction (CJ) review if the exporter is uncertain as to whether an item is covered by the United States Munitions List (USML) or believes it has been inappropriately placed on the list. CJ procedures include deadlines for making a determination and the use of criteria assessing: (a) performance, (b) significant military or intelligence applicability, and (c) significant civilian applicability.
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Common Agricultural Policy - The CAP is a set of regulations by which members states of the European Community (EC) seek to merge their individual agricultural programs into a unified effort to promote regional agricultural development, fair and rising standards of living for the farm population, stable agricultural markets, increased agricultural productivity, and methods of dealing with food supply security. Two of the principal elements of the CAP are the variable levy (an import duty amounting to the difference between EC target farm prices and the lowest available market prices of imported agricultural commodities) and export restitutions, or subsidies, to promote exports of farm goods that cannot be sold within the EC at the target prices.
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Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) - A comprehensive system of production targets and marketing mechanisms designed to manage agricultural trade within the European Community and with the rest of the world.
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Common External Tariff - A uniform tariff adopted by a customs union to be assessed on imports entering the union territory from countries outside the union; abbreviated: CET or CXT.
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Common External Tariff (CET) - A uniform tariff adopted by a customs union (e.g.. European Community) to be assessed on imports entering a region from countries outside the union.
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Common Market - A common market (as opposed to a free trade area) has a common external tariff and may allow for labor mobility and common economic policies among the participating nations. The European Community is the most notable example of a common market.
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Common Monetary Agreement - South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland are members of the CMA under which they apply uniform exchange control regulations to ensure monetary order in the region. Funds are freely transferable among the three countries, and Lesotho and Swaziland have free access to South African capital markets. Lesotho also uses the South African currency, the rand. The CMA was formed in 1986 as a result of the renegotiation of the Rand Monetary Agreement (RMA) which was originally formed in 1974 by the same member countries.
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Common Standard Level of Effective Protection - The common standard level of effective protection, CSP, refers to the minimum shared standards between the U.S. and CoCom members for implementing an effective export control system, including licensing and enforcement elements.
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Commonwealth - A commonwealth is a free association of sovereign independent states that has no charter, treaty, or constitution. The association promotes cooperation, consultation, and mutual assistance among members. The British Commonwealth (with headquarters in London, England) is the most notable example; it included 50 states at the beginning of 1991.
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Commonwealth Development Corporation - The CDC is a British public corporation which provides medium- and long-term loans and equity financing for development-related private and public sector projects in selected countries. CDC financing is available for projects in the folowing sectors: agriculture (livestock, horticulture, and acquaculture), forestry, fishing, mineral extraction, industry, public utilties, transport, telecommunications, low-cost housing, hotels, construction and civil engineering, financial management and consultancy services, and leasing of assests. The Corporation does not invest in schools, colleges, hospitals, public service works or broadcasting. Since 1969, CDC has been able to invest in non-Commonwealth countries with ministerial agreement. The CDC was established in 1948; headquarters are in London, England.
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Commonwealth of Independent States - The CIS was established in December 1991 as an association of 11 republics of the former Soviet Union. The members include: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus (formerly Byelorussia), Moldova (formerly Moldavia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kirgizstan (formerly Kirghiziya). The Baltic states did not join. Georgia maintained observer status, before joining the CIS in November 1993. Until that time, the NIS (Newly Independent States) differed from the CIS in that the NIS is a collective reference to 12 Soviet republics, including Georgia.
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Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest - See: West African Economic Community.
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Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale - See: Economic Community of Central African States.
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Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs - See: Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries.
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Communautes Europeenes - The CE mark is applied to products, their packaging or paperwork as a declaration of conformity, third party testing and/or certification, quality assurance audit and/or full type approval by a body authorized by a European Economic Community member state and recognized by the European Commission. Effective January 1, 1993, the CE mark on a product attests that it complies with all in-force Directives pertinent to it. The CE mark preempts all other European Community national safety marks. If it is discovered that the CE mark has been improperly affixed, the product in question will be prohibited and no longer marketed. Legal penalties are at the discretion of each member state.
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Communications Satellite Corporation - COMSAT was established in 1963 under provision of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962. The legislation directed that COMSAT establish the world's first commercial international satellite communications system. The Act also stipulated that the company operate as a shareholder-owned "for-profit" corporation. COMSAT represents the U.S. in the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization.
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Comp. T.L. - Compromised total loss
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Compagnie Francaise d'Assurance pour le Commerce Exterieur - COFACE is a French company acting as a commercial export finance agency by insuring short-term political and commercial risk and by facilitating the financing for export credit. Any French exporter (manufacturers, intermediaries, confirmers, and merchants) of French goods and services can be insured for sales abroad. In conjunction with the Banque Francaise du Commerce Exterieur and other banks and institutions, COFACE provides services similar to the Export-Import Bank. COFACE was established in 1946; headquarters are in Paris, France. See: Banque Francaise du Commerce Exterieur.
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Compensation - A GATT principle which holds that if any member country raises a tariff above its bound rate, withdraws a binding or otherwise violates a trade concession with GATT justification, the party must lower other tariffs or make other concessions to offset the disadvantage suffered by trading partners or face offsetting actions (retaliation) by affected parties.
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Compensatory and Contingency Financing Facility - The CCFF is an International Monetary Fund (IMF) facility which provides resources to an IMF member for a shortfall in export earnings or an excess in cereal import costs that is due to factors largely beyond the member's control and which is temporary. Compensatory financing, introduced in 1963 and broadened several times, provides aid to members experiencing balance of payments problems as a result of fluctuations in commodity prices and shortfalls of receipts in tourism, "workers' remittances" and most services. Contingency financing helps members with IMF-supported adjustment programs to maintain the momentum of adjustment efforts in the face of a broad range of unanticipated, adverse external shocks -- for example, changes in international interest rates or prices or primary imports or exports.
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Composite Currency Peg - See: Exchange Rate Classifications.
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Composite Theoretical Performance - Computer hardware export license requirements are evaluated according to Composite Theoretical Performance (CTP), which replaced the former Processing Data Rate (PDR) parameter. CTP is measured in Million Theoretical Operations Per Second (MTOPS). CTP was developed by the U.S. as a new parameter, and was adopted by CoCom during the Core List negotiations, because PDR was not applicable to certain modern computer architectures such as vector processors, massively parallel processors, and array processors. CTP is designed to measure all of these architectures, as well as signal processing equipment.
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COMPRO - COMPRO is an on-line trade data retrieval system maintained by the International Trade Administration within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The system is exclusively for use within the federal government trade community (ITA, USTR, ITC, and other executive branch agencies. It is also the oldest and best known component of the Trade Policy Information System (TPIS). COMPRO is slated to be replaced in the FY 1995-96 TPIS modernization, but its functions will remain available in an expanded and generalized form. See: Trade Policy Information System.
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COMSAT - Communications Satellite Corporation
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Concession - A tariff reduction, tariff binding, or other agreement to reduce import restrictions; usually accorded pursuant to negotiation in return for concessions by other parties.
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Conditional Most-Favored-Nation Treatment - The according of Most Favored Nation (MFN) treatment subject to compliance with specific terms or conditions. All members of GATT, including the United States, accord unconditional MFN treatment to most other GATT members. The United States, however, accords annually renewable MFN treatment to a limited number of countries conditional on their compliance with the terms of Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974.
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Conds. - Conditions
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Confederation Internationale du Credit Agricole - COCA (English: International Confederation of Agricultural Credit, ICAC) coordinates documentation and information improvements pertaining to agricultural credit. Confederation members are agricultural credit banks and other institutions which provide or study agricultural credits. ICAC was established in 1932; headquarters are in Zurich, Switzerland.
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Conference Europeenne des Administrations des Postes et des Telecommunications - CEPT (English: European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administration) harmonizes, simplifies, and improves postal and telecommunciations services. Many CEPT standards creating activities have been assumed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. CEPT maintains offices in Paris, France and Bern, Switzerland. See: European Telecommunications Standards Institute.
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Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe - CSCE was established in 1991 as a successor to the Eastern bloc's Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA or COMECON). CSCE administers residual tariffs and quotas and relations with other organizations.
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Confirmed Letter of Credit - A letter of credit, issued by a foreign bank, whose validity has been confirmed by an American bank. An exporter whose payment terms are a confirmed letter of credit is assured of payment even if the foreign buyer or the foreign bank defaults.
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Confirming - Confirming is a financial service in which an independent company confirms an export order in the seller's country and makes payment for the goods in the currency of that country. Among the items eligible for confirmation are the goods; inland, air, and ocean transportation costs; forwarding fees; custom brokerage fees; and duties. Confirming permits the entire export transaction from plant to end user to be fully coordinated and paid for over time. It is mainly a European practice.
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Conformite Europeene - The CE mark signifies that a product meets specific EC-wide conformity assessment requirements. The mark does not endorse the quality or durability of a product, but only that it satisfies mandatory technical requirements. The designation is needed for sale of products which become subject ot Community-wide "new-approach" directives. See: European Norm.
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conlinebill - Liner bill of lading published by the Baltic and International Maritime Conference (B.I.M.C.O.).
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Conseil de Cooperation Douaniere - See: Customs Cooperation Council.
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Conseil de l'Entente - The Conseil de l'Entente (Entente Council) is an alliance of Benin, Burkina Faso, C“te d'Ivoire, Niger (all formerly part of French West Africa), and Togo (which joined in 1966). The Council was established in 1959; headquarters are in Abidjan, C“te d'Ivoire.
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Consgt. - Consignment
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consignee - Person to whom goods are to be delivered at a particular destination by a carrier.
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Consignee - The person or firm named in a freight contract to whom goods have been consigned or turned over. For export control purposes, the documentation differentiates between an "intermediate" consignee and an "ultimate" consignee.
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Consignee Marks - A symbol placed on packages for export for identification purposes; generally consisting of a triangle, square, circle, diamond, cross, with letters and/or numbers as well as port of discharge.
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Consignment - Delivery of merchandise from an exporter (the consignor) to an agent (the consignee) under agreement that the agent sell the merchandise for the account of the exporter. The consignor retains title to the goods until sold. The consignee sells the goods for commission and remits the net proceeds to the consignor.
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consignor - Person who gives goods to a carrier for delivery to a consignee.
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Consortia of American Businesses in Eastern Europe - The CABEE program, administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, provides grants of up to $500,000 to each of five non-profit consortia of for-profit companies to cover up to one-half of costs of starting-up commercial operations in Eastern Europe. Launched under the American Business and Private-Sector Development Initiative for Eastern Europe, CABEE is intended to help overcome difficulties faced by small and medium-sized firms in entering Eastern Europe markets. CABEE was established in June 1991.
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Consortia of American Businesses in the Newly Independent States - CABNIS is a cooperative, cost-sharing program of government and the private sector that helps non-profit business consortia establish a commercial presence and pursue business in the Newly Indpendent States on behalf of profit-making U.S. corporations and associations. The program provides matching government grants of up to $500,000 to each consortia. CABNIS, established in July 1992, is administered by the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration. CABNIS was established in July 1992.
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Constructed Value - A means of determining fair or foreign market value when sales of such or similar merchandise do not exist or, for various reasons, cannot be used for comparison purposes. The "constructed value" consists of the cost of materials and fabrication or other processing employed in producing the merchandise, general expenses of not less than 10 percent of material and fabrication costs, and profit of not less than 8 percent of the sum of the production costs and general expenses. To this amount is added the cost of packing for exportation to the United States. See: Tariff Act of 1930.
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Consul - A government official residing in a foreign country who is charged with the representation of the interests of his country and its nationals.
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Consular Declaration - A formal statement describing goods to be shipped, made to the consul of the country of destination. Approval must be obtained prior to shipment.
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Consular Declaration - A formal statement, made to the consul of a foreign country, describing goods to be shipped.
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Consular Information Sheet - See: Travel Advisory Program.
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Consular Invoice - A document required by some foreign countries showing exact information as to consignor, consignee, value and description of shipment.
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Consular Invoice - A document, required by some foreign countries, describing a shipment of goods and showing information such as the consignor, consignee, and value of the shipment. Certified by a consular official of the foreign country, it is used by the country's customs officials to verify the value, quantity, and nature of the shipment.
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Consulate - See: Title and Rank.
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Consulate - The jurisdiction, terms of office, or official premises of a consul.
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Consultative Committee for International Telephone and Telegraphy - CCITT facilitates U.S. coordination of communications standards issues. CCITT is a part of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which is an international treaty organization. The State Department is responsible for coordinating and presenting U.S. positions to the ITU. See: International Telecommunications Union.
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Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research - CGIAR, an informal association of public and private sector donors, supports international agricultural research centers (IARCs) around the world. The centers develop new ways to increase sustainable food production and improve the nutritional and economic well-being of low-income people. CGIAR, sponsored by the World Bank and other international organizations, was established in 1971; its Secretariat is in Washington, D.C. The research centers include: - Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Colombia - Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT), Mexico - International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR), Italy - International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), Syria - International Centre for Research in Forestry (ICRAF), Kenya - International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India - International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), United States - International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI), Sri Lanka - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria - International Livestock Center for Africa (ILCA), Ethiopia - International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases (ILRAD), Kenya - International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP), France - International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines - International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR), Netherlands and - West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA), C“te d'Ivoire.
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Consumption Entry - An official form used for declaration of value, description and the total duty due on such transaction.
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Cont. - Continent of Europe
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Cont.(A.H.) - Continent, Antwerp-Hamburg range
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Cont.(B.H.) - Continent, Bordeaux-Hamburg range
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Cont.(H.H.) - Continent, Havre-Hamburg range
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Contadora Group - The Contadora Group, which first met on the Panamanian island of Contadora in January 1983, seeks solutions to conflict in Central America. Members include the foreign ministers of Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela. Group headquarters are in Mexico City, Mexico.
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Container - A uniform, sealed, reusable metal "box" in which merchandise is shipped by vessel, truck, or rail. Standard lengths include 10, 20, 30, and 40 feet (40 foot lengths are generally able to hold about 40,000 pounds). Containers of 45 and 48 feet are also used, as well as containers for shipment by air.
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container - Box, in several standard sizes, designed to enable goods to be sent several places without the contents being touched.
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Contracting Parties - Contracting parties are the signatory countries to the GATT. These countries have accepted the specified obligations and privileges of the GATT agreement.
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Conv. - Conveyance
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Convention - See: International Agreements.
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Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods - The UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, CISG, became the law of the United States in January 1988. CISG establishes uniform legal rules governing formation of international sales contracts and the rights and obligations of the buyer and seller. The CISG applies automatically to all contracts for the sale of goods between traders from two different countries that have both ratified the CISG, unless the parties to the contract expressly exclude all or part of the CISG or expressly stipulate a law other than the CISG.
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Conventional Arms Transfer - The transfer of non-nuclear weapons, aircraft, equipment, and military services from supplier states to recipient states. U.S. arms are transferred by grants as in the Military Assistance Program (MAP); by private commercial sales; and by government-to-government sales under Foreign Military Sales (FMS). MAP provides defense articles and defense services to eligible foreign governments on a grant basis. FMS provides credits and loan repayment guarantees to enable eligible foreign governments to purchase defense articles and defense services.
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Cooperator Program - See: Foreign Market Development Program.
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Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls - CoCom is an informal organization that cooperatively restricts strategic exports to controlled countries. CoCom controls three lists: (a) the international industrial list (synonymous with the "dual-use" or "core" list), (b) the international munitions list, and (c) the atomic energy list. The 17 CoCom members are: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Other countries, including: Austria, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, and Switzerland have been designated as "cooperating countries." These countries receive many of the benefits ascribed to CoCom member countries. CoCom controls exports at three levels, depending on the item and the proposed destination. At the highest or "general exception" level, unanimous approval by CoCom members is necessary. At the next level, "favorable consideration," there is a presumption of approval; the export may be made if no CoCom members objects within 30 days of submission to CoCom. At the lowest level, "national discretion" (also called "administrative exception"), a member nation may approve the export on its own, but CoCom must be notified after the fact. CoCom is scheduled to terminate on March 31, 1994.
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Coordination Council for North American Affairs - The CCNAA, the counterpart to the American Institute in Taiwan, unofficially represents Taiwan's interests in the United States. The Council provides information on trade, business, and investment opportunities to the American business community. Council headquarters are in Washington, D.C. See: American Institute in Taiwan.
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COP - Cost of Production
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COPANT - Comision Panamericana de Normas Tecnicas
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Coproduction - Coproduction is a U.S. government program implemented either by a government-to-government arrangement or through specific licensing arrangements by designated commercial firms. These programs enable foreign entities to acquire the know-how to manufacture or assemble, repair, maintain, and operate all or part of a specific defense item or weapon, communication, or support system.
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Core List - National security controls are based largely on CoCom's international industrial list (known generally as the "core list"), which replaced the old industrial list effective September 1991. The core list includes items in ten categories: (1) materials, (2) materials processing, (3) electronics, (4) computers, (5) telecommunications and cryptography, (6) sensors, (7) avionics and navigation, (8) marine technology, (9) propulsion systems and transportation equipment, and (10) miscellaneous.
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CORECT - Committee on Renewable Energy, Commerce, and Trade
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Corporacion Andina de Fomento - See: Andean Group.
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Cost and Freight - Cost and Freight (CFR) to a named overseas port of import. Under this term, the seller quotes a price for the goods that includes the cost of transportation to the named point of debarkation. The cost of insurance is left to the buyer's account. (Typically used for ocean shipments only. CPT, or carriage paid to, is a term used for shipment by modes other than water.) Also, a method of import valuation that includes insurance and freight charges with the merchandise values.
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Cost of Production - A term used to refer to the sum of the cost of materials, fabrication and/or other processing employed in producing the merchandise sold in a home market or to a third country together with appropriate allocations of general administrative and selling expenses. COP is based on the producer's actual experience and does not include any mandatory minimum general expense or profit as in "constructed value." See: Tariff Act of 1930.
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Cost, Insurance and Freight - Cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) to a named overseas port of import. Under this term, the seller quotes a price for the goods (including insurance), all transportation, and miscellaneous charges to the point of debarkation for the vessel. (Typically used for ocean shipments only. CIP, or carriage and insurance paid to, is a term used for shipment by modes other than water.)
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Costs of Manufacture - In the context of dumping investigations, the costs of manufacture, COM, is equal to the sum of the materials, labor and both direct and indirect factory overhead expenses required to produce the merchandise under investigation.
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Cottonseed Oil Assistance Program - COAP, one of four export subsidy programs operated by the Department of Agriculture, helps U.S. exporters meet prevailing world prices for cottonseed oil in targeted markets. USDA pays cash to U.S. exporters as bonuses, making up the difference between the higher U.S. cost of acquiring cottonwseed oil and the lower world price at which it is sold.
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Council for Mutual Economic Assistance - The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, CMEA or COMECON, was established in 1949 ostensibly to create a common market. CMEA was a Soviet initiative with Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania as founder members. The Council was later joined by the German Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Cuba, and Vietnam; Yugoslavia held associate status. Members normally received some products, particularly oil and gas, from the former Soviet Union at below-market prices. CMEA was succeeded in 1991 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation (OIEC).
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Council of American States in Europe - This Council is composed of state representatives resident in Europe supportive of official U.S. promotions.
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Council of Economic Arab Unity - CEAU fosters economic integration among Arab nations. The Council's activities compiling statistics, conducting research, and promoting a customs union. The Council was established in 1964; headquarters are in Amman, Jordan. The Council oversees the Arab Common Market, which comprises Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Mauritania, Syria, and Yemen.
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Council of Europe - The COE (also: CE; French: Conseil de l'Europe)) was established in May 1949 to encourage unity and social and economic growth among members, which currently include: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. COE headquarters are in Strasbourg, France.
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Council on Security and Cooperation in Europe - Members include: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Byelarus, Canada, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uzbekistan, and Yugoslavia.
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Counter Trade - A general trade term whereby a seller is required to accept goods or services from the buyer as either full or partial payment. This is a well known phenomenon in East-West trade, but is increasingly being practiced worldwide.
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Counterfeit Code - A draft agreement addressing commercial counterfeit (e.g. trademarks) problems in international trade. Initiated during the Tokyo Round, this code was never concluded. The issue of counterfeiting, as well as other intellectual property issues, is now under discussion in the Uruguay Round negotiating group on Intellectual Property Rights.
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Counterpurchase - See: Countertrade.
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Countertrade - Countertrade is an umbrella term for several sorts of trade in which the seller is required to accept goods, serivces, or other instruments or trade, in partial or whole payment for its products. Forms include barter, buy-back or compensation, offset requirements, swap, switch, or triangular trade, evidence or bilateral clearing accounts. Some include offsets as a form of countertrade; others make a distinction based on the view that countertrade is a reciprocal exchange of goods and services used to alleviate foreign exchange shortages of importers and that offsets are used as a means for advancing industrial development objectives and may include equity investments. In counterpurchase (one of the most common forms of countertrade), exporters agree to purchase a quantity of goods from a country in exchange for that country's purchase of the exporter's product. The goods being sold by each party are typically unrelated but may be equivalent in value. In a compensation or buy-back deal, exporters of heavy equipment, technology, or even entire facilities agree to purchase a certain percentage of the output of the facility. Barter is a simple swap of one good for another. Switch trading is a complicated form of barter, involving a chain of buyers and sellers in different markets. See: Offsets.
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Countervailing Duties (CVD) - These are duties levied on an imported good to offset subsidies to producers or exporters of that good in the exporting country. GATT Article VI permits the use of such duties if material injury to the importing country's producers occurs.
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Countervailing Duty - An extra charge that a country places on imported goods to counter the subsidies or bounties granted to the exporters of the goods by their home governments. The duty is allowed by the Code on Subsidies and Countervailing Duties negotiated at the Tokyo Round, if the importing country can prove that the subsidy would cause injury to domestic industry. U.S. countervailing duties can only be imposed after the International Trade Commission has determined that the imports are causing or threatening to cause material injury to a U.S. industry.
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Country Groups - For export control purposes, the Bureau of Export Administration of the U.S. Commerce Department separates countries into seven country groups designated by the symbols: Q, S, T, V, W, Y, Z. Canada and Antartica are not included in any country group. Canada is referred to by name throughout the Export Administration Regulations. Antartica is controlled according to the country that occupies the area in Antartica where the items proposed for export or reexport will be used. See: Export Control Classification Number.
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Country of Export Destination - Country of destination for exports is the country where the goods are to be consumed, further processed, or manufactured, as known to the shipper at the time of exportation. If the shipper does not know the country of ultimate destination, the shipment is credited to the last country to which the shipper knows that the merchandise will be shipped in the same form as when exported.
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Country of Origin - The U.S. Customs Service defines country of origin as the country where an article was wholly grown, manufactured or produced, or, if not wholly grown, cultivated or produced in one country, the last country in which the article underwent a substantial transformation. Duty rates vary according to the country of origin.
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Court of International Trade - The CIT has jurisdiction over any civil action against the United States arising from Federal laws governing import transactions. The court hears antidumping, product classification, and countervailing duty matters as well as appeals of unfair trade practice cases from the International Trade Commission. The court was originally established in 1890; principal offices are located in New York City, but the court is empowered to hear and determine cases arising at any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States. The judges are appointed for life by the President, subject to Senate confirmation.
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Cpa. - Closest point of approach
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CPCM - Comite Permanent Consultatif du Maghreb
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CPT - Carriage Paid To
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Cr. - Credit, Creditor
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Crawling Peg System - The crawling peg is a procedure in which a currency exchange rate is altered frequently (multiple times a year), generally to adjust for rapid inflation. Between changes, the exchange rate for the currency remains fixed. See: Exchange Rate Classifications.
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Credit Risk Insurance - A form of insurance which protects the seller against loss due to default on the part of the buyer.
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Credit Risk Insurance - Insurance designed to cover risks of nonpayment for delivered goods.
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Credit Tranches - The credit tranche policy is the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) basic policy on the use of its general resources. Credit is made available in four tranches, each equivalent to 25 percent of a member's quota. A first credit tranche purchase raises the IMF's holdings of the purchasing member's currency to no more than 25 percent of quota. Generally, a member may reuest use of the IMF's resources in the first credit tranche if it demonstrates that it is making reasonable efforts to overcome its balance of payments difficulties. Also, a member may request use of the first credit tranche as part of a stand-by arrangement. Subsequent purchases are made in the upper credit tranches. These resources are made available if a member adopts policies that provide appropriate grounds for expecting that the member's balance of payments difficulties will be resolved within a reasonable period. Use of these resources is almost always made under a stand-by or an extended arrangement. See: International Monetary Fund.
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Critical Circumstances - A determination made by the Assistant Secretary for Import Administration (of the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration) as to whether there is a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that there is a history of dumping in the United States or elsewhere of the merchandise under consideration, or that the importer knew or should have known that the exporter was selling this merchandise at less than fair value, and there have been massive imports of this merchandise over a relatively short period. This determination is made if an allegation of critical circumstances is received from the petitioner. See: Tariff Act of 1930.
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CSCE - Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
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CSIS - Center for Strategic and International Studies
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CSP - Common Standard Level of Effective Protection
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CSS - Customized Sales Survey
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CT - Countertrade
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CTD - Committee on Trade and Development
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CTF - Certified Trade Fair .. Certified Event
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CTIS - Center for Trade and Investment Services
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CTP - Composite Theoretical Performance
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Cts. - Crates
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cum. - With, Cumulative
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Currency Swaps - See: Swaps.
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Current Account - See: Balance of Payments.
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Custom House - The government office where duties and/or tolls are placed on imports or exports and are paid on vehicles or vessels entered or cleared.
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custom of the port - Established practice at a port which becomes part of a contract of carriage unless otherwise identified in the contract.
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Customhouse Brokers - A person or firm, licensed by the Treasury Department, engaged in entering and clearing goods through customs. The duties of a broker include preparing the entry blank and filing it; advising the importer on duties to be paid; advancing duties and other costs; and, arranging for delivery to his client, his trucking firm, or other carrier.
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Customized Sales Survey - The CSS is a fee-based International Trade Administration service that provides firms with key marketing, pricing, and foreign representation information about their specific products. Overseas staff conduct on-site interviews to provide data in nine marketing areas about the product, such as sales potential in the market, comparable products, distribution channels, going price, competitive factors, and qualified purchasers. Additional information may be provided to clients at additional charge. This product was formerly known as the Comparison Shopping Service.
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Customs Cooperation Council The CCC - (French: Conseil de Cooperation Dounaiere, CCD) is an international organization consisting of representatives of about 150 countries. The Council serve as a technical body which studies and seeks to resolve the various countries' customs problems in an attempt to harmonize customs operations and promote trade. The Council was established in 1950; headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium.
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Customs Cooperation Council Nomenclature - A customs tariff nomenclature formerly used by many countries, including most European nations but not the United States. It has been superseded by the Harmonized System Nomenclature to which most major trading nations, including the U.S., adhere.
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Customs Electronic Bulletin Board - The CEEB provides information on rulings, quotas, currency conversion rates, customs valutation provisions, directives, and other customs news. The CEBB is available without charge, 7 days each week at 202-376-7100 (9600 baud) with PC communication switches set to no parity, 8 bit words and 1 stop bit. Voice information may be obtained by calling 202-376-7039 .
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Customs Free Zone - See: Free Trade Zone.
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Customs Harmonization - This is an international effort to increase the uniformity of customs practices such as evaluation, nomenclature and enforcement among countries. The Customs Cooperation Council has been working on an internationally accepted harmonized commodity system since 1970.
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Customs Import Value - This is the U.S. Customs Service appraisal value of merchandise. Methodologically, the Customs value is similar to f.a.s. (free alongside ship) value since it is based on the value of the product in the foreign country of origin, and excludes charges incurred in bringing the merchandise to the United States (import duties, ocean freight, insurance, and so forth); but it differs in that the U.S. Customs Service, not the importer or exporter, has the final authority to determine the value of the good.
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Customs Tariff - A schedule of charges assessed by the federal government on imported and/or exported goods.
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Customs Union - A group of nations which have agreed to eliminate tariffs on goods traded among members while imposing common external tariffs on goods entering from outside the union. The European Common Market is the best known example.
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Customs Union - An agreement between two or more countries to remove trade barriers with each other and to establish common tariff and nontariff policies with respect to imports from countries outside of the agreement. The European Community is the most well-known example. The two primary trade effects of a customs union are: (a) trade creation -- the shift from consumption of domestic production toward consumption of member imports and (b) trade diversion -- the shift from trade with non-member countries in favor of trade with member countries.
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Customs Valuation Code - Formally known as the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade,'' this MTN agreement provides detailed rules for the determination of value for customs purposes. These rules are designed to provide a fair, uniform and neutral system of valuation based on transaction value and preclude the use of arbitrary or fictitious values.
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Customshouse Broker - The U.S. Customs Service defines a CHB, or Customs Broker, as any person who is licensed in accordance with Part III of Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (Customs regulations) to transact Customs business on behalf of others. Customs business is limited to those activities involving transactions with Customs concerning the entry and admissibility of merchandise; its classification and valuation; the payment of duties, taxes, or other charges assessed or collected by Customs upon merchandise by reason of its importation, or the refund, rebate, or drawback thereof. (See 19 CFR 111.1(b) and (c).)
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CV - Constructed Value
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CVD - Countervailing Duty
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CW - Cash With Order
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CWC - Chemical Weapons Convention
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CXT - Common External Tariff
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