|
IC2X
Select the first letter of the topic you need from the
list above to jump to appropriate section of the
Export Reference Directory
- A -
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.
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, United Arab Emirates.
Acceptance - This term has several related meanings: (1) A time draft (or bill of exchange) that the drawee has accepted and is unconditionally obligated to pay at maturity. The draft must be presented first for acceptance - the drawee becomes the "acceptor" - then for payment. The word "accepted" and the date and place of payment must be written on the face of the draft. (2) The drawee's act in receiving a draft and thus entering into the obligation to pay its value at maturity. (3) Broadly speaking, any agreement to purchase goods under specified terms. An agreement to purchase goods at a stated price and under stated terms.
Accession - 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 obligations a nonmember country must
undertake before it will be entitled to full GATT membership benefits.
Accord - See: International Agreements.
Ad valorem - According to value. See Duty.
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.
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 prohibit opposing counsel from releasing data. The term is
also applied in connection with civil enforcement of export control laws to
protect against the disclosure of sensitive national security information and
information provided by companies being investigated for violations.
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 requests such a review.
The results of this review are published in the Federal Register noting any
antidumping duty to be assessed, estimated duty to be deposited, or suspended
investigation to be resumed. See: Tariff Act of 1930.
Advance against documents - A loan made on the security of the documents covering the shipment.
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 technology field (e.g., biotechnology)
- These products represent leading edge technology in that field; and
- Such products constitute a significant part of all items covered in the
selected classification code.
Advising bank - A bank, operating in the exporter's country, that handles letters of credit for a foreign bank by notifying the export firm that the credit has been opened in its favor. The advising bank fully informs the exporter of the conditions of the letter of credit without necessarily bearing responsibility for payment.
Advisory capacity - A term indicating that a shipper's agent or representative is not empowered to make definitive decisions or adjustments without approval of the group or individual represented. Compare Without reserve.
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
Disarmament Agency, and the intelligence community. Disputes not resolved by the
ACEP must be addressed by the cabinet-level Export Administration Review Board
within specific timeframes set forth under National Security Directive 53.
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 of
key economic sectors affected by trade. Below the ACTPN are seven policy
committees: SPAC (Services Policy Advisory Committee), INPAC (Investment), IGPAC
(Intergovernmental), IPAC (Industry), APAC (Agriculture), LAC (Labor), and DPAC
(Defense). Below the policy committees are sectoral, technical, and functional
advisory committees. See: Industry Consultations Program.
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 are located in the Commerce
Department, Washington, D.C. Telephone: 202-482-3896; fax: 202-482-3508.
See: Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee.
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 equivalent interest for an unincorporated
business enterprise, including a branch. For outward investment, the affiliate
is referred to as a "foreign affiliate"; for inward investment, it is
referred to as a "U.S. affiliate."
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
percent by another foreign person, and (c) any foreign person, proceeding down
the ownership chain(s) of each of these members, which is owned more than 50
percent by the person above it.
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 Africa to stimulate economic
growth and productive employment.
African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries - Abbreviated ACP, these are
developing countries which are designated beneficiaries under the Lom
Convention. See: Lom Convention.
African Development Bank - AfDB (French: Banque Africaine de Dveloppement)
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-two African countries are members and ordinarily receive
loans. The African Development Bank comprises the AfDB as well as the African
Development Fund and the Nigeria Trust Fund. The Bank was established in August
1963 (began operations in July 1966), with headquarters in Abidjan, Cote
d'Ivoire. See: African Development Foundation, African Development Fund,
African Export-Import Bank, Development Fund for Africa and Nigeria Trust Fund.
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 individuals. ADF is
a U.S. public corporation which was established by Congress in 1980 (became
operational in 1984); headquarters are in Washington, D.C. See: African
Development Fund and Development Fund for Africa.
African Development Fund - The ADF (or AfDF) (French: Fonds Africain de
Dveloppement, 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 of
the AfDB. The Fund was established in July 1972 and commenced operations in
1973. See: African Development Bank.
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, central banks,
regional and sub-regional financial institutions and other organizations. Bank
headquarters are located in Cairo, Egypt.
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 subsidiaries of international
companies. The company was established in 1989 by the International Finance
Corporation; headquarters are in Amsterdam, Netherlands. AMSCO is funded by the
United Nations Development Program, the International Finance Corporation, the
African Development Fund, the African Development Bank, development institutions
in several European countries, and private sector investors.
African Regional Organization for Standardization - ARSO (French:
Organisation Rgionale 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
nine areas: (a) general standards, (b) agricultural and food products, (c)
building and civil engineering, (d) mechanical engineering and metallurgy, (e)
chemistry and chemical engineering, (f) electrotechnology, (g) textiles, (h)
transport and communications, and (i) environmental products and pollution
control. ARSO is also seeking adoption of a regional certification marking
scheme and establisment of a laboratory accreditation program. ARSO was
established in 1977; its headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya. ARSO membership is
restricted to official representatives of member governments.
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 to
private African entrepreneurs in preparing viable projects, works with the
entrepreneurs to secure financing, and helps them obtain technical and
managerial assistance to start their projects. APDF was established in 1986 as a
United Nations Development Programme project -- with the International Finance
Corporation as executing agency and the African Development Bank as regional
sponsor. The facility maintains offices in
Nairobi (Kenya), Harare (Zimbabwe), and Abidjan (Cte d'Ivoire).
Agence de Coopration 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, Chad, Comoros, Congo,
Djibouti, Dominica, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Cte d'Ivoire, Lebanon,
Luxembourg, Mali, Mauritius, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo,
Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam, and Zaire. ACCT also includes seven associate
members: Cameroon, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Mauritania, Morocco, and Saint
Lucia. Agency headquarters are in Paris, France.
Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation - See: Agence de Coopration
Culterelle et Technique.
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.
Agent - See Foreign sales agent.
Agriculture Information System - AGRIS, coordinated under the
auspices of the Food and Agricultural Organization, is an international
cooperative bibliographic database on agricultural research, production,
science, and technology. Participating countries contribute information for
inclusion in AGRIS. See: National Agricultural Library.
Agrment - Agreement by one government
to accept the accreditation of an ambassador from another government.
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 specification that can be
certified. The requirements for USDA certification can be made apart of the
purchase contract.
Agricultural Officers - 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 market information, one-on-one consultations, and
facilitative contacts with foreign buyers and by sponsoring trade events, such
as shows, trade missions, and seminars.
Agricultural OnLine Access - See: National Agricultural Library.
Agricultural Trade and Marketing Information Center - See: National
Agricultural Library.
Agricultural Trade Offices - See Foreign Agricultural Service.
Aide-Mmoire - A short written summary of oral remarks made to a foreign
government representative and left with that
individual.
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. is a consortium of four West
European producers -- Arospatiale (France), Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
(Germany), British Aerospace Airbus Ltd. (United Kingdom), and Construcciones
Aeron uticas S.A. (Spain) -- established as a groupement d'intrt conomique
(G.I.E.) under French law.
Air waybill - A bill of lading that covers both domestic and international flights transporting goods to a specified destination. This is a nonnegotiable instrument of air transport that serves as a receipt for the shipper, indicating that the carrier has accepted the goods listed and obligates itself to carry the consignment to the airport of destination according to specified conditions. Compare Inland bill of lading, Ocean
bill of lading, and Through bill of lading.
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."
All Risks Coverage - a type of marine insurance providing the broadest kind
of standard coverage, but excludes damage caused by war, strikes, and
riots. See: Marine Cargo Insurance.
Alongside - The side of a ship. Goods to be delivered "alongside" are to be placed on the dock or barge within reach of the transport ship's tackle so that they can be loaded aboard the ship.
Ambassador - See: Title and Rank.
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, and assistance in making
business contacts. An ABC operates in Bratislava, Slovakia under the direction
of the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration in cooperation
with the Agency for International Development. Additional centers are being
opened in Russia, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.
American Business Initiative - The ABI, or American Business and Private
Sector Development Initiative for Eastern Europe, emphasizes the export of
American telecommunications, energy, environment, housing, and agriculture
products and services to Eastern European countries.
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.
American Institute in Taiwan - The AIT is a non-profit corporation that
represents U.S. commercial, 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 China as the sole legal
government of China. AIT was authorized to continue commercial, cultural and
other relations between the United States and Taiwan. AIT headquarters are
located in Arlington, Virginia; constituent offices are in Taipei and Kaohsiung,
Taiwan. See: Coordination Council for North American Affairs.
Andean Development Corporation - See: Andean Group.
Andean Group - The Andean Group (Spanish: Grupo Andino; sometimes referred to
as Pacto Andino or C¢rporation 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 American countries which promotes regional
economic integration and political cooperation among themselves. Members include
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela; Chile withdrew in January 1976.
Headquarters are in Lima, Peru.
The Corporaci¢n Andina de Foment¢, CAF (English: Andean Development
Corporation) supports economic integration among members of the Andean Group by
encouraging specialization, distribution of investments and by providing
financial and technical help. The CAF was founded in 1968, began operations in
1970; headquarters are in Caracas, Venezuela.
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 members' monetary policies.
Headquarters are in Bogota, Colombia.
Andean Trade Initiative - The ATI is the trade element in U.S. drug
policy. See: Andean Trade Preference Act.
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 production by offering broader
access to the U.S. market. The Act also seeks to stimulate investment in
nontraditional sectors and to diversify the Andean countries' export base. The
primary provision of the program is expanded duty-free entry into the United
States. The Administration must determine each country's eligibility based on
criteria set forth in the Act. Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru have been
designated as beneficiaries. The ATPA became effective in December 1991 and is
due to expire in December 2001. The Act requires periodic assessments of the
impact of the trade preferences by the U.S. International Trade Commission and
the U.S. Department of Labor.
Annex - See: International Agreements.
Antidiversion clause - See Destination control statement.
Antidumping - a reference to the system of laws to remedy
dumping, is defined as a converse of dumping. See: Dumping.
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 duties
assessed and paid.
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 value of such or similar
merchandise at the time the merchandise was sold to the United States. See: Tariff act of 1930.
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. See: Tariff Act of 1930.
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. See: Tariff Act of
1930.
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 establishment of, a
United States industry Commerce regulations (19 CFR 353) and International Trade
Commission regulations (19 CFR 207) specify the information a petition should
contain. See: Tariff Act of 1930.
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 AAIB was established
in 1981 to facilitate the financing of trade between North America and the
Middle East. AAIB headquarters are in Cairo.
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa - The ABEDA (French: Banque
Arabe pour le Dveloppement 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.
Members include: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunesia, the
United Arab Emirates, and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Bank
headquarters are in Khartoum, Sudan.
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 of the Arab Maghreb Union.
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,
the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The
Fund, associated with the League of Arab States, started operations in February
1972; headquarters are in Safat, Kuwait.
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 Emirates, as well as the Central
Bank of Egypt, and the Libyan Arab Foreign Bank.
Arab League - See: League of Arab States.
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 Cooperation Council states in a
common market.
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 capital markets, (c) stabilizing
exchange rates, and (d) eliminating payments and trade restrictions. Members
include: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia,
the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The
Fund was created in 1976 (began operating in April 1977); headquarters are in
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. See: Arab Trade Financing Program.
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.
Arbitrage - The process of buying foreign exchange, stocks, bonds, and other commodities in one market and immediately selling them in another market at higher prices.
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-proliferation perspective -- anything that could impact
on the proliferation of missiles, chemical and biological weapons, and nuclear
weapons. ACDA's positions need not be consonant with those of State. The Agency
was created in 1961, has about 200-to-250 staff, and has a fairly substantial
and growing technology transfer and export control function. The Director is the
principal arms control adviser to the Secretary of State, the President and the
NSC on conventional arms transfer, commercial sales of munitions; nuclear,
missile, chemical and biological warfare; East-West military munitions issues,
CoCom, and negotiating MOUs with the 3rd world on strategic trade.
Asian dollars - U.S. dollars deposited in Asia and the Pacific Basin.
Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits - 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; it
does not apply to strictly private credit. For example, the Arrangement
specifies how governments relate the interest rate on their export credits to
market levels. Though informal and non-enforceable, Arrangement guidelines are
regularly observed by the 22 OECD member governments that are
"Participants" to the agreement.
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 years of its start date of January
1994. Manufactured goods from 15 sectors designated as "fast
track" are subject to tariff reduction to 0-5 percent within 10 years, and
seven years if the starting rates were already below 20 percent. "Fast
track" sectors include vegetable oils, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
fertilizer, plastics, rubber products, leather
products, pulp, textiles, ceramic and glass products, gems and jewelry, copper
cathodes, electronics, and wooden and tartan furniture. See: Association
of Southeast Asian Nations.
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, the Peoples' Republic of China, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam
have expressed interest in membership. The Union was established in 1974;
headquarters are in Tehran, Iran.
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 (ADF). The ADB was
established in 1965 (began operating in December 1966); headquarters are in
Manila, Philippines. See: Asian Development
Fund.
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. See: Asian
Development Bank.
Asian Dollars - See: Eurodollars.
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, Philippines, Singapore,
and Thailand), plus: Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand,
South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States.
Assessment - The imposition of antidumping duties on imported
merchandise. See: Tariff Act of 1930.
Asociaci¢n Latinoamericana de Institutiones Financieras de Desarrollo - See:
Latin American Association of Development Financing Institutions.
Association des Banques Centrales Africaines - See: Association of Central
African Banks.
Asociaci¢n Latinoamericana de Integraci¢n - See: Latin American Integration
Association.
Association of African Development Finance Institutions - AADFI (French:
Association des Institutions Africaines de Financement du Dveloppement, AIAFD)
promotes cooperative financing for social development in Africa and economic
integration. The Association was established in March 1975; headquarters are in
Abidjan, Cte d'Ivoire.
Association of African Trade Promotion Organizations - AATPO promotes
inter-African trade, harmonization of commercial policies, 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 Organization for
African Unity and the African Development Bank; headquarters are in Tangier,
Morocco.
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 in 1968; headquarters are
in Dakar, Senegal.
Association of Coffee Producing Countries - See: International Coffee
Agreement.
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
examination and discussion of questions relating to the secondary market in
Eurosecurities, to issues rules governing their functions, and to maintain a
close liaison between the primary and secondary markets in Eurosecurities. IABD
was established in 1969; headquarters are in Zurich, Switzerland.
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 agreed to
create a free trade area, ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). See: ASEAN Free
Trade Area.
ATA Carnet - See Carnet.
Attache - See: Title and Rank.
Ausfuhrkredit-Gesellschaft - AKA (English: Export Credit Establishment) is an
association of German banks which provide medium and long-term funding for
exports.
Ausstellungs- 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 and receives no government funds to support
its general operations. The government may provide funds for special projects,
such as research. AUMA also collects and distributes information to German firms
on trade fairs worldwide.
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 1986, was attended by Australia, Canada,
Japan, New Zealand, the United States, and those nations that were then members
of the European Community. Membership has expanded to include Norway, Portugal,
Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Argentina, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, and
representatives of the European Commission, the European Community's executive
arm.
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 processing companies referred
to as service centers.
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 check for payment of estimated
duties, taxes, and fees on imported merchandise.
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 computer. Trade
users file import data electronically, receive needed information on cargo
status, and query Customs files to prepare submissions. Duties, taxes, and fees
may be paid by electronic statement, through a Treasury-approved clearinghouse
bank. ACS contains the import data used by Census to prepare U.S. foreign trade
statistics. ACS began operating in February 1984 and includes: (a) the Automated
Broker Interface, (b) the Census Interface System, (c) the Automated Manifest
Systems, (d) the Bond System, (e) the In-Bond System, (f) the Cargo Selectivity
System, (g) the Line Release System, (h) the Collections System, (i) the
Security System, (j) the Quota System, (k) the Entry Summary Selectivity System,
(l) the Entry Summary System, (m) the Automated Information Exchange, (n) the
Antidumping/Countervailing Duty System, (o) the Firms System, (p) the
Liquidation System, (q) the Drawback System, (r) the Fines, Penalties, and
Forfeitures System, and (s) the Protest System.
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 entry and analysis.
AERP was expanded in 1982 to allow freight forwarders, and again in 1985 to
allow ocean carriers, to file electronically. At the
beginning of fiscal year 1994, about 220 firms -- accounting for 350,000 to
400,000 records a month -- were participating in AERP. The program is
administered by the Automated Data Reporting Branch, Foreign Trade Division,
Bureau of the Census. Telephone: 301-763-7774. See: Shipper's Export
Declaration.
Automated Information Exchange - AIES, a part of Customs' Automated
Commercial System, allows for exchange classification and value information
between field units and headquarters.
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.
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, with arrangements through the local SBA district
office. ATLAS, which became operational in Spring 1993, replaced SBA's export
information system (XIS).
Autorit du Bassin du Neiger - See: Niger Basin Authority.
Back to Top
- B -
Balance of trade - The difference between a country's total imports and exports. If exports exceed imports, a favorable balance of trade exists; if not, a trade deficit is said to exist.
The seven balances that are currently published quarterly by
the Bureau of Economic Analysis are:
- the balance on merchandise trade, which measures the net
transfer of merchandise exports and imports;
- the balance on services, which measures the net transfer of
services, such as travel, other transportation, and business, professional,
and other technical services (this balance was redefined in 1990 to exclude
investment income);
- the balance on goods and services, which measures the sum
of the balance on merchandise trade and the balance on services;
- the balance on investment income, which measures the net
transfer income on direct and portfolio investments;
- the balance on goods, services, and income, which measures
the net transfer of merchandise plus services and income on direct and
portfolio investment (this balance is equivalent to the pre-1990 balance on
goods and services; it is also conceptually comparable to net exports of
goods and services included in GNP);
- the balance on unilateral transfers (net), which measures
the net value of gifts, contributions, government grants to foreign
countries, and other unrequited transfers;
- the balance on current account (widely used for analysis
and forecasting) which measures transactions in goods, services, income, and
unilateral transfers between residents and nonresidents.
Balance on ...
- Current account;
- Goods, services, and income;
- Investment income;
- Merchandise trade;
- Services;
- Unilateral transfers
See: Balance of Payments.
Banco Centroamericano de Integraci¢n Econ¢mico - See: Central American Bank
for Economic Integration.
Banco Interamericano de Desarollo - See: Inter-American Development Bank.
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 finance
specific trade transactions for their customers. The bank was incorporated in
1978 (began operations in January 1979); headquarters are in Panama City,
Panama. Shareholders includes Latin American central and commercial banks,
international commercial banks, and the International Finance Corporation.
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 and medium-term credits (up to five years) for imporation
of capital goods. Headquarters are in Mexico City.
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 interests of the debtor country's banking industry, develop retructuring
plans which the committee proposes to their government. The debtor country
government, in turn, proposes the plan to foreign lending governments.
See: London Club.
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.
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, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and
Yugoslavia. Bank headquarters are in Basle, Switzerland.
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.)
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.
Bank of Central African States - The bank (French: Banque des tats 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 participates in
management of the bank and provides guarantees for the currency. BEAC was
established in April 1973; headquarters are in Yaound, Cameroon.
Bank Release - Negotiable time draft drawn on and accepted by a bank which
adds its credit to that of an importer of merchandise.
Bankers Acceptance - A short-term credit investment created by a non-financial firm and guaranteed by a bank to make payment.
Acceptances are traded at discounts from face value in the secondary market.
Banker's Bank - A bank that is established by mutual consent by independent
and unaffiliated banks to provide a clearinghouse for financial transactions.
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.
Banque Arabe pour le Dveloppement Economique en Afrique - See: Arab Bank for
Economic Development in Africa.
Banque Centrale des tats 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, Cte d'Ivoire, Mali,
Niger, Senegal, and Togo.
Banque de Dveloppement des tats de l'Afrique Centrale - See: Central African
States Development Bank.
Banque de Dveloppement des tats du Grand Lac - See: Development Bank of the
Great Lakes States.
Banque des tats de l'Afrique Centrale - See:
Bank of Central African States.
Banque Franaise du Commerce Extrieur - 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 French
government. BFCE services include: (a) offering fixed-rate interim credit and
payment plans during the manufacture of goods or performance of services; (b)
providing endorsements to gain access to refinancing and special low-interest
loans and rediscounting the available portion of such credit with the Banque du
France; and (c) using funds borrowed in France and overseas under State
guarantees to finance buyer credits running more than seven years as well as
refinancing supplier credits for the same term. BFCE also manages Treasury
guarantees on French overseas investment. - See:
Compagnie Franaise d'Assurance pour le Commerce Extrieur.
Banque Quest-Africaine de Dveloppement - See: West African Development Bank.
Barter - Trade in which merchandise is exchanged directly for other merchandise without use of money. Barter is an important means of trade with countries using currency that is not readily convertible.
See Countertrade.
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 treaty before it goes into effect.
Beneficiary - The person in whose favor a letter of credit is issued or a draft is drawn.
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.
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 association's aims do not conflict with EC goals.
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 best information
available. Determinations of BIA may be made on a case-by-case basis; in
some cases, it may be information submitted be petitioners.
Bill of exchange - See Draft.
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 accounting units expressed
in major currencies -- such as clearing U.S. dollars, clearing Swiss frances,
etc. Exporters in each country are paid by designated local banks in
domestic currencies.
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 regard to nationality. BITs
ensure the right to make investment-related transfers, and guarantee that
expropriation takes place only in accordance with accepted international law.
BITs also guarantee access by an investing party to impartial and binding
international arbitration for dispute settlement.
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.
Bill of lading - A document that establishes the terms of a contract between a shipper and a transportation company under which freight is to be moved between specified points for a specified charge. Usually prepared by the shipper on forms issued by the carrier, it serves as a document of title, a contract of carriage, and a receipt for goods. Also see Air waybill, Inland bill of lading, Ocean bill of lading, and Through bill of lading.
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 the export of
certain biological agents are generally referred to the Department of State and
the intelligence community on a case-by-case basis.
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 includes prelicense and
postshipment checks of export applications conducted by designated officials at
U.S. embassies. Blue Lantern was initiated in September 1990 by the State
Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls
Bonded Exchange - Exchange which cannot be freely converted into other
currencies.
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 by law or regulation. The bond
covers potential loss of duties, taxes, and penalties for specific types of
transactions. Customs is the contract beneficiary.
Bonded Warehouses (US) - 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.
Bonded warehouse - A warehouse authorized by customs authorities for storage of goods on which payment of duties is deferred until the goods are removed.
Booking - An arrangement with a steamship company for the acceptance and carriage of freight.
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 system
is used for the land-border environment.
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 border states and
local communities in coordinating, designing, and financing environmental
infrastructure projects with cross-border impact. To be eligible, projects must
observe the environmental laws for the place where the project is located or
carried out. The BECC will certify projects to the North American Development
Bank (NADBank) and will seek to mobilize financing from the NADBank, federal,
state, and local grants, loans, and guarantees, and the private sector.
- See: North American Development Bank.
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.
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 representatives; the chairman
is an industrialist, the Chief Executive is a member of DTI. The export
departments of the BOTB's regional offices work together with commercial staff
from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to provide commercial assistance
through UK overseas offices.
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 tariff of
the European Community.
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.
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 minimum reserve requirements. Bank headquarters are
in Frankfurt, Germany.
Bundesstelle fr Aussenhandelsinformation - See: Bundesministerium fr
Wirtschaft.
Bundesministerium fr 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 fr Aussenhandelsinformation,
BfAi), the government's primary agency for gathering and disseminating
information. BfAi collects and distributes market information through a
worldwide network.
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. The
BIE divides international expositions into different categories and types and
requires each member nation to observe specified minimum time intervals in
scheduling each of these categories and types of operations. Under BIE rules,
member nations may not ordinarily participate in an international exposition
unless the exposition has been approved by the BIE. The United States became a
member of the BIE in April 1968. Federal participation in a recognized
international exposition requires specific authorization by the Congress, based
on the President's finding that participation is in the national interest.
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 appointment and again in midtour for briefings with top management of
companies active or interested in the diplomat's country of assignment. While
originally focused exclusively on U.S. diplomats, BCIU now also sponsors
discussions with visiting Chiefs of Government, Ministers of Finance and
Industry, Central Bank Governors, and other foriegn officials.
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 Industrial Security.
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.
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.
Business Information Service for the Newly Independent 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, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan). BISNIS provides information
on trade regulations and legislation, defense conversion opportunities,
commercial opportunities, market data, sources of financing, government and
industry contacts, and U.S. government programs supporting trade and investment
in the region. BISNIS, established in June 1992, maintains a 24-hour
automated flashfax system through which U.S. companies can receive information
on doing business in the NIS via fax (202-482-3145).
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 suppliers, (b) establishing local
content requirements of anything up to 100% of the value of the product, (c)
extending preferential terms to domestic suppliers, and (d) setting up of
manufacturing or assembly facilities in the United States. The BAA contains four
exceptions which permit an executive agency to procure foreign materials when:
(a) items are for use outside the United States, (b) domestic items are not
available, (c) procurement of domestic items is determined to be inconsistent
with the public interest, and (d) the cost of domestic items is determined to be
unreasonable. The Trade Act of 1979 (which addressed implementation of the Tokyo
Round) waives the BAA for certain designated countries which grant reciprocal
access to U.S. suppliers.
Buyback - See: Countertrade.
Buying agent - See Purchasing agent.
Back to Top
-
- C -
Cabotage - A law which requires coastal and intercoastal traffic to be
carried by vessels belonging to the country owning the coast.
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.
Caisse Centrale de Coopration 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.
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.
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.
Canadian International Development Agency - CIDA (French: Agence Canadienne
de Dveloppement 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.
Capital Account - See: Balance of Payments.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Carnet - A customs
document permitting the holder to carry or send merchandise
temporarily into certain foreign countries (for display,
demonstration, or similar purposes) without paying duties or
posting bonds.
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.
Cartagena Agreement - See: Andean Pact.
Cartagena Group - See: Group of Eleven.
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.
Cash against documents (CAD) - Payment for goods in which a commission house or other intermediary transfers title documents to the buyer upon payment in cash.
Cash in advance (CIA) - Payment for goods in which the price is paid in full before shipment is made. This method is usually used only for small purchases or when the goods are built to order.
Cash with order (CWO) - Payment for goods in which the buyer pays when ordering and in which the transaction is binding on both parties.
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.
Category Groups - Groupings of controlled products - See:
Export Control Classification Number.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Central African Customs and Economic Union - The Central
African Customs and Economic Union (French: Union Douanire
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.
Central African States Development Bank - The Central
Africa States Development Bank (French: Banque de
Dveloppement des tats 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.
Central American Bank for Economic Integration - CABEI
(Spanish: Banco Centroamericano de Integraci¢n Econ¢mico,
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.
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.
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.
Centre Europen 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.
Centre Franais du Commerce Extrieur - See: Direction des
Relations Economiques Extrieures.
Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical - See:
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.
Certificate of Delivery - See: Delivery Verification
Certificate.
Certificate of inspection - A document certifying that merchandise (such as perishable goods) was in good condition immediately prior to its shipment.
For additional information, please see:
Preshipment Inspection.
Certificate of manufacture - A statement (often notarized) in which a producer of goods certifies that manufacture has been completed and that the goods are now at the disposal of the buyer.
Certificate of origin - A document, required by certain foreign countries for tariff purposes, certifying the country of origin of specified goods. For additional information, please see:
NAFTA Certicficate of Origin.
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.
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.
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.
Chambre de Cooperation de l'Afrique de l'Ouest - See: West African Clearing
House.
Charg d'affaires - See: Title and Rank.
CFR - Cost and freight. A pricing term indicating that the cost of the goods and freight charges are included in the quoted price; the buyer arranges for and pays insurance.
Charter party - A written contract, usually on a special form, between the owner of a vessel and a
"charterer" who rents use of the vessel or a part of its freight space. The contract generally includes
the freight rates and the ports involved in the transportation.
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.
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.
Chinese Economic Area - The CEA is an informal reference to the economic
integration of Southern China with Hong Kong and Taiwan which has proceeded
without any "arrangement."
CIF - Cost, insurance, freight. A pricing term indicating that the cost of the goods, insurance, and freight are included in the quoted price.
Class or Kind of Merchandise - A term used in
defining the scope of an antidumping investigation. Included in the
"class or kind" of merchandize is merchandise sold in the home market
which is "such or similar" to the petitioned product. "Such or
similar" merchandise is that merchandise which is identical to or like the
petitioned product in physical characteristics. See: Tariff Act of 1930.
Clean bill of lading - A receipt for goods issued by a carrier that indicates that the goods were received in "apparent good order and condition," without damages or other irregularities. Compare Foul bill of lading.
Clean draft - A draft to which no documents have been attached.
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.
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.
CoCom - See: Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls.
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).
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.
Collection papers - All documents (commercial invoices, bills of lading, etc.) submitted to a buyer
for the purpose of receiving payment for a shipment.
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.
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.
Commercial attache - The commerce expert on the diplomatic staff of his or her country's embassy or large consulate.
Commercial invoice - An itemized list of goods shipped, usually included among an exporter's collection papers.
For more information, please see:
How to Create Proforma Invoices.
Comision Economica para America Latiana y el Caribe
- See: United Nations Regional Commissions.
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, standardized 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.
Comision Economica para America Latina y el Caribe - See: United Nations
Regional Commissions.
Commission Economique pour l'Europe - See: United Nations Regional
Commissions -- Economic Commission for Europe.
Comit Consultatif International des Radiocommunications - See: International
Radio Consultative Committee.
Comit Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique - See:
International Telegraphic and Telephone Consultative Committee.
Comit 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.
Comit Permanent Intertats de Lutte contre la Scheresse dan le Sahel See:
Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel.
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.
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:
- materials
- materials processing
- electronics
- computers
- telecommunications and cryptography
- sensors
- avionics and navigation
- marine technology
- propulsion systems and transportation equipment
- miscellaneous.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Commission agent - See Purchasing agent.
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.
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.
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).
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 Industrial Security, 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.
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.
Commodity Control List - See: Commerce Control List.
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.
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.
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 Industrial Security 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.
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.
Common carrier - An individual, partnership, or corporation that transports persons or goods for compensation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 following sectors: agriculture
(livestock, horticulture, and acquaculture), forestry, fishing, mineral
extraction, industry, public utilities, 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.
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.
Communaut Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest - See: West African Economic
Community.
Communaut Economique des tats de l'Afrique Centrale - See: Economic Community
of Central African States.
Communaut Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs - See: Economic Community of
the Great Lakes Countries.
Communauts Europenes - 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. For further information, please see:
CE Mark.
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.
Compagnie Franaise d'Assurance pour le Commerce Extrieur - 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 Franaise du Commerce Extrieur 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 Franaise du Commerce Extrieur.
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.
Composite Currency Peg - See: Exchange Rate Classifications.
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.
COMPRO - 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.
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.
Conference Europenne des Administrations des Postes et des Tlcommunications -
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.
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.
Confirmed letter of credit - A letter of credit, issued by a foreign bank, the validity of which has been confirmed by a domestic bank. An exporter whose payment terms are a confirmed letter of credit is assured of payment by the domestic bank even if the foreign buyer or the foreign bank defaults. See Letter of credit.
Confirming - 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.
Confirming Bank - the bank that undertakes the responsibility of payment in an
irrevocable confirmed letter of credit transaction.
Conformit Europene - 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 to Community-wide "new-approach" directives. See:
European Norm. For additional information, please see our companion guide:
CE Mark.
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 the consignee has sold them. The consignee sells the goods for commission and remits the net
proceeds to the consignor.
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.
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 Independent 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.
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.
Consular declaration - A formal statement, made to the consul of a foreign country, describing goods to be shipped.
Consular Information Sheet - See: Travel Advisory
Program
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 |
