Glossary of Trade & Shipping Terms

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Glossary of Trade & Shipping Terms - C1

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C - Consulate
C&F - Cost and Freight
C&F Named Port - Cost and freight. All costs of goods and transportation to the named port are included in the price quoted. Buyer pays insurance while aboard ship up to overseas inland destination.
C. - Collected, Currency, Coupon, Coast
C. & D. - Collected and delivered
c. & f. - Cost and freight
c. & i. - Cost and insurance
C. &/or J. - China and/or Japan
C.&I. - Cost and insurance
C.A.C.T.L.V.O. - Compromised &/or arranged &/or constructive total loss of vessel only
C.A.D. - Cash against documents
C.B. & H. - Continent between Bordeaux and Hamburg
C.B.I. - Confederation of British Industry
C.C. - Current cost, Civil commotions, Cancellation clause, Continuation clause
C.C.I.S.G. - Convention Contracts of International Sale of Goods
C.C.S.A. - Collective company signing agreement
C.D. - Country damage
C.D.V. - Current domestic value
c.f. - Cubic feet. Carried forward
c.f.i. - Cost, freight and insurance
C.f.o. - Channel for orders. Coast for orders. Calling for orders
C.F.R. - Code of Federal Regulations (USA)
C.G.A. - Cargo's proportion of general average
C.G.S.A. - Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
C.H. & H. - Continent between Havre and Hamburg
C.I. - Consular Invoice
C.I.E. - Captain's imperfect entry (Customs). - c.i.f. - Cost, insurance and freight
c.i.f. & e. - Cost, insurance, freight and exchange
c.i.f.c.i. - Cost, insurance, freight, commission and interest
c.i.f.L.t. - Cost, insurance, and freight London terms
C.I.I. - Chartered Insurance Institute
C.K.D. - Completely knocked down
C.O.B. - Cargo on board
C.O.D. - Cash on delivery
C.P.A. - Claims payable abroad
c.p.d. - Charterers' pay dues
C.P.P. - Controllable Pitch Propellers
C.R. - Current rate, Company's risk, Carrier's risk
C.R.O. - Cancelling returns only
C.S.D. - Closed shelter deck
C.S.T. - Central standard time
c.t.l. - Constructive total loss
c.t.l.o. - Constructive total loss only
c.v. - Chief value
C.W. - Commercial weight
C/- - Case
C/D - Commercial dock. Consular declaration
c/i - Certificate of insurance
C/L - Craft loss
C/N - Consignment note. Cover note. Credit note
C/O - Certificate of origin. Cash order. Case oil
C/P - Charter Party, Custom of Port (grain trade)
c/s - Cases
CABEE - Consortia of American Businesses in Eastern Europe
CABEI - Central American Bank for Economic Integration
Cable Address - A code word of less than 10 letters, registered annually with the Central Bureau of Registered Addresses, used in lieu of the entire name and address of a firm receiving or sending cablegrams in order to reduce the number of words required in a cablegram.
CABNIS - Consortia of American Businesses in the Newly Independent, States
Cabotage - A law which requires coastal and intercoastal traffic to be carried by vessels belonging to the country owning the coast.
CAC - Codex Alimentarius Commission
CACM - Central American Common Market
CAD - Cash Against Documents
CAD/CAM - Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing
CAEU - Council of Economic Arab Unity
CAF - Corporacion Andina de Fomento
Cairns Group - The Cairns Group, established in August 1986 in Cairns, Australia, is an informal association of agricultural exporting countries. Members include: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Fiji, Hungary, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, and Uruguay. The Group seeks to reduce export subsidies and internal support measures and to bring about other reforms to international agricultural trade. The Cairns Group countries account for one third of world farm exports.
Caisse Centrale de Cooperation Economique - The CCCE, a specialized financial institution, is the lead agency in the French Ministry of Cooperation and Development in providing funds for aid and cooperation. The Caisse provides support for development and technical assistance in developing countries, particularly in supporting economic and social development in Africa and in various countries on the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and the South Pacific, and in overseas French departments and territories where it supports productive private and public investment. The Caisse was created in December 1941; headquarters are in Paris, France.
call sign - Sequence of letters and numbers, unique to each ship, that identify the ship.
Calvo Doctrine - The Calvo Doctrine (or principle) holds that jurisdiction in international investment disputes lies with the country in which the investment is located; thus, the investor has no recourse but to use the local courts. The principle, named after an Argentinean jurist, has been applied throughout Latin America and other areas of the world.
Canadian Commercial Corporation - By serving as the prime contractor in government-to-government sales transactions, the CCC facilitates exports of a wide range of goods and services from Canadian sources. In response to requests from foreign governments and international agencies for individual products or services, CCC identifies Canadian firms capable of meeting the customer's requirements, executes prime as well as back-to-back contracts, and follows through with contract management, inspection, acceptance, and payment.
Canadian International Development Agency - CIDA (French: Agence Canadienne de Developpement International) is Canada's official agency which has the task of supporting sustainable development in developing countries. The Agency was established in 1968; headquarters are in Hull, Quebec.
Canc. - Cancelled
cancl. - Cancelling
cap - Capacity
CAP - Common Agricultural Policy, Country Action Plan
Capital Account - See: Balance of Payments.
Capital Development Initiative - The CDI, administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development, encourages infrastructure investment in countries in central and Eastern Europe. The CDI provides financial and technical services and assists U.S. businesses by providing up to 50 percent of estimated development work and feasibility study costs for proposed projects in energy, telecommunications, and the environment.
CAR - Commercial Activity Report
cargo - Goods carried in or on a ship
Cargo Selectivity System - The Cargo Selectivity System, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, specifies the type of examination (intensive or general) to be conducted for imported merchandise. The type of examination is based on database selectivity criteria such as assessments of risk by filer, consignee, tariff number, country of origin, and manufacturer/shipper. A first time consignee is always selected for an intensive examination. An alert is also generated in cargo selectivity the first time a consignee files an entry in a port with a particular tariff number, country of origin, or manufacturer/shipper.
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act - The CBERA affords nonreciprocal tariff preferences to developing countries in the Caribbean Basin area to aid their economic development and to diversity and expand their production and exports. The CBERA applies to merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 1984. This tariff preference program has no expiration date.
Caribbean Basin Initiative - The CBI is an inter-American program to increase economic aid and trade preferences for 28 states of the Caribbean region. The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act of 1983 provided for 12 years of duty-free treatment of most goods produced in the Caribbean region. The Initiative was extended permanently (CBI II), by the Customs and Trade Act of August 1990. The 23 countries which are currently eligible for CBI beneifts include Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Montserrat, the Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Christopher-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. The following countries may be eligible for CBI benefits but have not formally requested designation: Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Suriname, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Caribbean Common Market - CARICOM includes 13 English-speaking Caribbean nations: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent/Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago). CARICOM was established in 1973; headquarters are in Georgetown, Guyana.
Caribbean Development Bank - The CDB promotes economic development and cooperation by providing long-term financing for productive projects in CARICOM member countries and U.K.-dependent territories in the Caribbean. Members include: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, France, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela. The Bank was established in 1969; headquarters are in St. Michael, Barbados, West Indies. Beginning in 1977, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) may make loans through the CDB to all CDB members, regardless of whether those countries are members of the IADB. See: Inter-American Development Bank.
Caribbean/Central America Business Advisory Service - The BAS helps entrepreneurs in the Caribbean and in Central America to develop project ideas into investment proposals and to obtain long-term finance for them. The Service does not lend or invest, but does provide advice and assistance in project structuring, identification of technical and marketing partners, project appraisal, and identification of financing resources. BAS operates under the auspices of the United Nations Development Program and is managed by the World Bank's International Finance Corporation. BAS was established in 1981 as the Caribbean Business Advisory Service (CBAS). The BAS 1989 expansion to Central America extended its operations to all CBI beneficiary countries. see: Caribbean Basin Initiative.
CARICCM - Caribbean Common Market
CARICOM - Caribbean Common Market
CARICOM - Caribbean Community
Carnets - Customs documents permitting the holder to carry or send sample merchandise temporarily into certain foreign countries without paying duties or posting bonds. Foreign customs regulations vary widely; in some countries, duties and extensive customs procedures on sample products may be avoided by obtaining an ATA Carnet. The ATA Carnet is a standardized international customs document used to obtain duty-free temporary admission of certain goods into the countries that are signatories to the ATA Convention. Under the ATA Convention, commercial and professional travelers may take commercial samples; tools of the trade; advertising material; and cinematographic, audiovisual, medical, scientific, or other professional equipment into member countries temporarily without paying customs duties and taxes or posting a bodn at the border of each country visited. The carnets are generally valid for 12 months. Telephone: 1-800-CARNETS.
Carriage Paid To - Carriage paid to (CPT) and carriage and insurance paid to (CIP) a named place of destination. Used in place of CFR and CIF, respectively for shipment by modes other than water.
Cartagena Agreement - See: Andean Pact.
Cartagena Group - See: Group of Eleven.
Cartel - An organization of independent producers formed to regulate the production, pricing, or marketing practices of its members in order to limit competition and maximize their market power.
CASE - Council of American States in Europe
Cash Against Documents - A term denoting that payment is made when the bill of lading is presented.
Cash Against Documents (C.A.D.) - A method of payment for goods in which documents transferring title are given to the buyer upon payment of cash to an intermediary acting for the seller, usually a commission house.
Cash In Advance (C.I.A.) - A method of payment for goods in which the buyer pays the seller in advance of the shipment of the goods. Usually employed when the goods are built to order, such as specialized machinery.
Cash With Order - CWO is a means of payment in which the buyer pays cash when ordering; the order is binding on both seller and buyer.
Cash With Order (C.W.O.) - A method of payment for goods in which cash is paid at the time of order and the transaction becomes binding on both buyer and seller.
Catalog Exhibitions - These promotions are low-cost exhibits of U.S. firms' catalogs and videos which offer small, less-experienced companies an opportunity to test overseas markets for their products without travel. The International Trade Administration promotes exhibitions, provides staff fluent in the local language to answer questions, and forwards all trade leads to participating firms.
Category Groups - Groupings of controlled products.See: Export Control Classification Number.
CBD - Commerce Business Daily
CBERA - Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
CBI - Caribbean Basin Initiative
CBM - Conventional buoy mooring
CBW - Chemical and Biological Weapons
CCA - Chambre de Cooperation de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
CCC - Canadian Commercial Corporation, Commodity Credit Corporation, Customs Cooperation Council
CCC - Customs Co-operation Council
CCCE - Caisse Centrale de Cooperation Economique
CCCN - Customs Co-operation Council Nomenclature
CCCN - Customs Cooperation Council Nomenclature
CCD - Conseil de Cooperation Douaniere
CCF - CoCom Cooperation Forum
CCFF - Compensatory and Contingency Financing Facility
CCIR - Comite Consultatif International des Radiocommunications
CCITT - Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et, Telephonique
CCITT - Consultative Committee for International Telephone and, Telegraphy
CCL - Commerce Control List;, formerly: - Commodity Control List
CCNAA - Coordination Council for North American Affairs
CCNAA - Coordination Council for North American Affairs
ccy - Convertible currency
CD-ROM - Compact Disc-Read Only Memory
CDB - Caribbean Development Bank
CDC - Commonwealth Development Corporation
CDI - Capital Development Initiative
CDT - Center for Defense Trade
CE - Committee of Experts, Communautes Europeenes, Conformite Europeene, Council of Europe
CEA - Chinese Economic Area, Council of Economic Advisors
CEA - Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
CEE - Commission Economique pour l'Europe
CEEAC - Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
CEEB - Customs Electronic Bulletin Board
CEFTA - Central Europe Free Trade Association
CEN - European Committee for Standardization
CENELEC - European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Census Interface System - The Census Interface System, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, includes edits and validations provided by the Bureau of the Census to allow for the accurate and timely collection and submission of entry summary data. Census Interface is accomplished through Automated Broker Interface entry summary transmissions.
Center for Defense Trade - In 1990, the Center for Defense Trade, CDT, was created within the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs (PM) at the Department of State. CDT was established with the purpose of improving the Department of State's export licensing services. CDT also has responsibility for clarifying all defense trade policy guidelines. The Center includes two offices: - The Office of Defense Trade Controls (DTC) which administers controls on permanent exports and temporary imports of defense articles and technology covered by the U.S. Munitions List (USML) and performs USML export license review and compliance functions. - The Office of Defense Trade Policy (DTP) which seeks to support the efforts of the U.S. defense industry to sell products overseas. DTP provides policy guidance to licensing officers, in support of their efforts to implement the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and provides advice on technology transfer and strategic trade issues.
Center for International Research - CIR analyzes and forecasts world demographic trends and economic developments in selected countries, based on current statistics obtained through international agreements. The center, which is a component of the Commerce Department's Bureau of the Census, conducts research with funds from government and private business sponsors. See: International Data Base.
Center for Trade and Investment Services - CTIS, established in September 1992, promotes increased participation of U.S. businesses in generating economic development in lesser developed countries which receive assistance from the Agency for International Development. Telephone: 1-800-USAID-4-U.
Central African Customs and Economic Union - The Central African Customs and Economic Union (French: Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale, UDEAC) created in 1966 (revised 1974) to promote establishment of a Central African Common Market with a common external tariff. Members include: the Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. The Union's headquarters are in Bangui, Central African Republic.
Central African States Development Bank - The Central Africa States Development Bank (French: Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale, BDEAC) was created in December 1975 (began operations in January 1977) to provide loans for economic development and to support integration projects. Members include: the Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Bank headquarters are in Brazzaville, Congo.
Central American Bank for Economic Integration - CABEI (Spanish: Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico, BCIE) was established in 1960 (began operations in September 1961) to promote economic integration and development. The Bank is an institution of the Central American Common Market. Bank members include: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. CABEI is associated with the Central American Common Market; bank headquarters are in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. See: Central American Common Market.
Central American Common Market - A first effort to establish a Central American Common Market, CACM (Spanish: Mercado Com£n Centroamericano, MCCA) was attempted in 1960 under the auspeices of the Organiztion of Central American States (OCAS). A restructuring was started in 1973. Members include Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The common market will cover all products traded within the region by the end of 1992. A second step toward regional integration will be the establishment of a common external tariff. CACM is associated with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration; headquarters are in Guatemala City, Guatemala. See: Central American Bank for Economic Integration.
Central Europe Free Trade Association - CEFTA is a trade agreement among the "Visegrad" countries -- Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary -- that is somewhat parallel to the European Free Trade Association.
Centre Europeen de Recherche Nucleaire - CERN (English: European Center for Nuclear Reseach) is a huge lab used by international collaborators to do frontier work in nuclear and particle physics. The Center, created after World War II and open to physicists from all countries, is funded by countries according to their abilities. The Center is located outside Genvea, partly in Switzerland and partly in France.
Centre Francais du Commerce Exterieur - See: Direction des Relations Economiques Exterieures.
Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical - See: Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.
CEPAL - Comision Economica para America Latina y el Caribe
CEPGL - Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs
CEPT - Conference Europeenne des Administrations des Postes et, des Telecommunications
CERN - Centre Europeen de Recherche Nucleaire
Certificate of Delivery - See: Delivery Verification Certificate.
Certificate of Inspection - A document certifying that merchandise (such as perishable goods) was in good condition immediately prior to shipment. Pre-shipment inspection is a requirement for importation of goods into many developing countries.
Certificate of Manufacture - A document (often notarized) in which a producer of goods certifies that the manufacturing has been completed and the goods are now at the disposal of the buyer.
Certificate Of Origin - A certified document as to the origin of goods, used in foreign commerce.
Certificate of Origin - Certain nations require a signed statement as to the origin of the export item. Such certificates are usually obtained through a semiofficial organization such as a local chamber of commerce. A certificate may be required even though the commercial invoice contains the information.
Certified Trade Fair Program - The Department of Commerce Certified Trade Fair Program is designed to encourage private organizations to recruit new-to-market and new-to-export U.S. firms to exhibit in trade fairs overseas. To receive certification, the organization must demonstrate: (1) the fair is a leading international trade event for an industry and (2) the fair organizer is capable of recruiting U.S. exhibitors and assisting them with freight forwarding, customs clearance, exhibit design and setup, public relations, and overall show promotion. The show organizer must agree to assist new-to-export exhibitors as well as small businesses interested in exporting. In addition to the services the organizer provides, the Department of Commerce will: - assign a Washington coordinator; - operate a business information office, which provides meeting space, translators, hospitality, and assistance from U.S. exhibitors and foreign customers; - help contact buyers, agents, distributors, and other business leads and provide marketing assistance; - provide a press release on certification.
Certified Trade Missions - Certified trade missions (formerly State/Industry Organized, Government Approved trade missions) are planned and organized by state development agencies, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and other export-oriented groups. To qualify for U.S. government sponsorship, organizers of this type of trade mission must agree to follow International Trade Administration criteria in planning and recruiting the mission. ITA offers guidance and assistance from planning through completion of the mission and coordinates thel, Consulate General
CGIAR - Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
Chaebol - Chaebol are Korean conglomerates which are characterized by strong family control, authoritarian management, and centralized decision making. Chaebol dominate the Korean economy, growing out of the takeover of the Japanese monopoly of the Korean economy following World War II. Korean government tax breaks and financial incentives emphasizing industrial reconstruction and exports provided continuing support to the growth of Chaebols during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1988, the output of the 30 largest chaebol represented almost 95% of Korea's gross national product.
Chambre de Cooperation de l'Afrique de l'Ouest - See: West African Clearing House.
Charge d'affaires - See: Title and Rank.
Charter Party - Renting of an entire vessel or part of its freight space for a particular trip or stipulated period of time.
CHB - Customhouse Broker
Chemical Weapons Convention - The CWC prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. The Convention permits monitoring, collection and review of data and on-site inspections that involve questions of protection of proprietary rights and confidentiality. The Convention has been signed by over 160 nations; entry into force is expected in January 1995.
Chemical/Biological Weapons - The Department of Commerce maintains foreign policy export controls on certain chemical precursors and equipment and biological agents and equipment useful in chemical warfare. Through the Australia Group, AG, the United States cooperates with other nations in controlling chemical and biological weapons proliferation. The AG developed a list of 54 precursors useful for chemical weapons development, along with control on certain biological organisms and on equipment useful in producing CBW agents. The AG also provides the forum in which the member countries share information concerning the activities of non-member countries where the proliferation of these weapons is of concern, including entities that are seeking chemical precursors and related items.
CHG - Charge d'Affaires
Chinese Economic Area - The CEA is an informal reference to the economic integration of Southern China with Hong Kong and Taiwan which has proceded without any "arrangement."
chq. - Cheque
CIAT - Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical
CICA - Confederation Internationale du Credit Agricole
CIDA - Canadian International Development Agency
CIF - Cost, Insurance and Freight
cif - Cost, insurance, freight
CILSS - Comite Permanent Interetats de Lutte contre la Secheresse, dans le Sahel
CIMS - Commercial Information Management System
CIPs - Commodity Import Programs
CIR - Center for International Research
CIS - Commonwealth of Independent States
CISG - Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of, Goods
CIT - Court of International Trade
CITA - Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in, Wild Fauna and Flora
CIV - Customs Import Value
CJ - Commodity Jurisdiction
Ck. - Cask
cld. - Cleared
CLDP - Commercial Law Development Program
Clean Bill of Lading - A receipt for goods issued by a carrier with an indication that the goods were received in "apparent good order and condition," without damages or other irregularities.
Clean Draft - A draft to which no documents have been attached.
Clean Float - Clean float refers to a system in which exchange rates are determined by market forces rather than government intervention or restrictions. See: Dirty Float.
Club du Sahel - The Club du Sahel is an informal coalition which seeks to reverse the effects of drought and the desertification in the eight Sahelian zone countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and the Cape Verde Islands. The Club coordinates plans and financing of aid and sustained economic development in the region. The Club (sometimes called "Club des Amis du Sahel"), formed in December 1975, comprises both donor countries (Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and Sahelian zone countries. Headquarters are in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
CMA - Common Monetary Agreement
CMEA - Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
CMP - Country Marketing Plan
Cmpl. - Completed
CNUSA - Commercial News USA
COAP - Cottonseed Oil Assistance Program
COCOM - Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Control
COCOM - Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls
CoCom - See: Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls.
CoCom Cooperation Forum - The CCF provides a venue for emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe and the of the former Soviet Union to discuss international export controls and to help coordinate technical assistance efforts. The Forum, established in June 1992, held its first meeting in November 1992. At the close of 1992, 42 nations were CCF participants, including most states of the former Soviet Union (except Georgia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan) and all of the former Soviet satellites of Eastern and Central Europe (except the former Yugoslav republics).
CODEX - Codex Alimentarius Commission
Codex Alimentarius Commission - As a subsidiary body of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization and the World Health Organization, CAC (or CODEX) develops food standards and Recommended International Codes of Hygienic and/or Technological Practices. Commission standards are voluntary, becoming enforceable only if accepted as national standards. The Commission also works in cooperation with Regional Coordinating Committees (Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean) in promoting regional standards activities. The Commission was established in 1962; headquarters are in Rome, Italy.
COE - Council of Europe
COFACE - Compagnie Francaise d'Assurance pour le Commerce Exterieur
Collection Papers - All documents (invoices, bills of lading, etc.) submitted to a buyer for the purpose of receiving payment for a shipment.
Collections System - The Collections System, a part of Customs' Automated Commercial System, controls and accounts for the billions of dollars in payments collected by Customs each year and the millions in refunds processed each year. Daily statements are prepared for the automated brokers who select this service. The Collections System permits electronic payments of the related duties and taxes through the Automated Clearinghouse capability. Automated collections also meet the needs of the importing community through acceptance of electronic funds transfers for deferred tax bills and receipt of electronic payments from lockbox operations for Customs bills and fees.
Colombo Plan - The Colombo Plan was established in 1951 to promote economic and social development among members in Asia and the Pacific. Members include: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Plan's formal name is the Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic Development in South and South-East Asia; headquarters are in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Column 1 Rates - The U.S. import tariff rates which have been established through negotiation, are congressionally approved and usually bound. These are ''most favored nation'' (MFN) rates, meaning that they must apply equally to all countries receiving MFN tariff treatment from the United States, unless superseded by certain preferential tariff arrangements for developing countries.
Column 2 Rates - Column 2 rates are statutory established tariff rates dating back to the 1930s Smoot-Hawley period and are substantially higher than column I rates. They are currently assessed only on imports from countries not receiving most favored nation treatment from the U.S. (e.g., certain communist countries).
COM - Chief of Mission, Cost of Manufacture
Com. - Commission
COMECON - Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
Comision Economica para America Latiana y el Caribe - See: United Nations Regional Commissions.
Comision Economica para America Latina y el Caribe - See: United Nations Regional Commissions.
Comision Panamericana de Normas Tecnicas - COPANT (English: Pan American Standards Commission) coordinates the activities of all institutes of standardization in the Latin American countries. The Commission develops all types of product standards, stnadardized test methods, terminology, and related matters. COPANT headquarters are in Buenos Aires, Argentina. U.S. contact with COPANT is maintained through the American National Standards Institute.
Comite Consultatif International des Radiocommunications - See: International Radio Consultative Committee.
Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique - See: International Telegraphic and Telephone Consultative Committee.
Comite Permanent Consultatif du Maghreb - The CPCM (English: Maghreb Permanent Consultative Committee) seeks to improve economic coordination among Maghreb countries, with eventual expectation of establishing a Maghreb economic community. Originally established in October 1964, the committee began operations in February 1966; its headquarters are in Tunis, Tunisia. See: Maghreb States.
Comite Permanent Interetats de Lutte contre la Secheresse dan le Sahel - See: Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel.
Commerce Business Daily - CBD is the Commerce Department's daily newspaper which lists government procurement invitations and contract awards, including foreign business opportunities and foreign government procurements.
Commerce Control List - The CCL includes all items -- commodities, software, and technical data -- subject to BXA export controls and incorporates not only the national security controlled items agreed to by CoCom (the "core" list), but also items controlled for foreign policy (i.e., biological warfare, nuclear proliferation, missile technology, regional stability, and crime control) and short supply. The list is divided into 10 general categories: (1) materials, (2) materials processing, (3) electronics, (4) computers, (5) telecommunications and cryptography, (6) sensors, (7) avionics and navigation, (8) marine technology, (9) propulsion systems and transportation equipment, and (10) miscellaneous.
Commercial Activity Report - The Commercial Activity Report, CAR, is prepared annually by the economic and commercial sections of the U.S. Embassies covering over 100 countries where the Department of Commerce is not represented. The CAR assesses the country's political, economic, and business activities, and market potential and strategies for increasing U.S. sales.
Commercial Code - A published code designed to reduce the total number of words required in a cablegram.
Commercial Counterfeiting - This practice involves the manufacture or sale of goods which defraud the purchaser by falsely implying that the products are produced by a reputable manufacturer.
Commercial Information Management System - CIMS is a PC-based system used by International Trade Administration staff in export counseling. CIMS is a trade-related application using National Trade Data Bank CD-ROMs to disseminate market research and international economics data to US&FCS domestic offices and overseas posts. The system includes data on foreign traders and supports local collection and update of information on business contacts.
Commercial Invoice - The commercial invoice is a bill for the goods from the seller to the buyer. These invoices are often used by governments to determine the true value of goods for the assessment of customs duties and are also used to prepare consular documentation. Governments using the commercial invoice to control imports often specify its form, content, number of copies, language to be used, and other characteristics.
Commercial Law Development Program - The CLDP helps Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic States develop a commercial infrastructure consistent with free market principles. The program, operated through the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration, is part of the U.S. Government's efforts to assist the region. CLPD is also compiling a Language Resources List of U.S. commercial law experts with strong language capabilities.
Commercial News USA - Commercial News USA, CNUSA, is an International Trade Administration (ITA) fee-based magazine, published 10 times per year. CNUSA provides exposure for U.S. products and services through an illustrated catalog and electronic bulletin boards. The catalog is distributed through U.S. Embassies and consulates to business readers in 155 countries. Copies are provided to international visitors at trade events around the world. The CNUSA program covers more than 30 industry categories. To be eligible, products must be at least 51 percent U.S. parts and 51 percent U.S. labor. The service helps U.S. firms identify potential export markets and make contacts leading to representation, distributorships, joint venture or licensing agreements, or direct sales.
Commercial Officers - Commercial officers are embassy officials who assist U.S. business through arranging appointments with local business and government officials, providing counsel on local trade regulations, laws, and customs; identifying importers, buyers, agents, distributors, and joint venture partners for U.S. firms; and other business assistance. At larger posts, International Trade Administration staff perform these functions. At smaller posts, commercial interests are represented by State's economic officers. See: Economic Officers Foreign Service.
Commercial Risks - With respect to Eximbank guarantees, commercial risks cover nonpayment for reasons other than specified political risks. Examples are insolvency or protracted default. See: Political Risks.
Commercial Treaty - An agreement between two or more countries setting forth the conditions under which business between the countries may be transacted. May outline tariff privileges, terms on which property may be owned, the manner in which claims may be settled, etc.
Commission Economique pour l'Europe - See: United Nations Regional Commissions -- Economic Commission for Europe.
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements - CITA is an interagency committee chaired by the Department of Commerce which exercises the rights of the United States under the Multi-Fiber Arrangement. CITA initiates "calls" for consultation when imports of a particular textile product from a particular country disrupt the U.S. domestic market for that product. Other member agencies include the Departments of Labor, State, and Treasury and the United States Trade Representative. See: Multi-Fiber Arrangement.
Committee of Experts - The CE is an autonomous body of 20 independent legal experts appointed by the International Labor Organization (ILO) Governing Body. The CE meets annually prior to the June conference to examine reports of governments on ILO conventions, and information provided by governments on what they have done with newly adopted conventions. The CE submits its report and findings to the International Labor Conference Committee on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations.
Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States - The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, CFIUS, was created in 1975 to provide guidance on arrangements with foreign governments for advance consultations on prospective major foreign governmental investments in the United States, and to consider proposals for new legislation or regulation relating to foreign investment. The authority was amended by Section 5021 (the Exon-Florio provision) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Section 721 of the Defense Production Act), which gives the President authority to review mergers, acquisitions, and takeovers of U.S. companies by foreign interests and to prohibit, suspend, or seek divestiture in the courts of investments that may lead to actions that threaten to impair the national security. By Executive Order in December 1988, Treasury has authority to implement the Exon-Florio provision. CFIUS has 11 members: the Secretaries of the Treasury (the chair), State, Defense, and Commerce, the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, the U.S. Trade Representative, the Attorney General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. The Assistant Secretary for Trade Development serves as Commerce's representative to CFIUS. The Commerce working group is chaired by the International Trade Administration and includes the Bureau of Export Administration, the Economics and Statistics Administration, the Technology Administration, and the Office of the General Counsel. See: Exon-Florio Foreign Direct Investment in the United States.

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