Glossary & Reference

Quick, plain-English reference for the shipping, contract, and customs terminology you'll run into sourcing from China — without the circular definitions.

Incoterms Explained

EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP, and the rest of the Incoterms 2020 rules that define who's responsible for what, and when.

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HTS Codes Explained

What a Harmonized Tariff Schedule code is, how it determines your duty rate, and where to look one up.

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Common Sourcing Terms

MOQ, OEM, ODM, T/T, L/C, AQL, FCL/LCL, and the other shorthand you'll see constantly in supplier communication.

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