Surveyor

Surveyor in foreign trade refers to a third-party inspection agency independent of both the buyer and the seller, responsible for inspecting and appraising goods and issuing survey reports. Its core role is to provide objective certification of quality, quantity, weight, packaging, etc. during delivery, transportation, insurance, and other stages, serving as the basis for handling claims, settlement, and disputes. Common scenarios of use include: statutory inspection, pre-shipment inspection, arrival inspection, marine loss appraisal, etc. Points to note: a surveyor with good reputation and relevant qualifications should be selected; inspection standards, time, and location must be clearly specified in the contract; the survey report is usually regarded as the final basis, but if the contract provides otherwise, the contract shall prevail. Differences from other terms: a surveyor is different from the seller's or buyer's internal inspector, and its independence and impartiality are key; it is also different from customs, as customs is a government regulatory authority, while a surveyor is mostly a commercial third party. In foreign trade contracts, it is often stipulated that "the surveyor's inspection report shall prevail" to enhance mutual trust among all parties.