Bill of Lading (BOL)
Legal document between shipper and carrier detailing goods.

Commercial Invoice
Payment demand from seller to buyer.

Incoterms
Standardized trade terms (e.g., FOB, CIF) defining responsibilities.

Tariff
Tax on imports/exports.

Duty
Government tax on imported goods.

Packing List
Itemizes contents, weights, and packaging of shipments

Certificate of Origin
Confirms where goods were manufactured.

Letter of Credit (LC)
Bank guarantee ensuring payment to exporters.

Freight Forwarder
Agent organizing cargo transport.

Customs Broker
Licensed professional clearing goods through customs.

TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit)
Standard container measurement.

Demurrage
Fee for delayed container return.

Pro Forma Invoice
Preliminary bill sent before shipment.

Exchange Rate Risk
Currency value fluctuations affecting trade profits.

Trade Finance
Financial tools (e.g., LC, export credit) facilitating global deals.

Bootstrapping
Ability to grow without proportional cost increases

B2B (Business-to-Business)
Companies selling to other businesses.

Supply Chain
End-to-end production/delivery process.

Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
Pact reducing trade barriers between countries.

Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB)
Regulations (e.g., quotas, bans) limiting trade

Dumping
Exporting goods below market price to dominate a market.

AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area)
Pan-African trade agreement

Informal Cross-Border Trade (ICBT)
Unrecorded small-scale regional trade

Export Processing Zone (EPZ)
Designated area for tax-free manufacturing/export

E-commerce Fulfilent
Storing, packing, and shipping online orders.

Drop shipping
Selling goods shipped directly from supplier to customer

Blockchain in Trade
Secure digital ledger for supply chain transparency.

MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
Simplest version of a product to test markets.

Pivot
Strategic shift in business model.

Incubator
Program supporting early-stage startups.

PDF Handbook
For student onboarding.

Interactive Quiz
To test trade knowledge.

Multilingual Version
For Francophone/Anglophone African markets.

Air Waybill
Contract for air freight shipments

Anti-Dumping Duty
Penalty tariff for below-market-price imports

Barter Trade
Goods exchange without money

Berth Terms
Port handling cost responsibilities

ATA Carnet
Temporary import/export document

Dangerous Goods Note
For hazardous materials

EUR.1 Certificate
Preferential origin document for EU

Fumigation Certificate
Pest control documentation

Phytosanitary Certificate
Plant health certification

Breakbulk
Loose cargo (non-containerized)

Charter Party
Contract for vessel hire

Deadfreight
Payment for unused cargo space

Feeder Vessel
Small ship connecting to main routes

Hague Visby Rules
International liability regime

Acceptance Credit
Bank's payment guarantee

Forfaiting
Purchasing export receivables

Factoring
Selling invoices at discount

Red Clause LC
Advance payment guarantee

Silent Confirmation
Unofficial LC guarantee

Binding Ruling
Official customs classification

Carnet TIR
Transit document for road freight

First Sale Rule
Valuation method for multi-tiered transactions

Harmonized System (HS Code)
Standardized product classification

Preferential Origin
Reduced tariffs under trade agreements

Born Global
Company operating internationally from inception

Countertrade
Reciprocal trading agreements

Distributor Agreement
Contract with overseas sales agent

Joint Venture
Shared-risk international partnership

Sole Agent
Exclusive representative in a market

Cross Docking
Direct transfer of goods without storage

Just-in-Time (JIT)
Inventory minimization strategy

Lead Time
Duration from order to delivery

SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)
Product identification code

Third Party Logistics (3PL)
Outsourced logistics services

Blockchain Bill of Lading
Digital shipping document

Cryptocurrency Payments
Digital currency transactions

Digital Customs
Automated clearance systems

E-Trade Readiness
Assessment of digital commerce capacity

Smart Contracts
Self-executing trade agreements

Afreximbank
African Export-Import Bank

Back-to-Back LC
Common in African triangular trade

ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme
West African trade agreement

Rand Pricing
South African currency contracts

SADC Certificate of Origin
Southern African trade document

Circular Trade
Sustainable product lifecycle trading

De Globalization
Shift from global interdependence

Friend Shoring
Sourcing from allied nations

Nearshoring
Relocating production closer to markets

Trade Tech
Technology applications in global trade

Effectuation
Decision making framework for uncertainty

Gazelle Company
Rapidly growing SME

Lean Start up
Minimum viable product methodology

Pivot
Fundamental business model change

Unicorn
Start up valued over 1 billion

Force Majeure
Contract exemption for unforeseen events

General Average
Shared loss in maritime emergencies

Trade Remedies
Measures against unfair trade practices

War Risk Clause
Insurance for conflict zones

WTO Dispute Settlement
International trade conflict resolution

AEO
Authorized Economic Operator

CIF
Cost, Insurance & Freight

DDP
Delivered Duty Paid

ETA
Estimated Time of Arrival

LCL
Less than Container Load