A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

D

DAF (Delivered At Frontier)
An international commercial term (Incoterm) that is used in international sales contracts to signify that the seller must clear for export, pay for the freight, and bear all costs and risks for the carriage of goods to a named destination at a frontier but before the customs border of the adjoining country

DD (Dock Dues)
Payments made for passing the goods through the dock. 

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
An international commercial term that is used in international sales contracts to signify the maximum obligation (just as EXW signifies the minimum obligation) on the seller's part. The seller is responsible for all risks and costs incurred to have goods delivered to a named destination. This includes the obligation to contract and pay for freight and transportation costs, unloading fees, export and import licensing fees, and other taxes. The buyer is obligated only to assist in obtaining any import license or other official authorization necessary to import the goods.

DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid)
An international commercial term that is used in international sales contracts to signify that the seller is responsible for all risks and costs incurred to have goods delivered to a named destination in the country of importation. This includes the obligation to contract and pay for freight and transportation costs, export licensing fees, and other taxes (unless specifically excluded in the contract). The buyer is responsible for obtaining import licensing, carrying out the customs formalities necessary for the importation of the goods, and paying any import duties on the goods.

Delivered Docks
An indication that the seller is willing to deliver the goods carriage-paid to the docks in a named port.  Packing would be included in the price, but dock dues and wharfage dues would be excluded.  The buyer takes responsibility from the point at which the goods are delivered to the dock.

Delivery Note or Advice Note
A notification to a customer of the net weight, size, dimensions etc, of a consignment from an export packer or manufacturer.

Delivery Order
An order signed by the owner of goods, instructing his warehouse to deliver possessions of the goods to the bearer of the order.

Demurrage (storage costs)
The charge made for detaining a ship or failing to ship the cargo within specified days.  The term is also applied to the charge made for the detention of railway trucks.
DES (Delivered Ex Ship)
An international commercial term that is used in international sales contracts to signify that the seller must clear for export and must contract and pay for delivery of goods by sea or inland waterway transport to a named port of destination, but not for unloading. The seller assumes risks and costs up to arrival at the named destination, at which time the buyer, upon taking delivery of the goods, assumes all risks and responsibilities for the unloading and clearance of the goods

DEQ (Delivered Ex Quay)
An international commercial term that is used in international sales contracts to signify that the seller is responsible for all risks and costs incurred to have the goods delivered and unloaded at a named port of destination. This includes the obligation to contract and pay for freight and transportation costs by sea or inland waterway, unloading fees, export and import licensing fees, and other taxes (unless specifically excluded in the contract). The buyer is obligated only to assist in obtaining any import license or other official authorization necessary to import the goods.

DF (Dead Freight)
When the shipper is required to pay for space book, but not used.

DFZ (Duty Free Zone) see also (Free Zone)
An area within a country (a seaport, airport, warehouse, or any designated area) regarded as being outside its customs territory.

Differential Export Tax
A multi-tier export tax usually structured so that the tax on exports of a raw material exceeds the tax (if any) on exports of processed goods made from the raw material, thereby creating an incentive to process the raw material domestically.

Dock Receipt
Used by an ocean carrier to acknowledge receipt of a shipment at the carrier's dock or warehouse facilities.

Dock Warrant
A document, representing goods warehoused at the docks, given to the owner as a recognition of his title to the goods.

Documentary Bill
Is used when the seller of goods to a customer abroad wishes to obtain payment or some form of security before the goods are actually delivered. The seller will draw a bill on the consignee for the value of the goods, and will attach to it the copy of the invoice, the insurance policy and the Bills of Lading.

These documents will be handed to his banker, who in turn will forward them to his own correspondent at the place where the consignee of the goods are at sea.  When this is done, the bank will require a letter of hypothecation empowering it to sell the goods in the event of default by the consignor.

Documentary Letter of Credit
A document issued by a bank which guarantees the payment of a customer's drafts for a specified period and up to a specified amount.

The Documentary Letter of Credit provides a more secure means of carrying out transactions in import-export trade than by documentary bills collection (see Bill of Exchange). A letter of credit when transmitted through a bank, usually in the exporter’s country, becomes the means by which the exporter obtains payment.

The necessary documents, correctly completed, are presented to a bank by an agreed date.  If the terms of the credit are met an exporter can receive payment from a bank immediately. 

Double-Column Tariff
A tariff schedule listing two duty rates for some or all commodities. Under such arrangements, imports may be taxed at a higher or lower rate, depending upon the importing country's trade and other relationships with the exporting country. Some British Commonwealth countries maintain a double-column tariff that provides preferential tariff treatment to other members of the commonwealth. The United States and other countries also have lower tariffs for countries to which they grant most-favored-nation treatment.

Downstream Dumping also known as Input Dumping
The practice of exporting an end-product containing an input that has been purchased at less than normal value

Drawback
Import duties or taxes repaid by a government, in whole or in part, when the imported goods are re-exported or used in the manufacture of exported goods

Dual Pricing
Selling identical products for different prices in different markets. Dual pricing often reflects export subsidy and dumping practices.

Duty Suspension
A unilateral non-application of a customs duty, or its application at a reduced level, usually on a temporary basis.