Confirmation

Confirmation in foreign trade refers to the legal act by which the buyer and seller give final approval to the agreed terms of a transaction, thereby formally establishing the contract. It usually occurs after the negotiation stage, when one party issues a confirmation (such as a sales confirmation or purchase confirmation) and the other party accepts and signs it, thus forming a binding contract. Use cases include: deals concluded at trade shows, agreements reached after correspondence, repeat orders from regular customers, etc. Precautions: Confirmation must be unconditional; if it is subject to modifications, it constitutes a counter-offer. The confirmation should be complete and accurate, including product name, specifications, quantity, price, delivery time, payment terms, etc. Oral confirmation needs written records as evidence. Difference from 'Acceptance': Acceptance is the offeree's agreement to all terms of the offer, while confirmation is the written finalization of the final terms by both parties, often occurring after acceptance. Difference from 'Contract': A confirmation is a simplified form of contract with the same legal effect, but its terms may be less detailed than a formal contract. Therefore, foreign trade practitioners should ensure that the confirmation content is fully consistent with the negotiation results to avoid ambiguity.