Legal & Trade Glossary

Trade & Legal Terms Dictionary

Comprehensive glossary of trade terminology, Incoterms, AfCFTA concepts, and legal definitions used in African B2B commerce.

20 terms found

A

AfCFTA

African Continental Free Trade Area - a free trade agreement among 54 African Union nations to create a single market for goods and services.

Related:Rules of OriginTariff EliminationTrade Facilitation
trade
B

Bill of Lading

A legal document issued by a carrier to acknowledge receipt of cargo for shipment. It serves as a receipt, contract of carriage, and document of title.

Related:Freight ForwarderConsignmentCarrier
shipping
C

Certificate of Origin

A document declaring in which country a commodity or good was manufactured, used to determine tariff rates and eligibility for preferential treatment.

Related:AfCFTARules of OriginCustoms Clearance
trade

CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight)

An Incoterm where the seller delivers goods on board the vessel and pays costs and freight to bring goods to the port of destination.

Related:FOBEXWDDP
incoterms

Customs Clearance

The process of getting goods through customs so they can enter or leave a country, including documentation, duties, and inspections.

Related:TariffHS CodeImport Duty
trade
D

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)

An Incoterm where the seller bears all costs and risks to deliver goods to the buyer's premises, including import duties.

Related:CIFFOBEXW
incoterms
E

Escrow

A financial arrangement where a third party holds and regulates payment between two parties until the transaction is completed.

Related:Trade AssurancePayment ProtectionLetter of Credit
payments

EXW (Ex Works)

An Incoterm where the seller makes goods available at their premises. The buyer bears all costs and risks from that point.

Related:FOBCIFDDP
incoterms
F

FOB (Free On Board)

An Incoterm where the seller delivers goods on board the vessel nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment.

Related:CIFEXWDDP
incoterms

Freight Forwarder

A company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations, arranging transport from manufacturer to market.

Related:Bill of LadingCarrierLogistics
shipping
H

HS Code

Harmonized System Code - an international numerical method of classifying traded products used by customs authorities.

Related:TariffCustoms ClearanceClassification
trade
I

Incoterms

International Commercial Terms - standard trade terms published by ICC that define seller/buyer responsibilities in international trade.

Related:FOBCIFDDPEXW
incoterms
L

Letter of Credit

A bank guarantee that a buyer's payment to a seller will be received on time and for the correct amount.

Related:EscrowTrade FinanceBank Guarantee
payments
N

NDPR

Nigeria Data Protection Regulation - Nigeria's data protection law regulating collection and processing of personal data.

Related:GDPRData ProtectionPrivacy Policy
compliance
P

Proforma Invoice

A preliminary bill of sale sent to buyers before goods are delivered, detailing items and costs as an estimate.

Related:Commercial InvoicePurchase OrderQuotation
documents
R

RFQ (Request for Quotation)

A document used by buyers to request pricing and terms from potential suppliers for specific products or services.

Related:QuotationTenderBid
procurement

Rules of Origin

Criteria to determine the national source of a product, important for applying preferential tariff rates under trade agreements.

Related:AfCFTACertificate of OriginPreferential Tariff
trade
T

Tariff

A tax imposed on imported goods and services. Tariffs are used to restrict trade and generate revenue.

Related:HS CodeCustoms DutyImport Tax
trade

Trade Assurance

A protection service that safeguards buyers' orders from payment to delivery, ensuring quality and on-time shipment.

Related:EscrowBuyer ProtectionQuality Inspection
protection
V

Verified Supplier

A seller who has undergone verification of their business credentials, legal status, and trade capacity.

Related:Seller VerificationTrust BadgeBusiness License
trust