International Trade Practice

International Trade Practice refers to the written or unwritten rules and practices gradually formed in the long-term practice of international sale of goods, which are widely accepted and observed, such as the International Rules for the Interpretation of Trade Terms (Incoterms), the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (UCP600), etc. Its application scenarios include the drafting of contract terms, the selection of payment methods, the arrangement of transportation and insurance, dispute resolution, etc. Notes: The practices themselves do not have mandatory legal effect unless explicitly invoked in the contract; different versions of the practices (such as Incoterms 2010 and 2020) may create different obligations, and the version must be clearly specified; when the practices conflict with domestic law, the contract agreement usually prevails. Differences from "international conventions" (such as CISG): Conventions are legally binding on contracting states, while practices depend on the voluntary adoption of the parties; compared with "international customs," practices are more specific and more written. Foreign trade practitioners should be familiar with the main practices and clearly cite them in contracts to reduce transaction risks.