A-1: First Class Condition.
A.A.R.: Against all Risks.
ABANDONED GOODS: Articles declared by an importer, consignee, or representative to be abandoned and therefore the property of the U.S. Government. Also applies to goods left too long in a bonded warehouse and therefore becomes the property of the U.S. Government. (19CFR127.11-127.13)
ABI: Automated Broker Interface
ACCELERATED DISPOSITION: A formal supplication to the district director requesting that the review be hastened and a response received within the allotted time. (19CFR174.22)
ACCEPT/REJECT ADVISE: A standard notice sent to vendors advising that a shipment has been accepted or rejected.
ACCEPTANCE: An agreement to purchase goods at a stated price and under stated terms.
ACCOUNT: An individual, institution, or organization that purchases a company's products, or the general category of customer service as listed on the company books.
ACCRUAL: The accounts maintained for services rendered, or the sum of the amount due.
ACH: Automated Clearing House
ACQUIESCENCE: When a bill of lading is accepted or signed by a shipper or his agent without protest as to the conditions which appear thereon, silent consent is assumed.
ACTUAL USE: When the classification of an article is dependent upon its actual use after importation. (19CFR10.137)
AD. VALOREM: (According to value) A tariff calculated as a percentage of the value of goods cleared through Customs.
ADDED VALUE: A term implying that at each production and distribution function, a product's value is increased in terms of time, place, and form.
ADJUSTER: An individual charged with the responsibility of determining if a particular loss is covered by the insurance policy and, if so, the amount which should be paid to the claimant.
ADVANCE: An agreed percentage applied against a total.
ADVICE SHIPMENT: A form provided by the shipper to a freight forwarder that contains shipping instructions.
AES: Automated Export System
A.E.V.: Articles of extraordinary value.
AFFREIGHTMENT, CONTRACT OF: An agreement by the steamship line to provide cargo space on a vessel at a specified price to accommodate an exporter or importer, who then becomes liable for payment even though he is later unable to make the shipment.
AGENT: One who negotiates contracts, or acts in the legal capacity of another party.
AGGRAVATING FACTORS: Factors which when proven to exist, increase the severity of a penalty. (19CFR171)
AIR CARGO: Any property carried or to be carried in an aircraft, not including passenger baggage.
AIR CARGO GUIDE: Basic reference publication for shipping freight by air. It contains current domestic and international cargo flight schedules, including pure cargo, wide body and combination passenger-air cargo flights. Each monthly issue contains information on air carriers' special services, labeling, airline and aircraft decodings, air carriers and freight forwarders directory, cargo charter information, US and Canadian city directory small package service, interline air freight agreements, aircraft loading charts and more.
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION: The trade and service organization of the U.S. scheduled airlines. TA acts on behalf of the airlines to serve the Government and public in activities ranging from improvement in air safety to planning for the airlines' role in national defense.
AIR TRANSPORT COMMITTEE: A Canadian government agency responsible for the economic and general welfare of air transport within Canada.
AIR WAYBILL: A bill of lading issued by the airline acknowledging receipt of merchandise and indicating conditions of cartage.
AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATION: Documentation to show that aircraft or components comply with all the airworthiness requirements related to its use as laid down by the regulatory authorities of the country in which the aircraft is registered.
ALL RISK CLAUSE: An insurance provision that all loss or damage to goods is insured except those self caused.
ANTI-DUMPING CLAUSE: A special tariff imposed to discourage the sale of foreign goods in the U.S. at prices below what they sell for in the home market.
APPARENT GOOD ORDER: When freight or inventory appears to be free of damage and in proper condition as far as can be determined from a general survey.
APPRAISEMENT: The act of reaching a conclusion concerning the value for customs purposes of imported merchandise.
ARBITRAGE: The practice of exchanging the currency of one country for that of another or a series of countries to gain an advantage from the differences in exchange rates.
ARBITRATION CLAUSE: A clause in a contract outlining the method under which disputes will be settled.
ARRIVAL NOTICE: A document sent to a consignee or their agent by a carrier informing them that a shipment has arrived.
A/S: After sight Term of sale. Payment due upon arrival.
ASSET: A property of tangible value.
ASSIST: Technical instructions for manufacture or materials, parts, tools, dies, molds, merchandise consumed in the production, etc., supplied directly or indirectly, and free of charge or at a reduced cost by the buyer for use in connection with the production or the sale for export to the U.S..
A.T.A.: American Trucking Association.
A.T.A. CARNET: An international Customs document that is recognized as an internationally valid guarantee. It may be used in lieu of national Customs documents and as security for import duties and taxes to cover the temporary admission of goods.
AT SIGHT: A payment term meaning that a negotiable instrument is to be paid upon presentation or demand.
AUDIT TRAIL: The routine of inspecting to ensure that all functions adhere to a stated standard.
AUTHORITY TO PAY: An advice from the buyer's bank to the seller's bank authorizing the seller's bank to pay the seller's draft up to a given amount. The seller has no protection against cancellation or modification of the instrument until the issuing bank makes the payment on the draft drawn on it.
AUTHORITY TO PURCHASE: Similar to above except the seller's drafts are drawn directly on the buyer. The buyer's bank purchases them with or without recourse to the drawer.