Actually, there's no need to overcomplicate it—they are simply internationally accepted standards for delivery, transportation, and settlement methods.

Today, in the most accessible way possible, we'll help you understand all 8 commonly used trade terms in one go. Suitable for foreign trade professionals, cross-border sellers, and logistics practitioners to reference and learn from. Useful for daily quotations, order taking, and shipping

The seller only needs to have the goods ready at their factory or agreed warehouse and complete the delivery

After the goods leave the factory, pickup, loading, export customs declaration, international transportation, destination port customs clearance, taxes, and final delivery are all arranged and borne by the buyer

The seller is responsible for transporting the goods to the domestic port, completing export customs clearance, and loading them onto the designated vessel.

Once the goods are loaded and shipped, all subsequent processes including ocean shipping, destination port customs clearance, and delivery are the buyer's responsibility.

卖方负责出口报关、国内段操作、货物装船，并承担至目的港的主干海运运费

需重点区分：该条款仅包干运费，不包含海运保险。货物装船后，海上运输风险、货损风险、投保义务、目的港清关税费，均由买方承担

The seller covers customs clearance and ocean freight, and additionally purchases a marine insurance policy.

It is a more comprehensive delivery method in sea freight, suitable for general cargo foreign trade orders

It should be noted that: the seller purchasing insurance and paying freight does not mean bearing the risks throughout the entire process. After the goods are loaded on board, transportation risks, cargo damage liability, destination port compliance, and taxes are still borne by the buyer

The seller completes formal export customs clearance and delivers the goods to the logistics carrier designated by the buyer, thereby fulfilling the delivery obligation.

After the goods are handed over to the carrier, all transport risks, transit risks, overseas customs clearance, and tax liabilities are fully transferred to the buyer.

The seller is responsible for export customs clearance and the entire international transport, delivering the goods to the overseas destination designated by the buyer. The seller bears all transport risks until the goods arrive at the destination.

Import customs clearance in the destination country, import tariffs, VAT, and all local miscellaneous charges are the buyer's responsibility to handle and pay.

The seller is responsible for the entire process: export, sea/air freight, destination country customs clearance, tax payment, and last-mile delivery.

The buyer only needs to receive the goods. It is currently the most commonly used shipping method for cross-border e-commerce and FBA.

Its original rights and responsibilities are completely identical to the current DAP: the seller is responsible for the entire transport to the destination, and the buyer bears import customs clearance and taxes.

Actually, trade terms are not complicated. They are just used to unify the delivery standards between buyers and sellers. Once you understand these 8 terms, you will basically no longer get confused when taking orders, quoting prices, and shipping goods in daily work.