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Documents in an Export Transaction
Export documentation is required for U.S. exporters and freight forwarders.  

Documents in an Export Transaction

Documents in an Export Transaction

Download Video: Exporting Basics - Export Documentation
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The number and kinds of documents that the exporter must produce vary according to the destination and type of shipment. Because each country has its own set of import regulations, the exporter must take care to find out, well in advance, what documents will be required for the shipment of goods to clear customs in another country. It’s best to ask the foreign importer what documents are required in his or her country for up-to-date foreign import requirements and verification. 

Discrepancies or omissions in documentation may result in the export of merchandise being delayed, may result in nonpayment, or even result in the seizure of the exporter’s goods by the U.S. or foreign customs officials. Collection documents are subject to precise time limits, and may not be honored by a bank if the date has expired. Most documentation is routinely prepared by freight forwarders and customs brokers, but, as the exporter, you are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of the documents. 

It’s important to understand what documents are required for a shipment and why they are required. Another option is to have a freight forwarder prepare documents for your exports. 
 

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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