RE: EXTENDING VALIDITY OF THE L/C

tedtotheabovementionedsalesconfirmationuntiltoday．ItisstipulatedclearlyinthesalesconfirmationthattherelevantL/CmustreachtousnotlaterthantheendofAug．AlthoughthereachingtimeoftheL/Cisoverdue,wewouldlikestilltoshipyourgoodsinviewoflong-standingfriendlyrelationshipbetweenus．However,wecannotmakeshipmentofyourgoodswithinthetimestipulatedinthesalesconfirmationowingtothedelayoftheL/C,Therefore,theL/Cneedstobeextendedasfollows:(1)TimeofshipmentwillbeextendedtotheendofOct..(2)ValidityoftheL/CwillbeextendedtoNov．15.YourkindattentionisinvitedtothefactthatwemustreceiveyourL/CamendmentbeforeSept．30．Otherwise,wewillnotbeabletoeffecttheshipmentintime.LookingforwardtoreceivingyourL/Camend..

You can save the whole web page or part of its contents(text,graph or linkage)as file kept on disk.They can be displayed or used in other files,also sent to other,or printed.

To save web pages,you can；

Save the current web pages in your computer.To do that,single click"save as"on"file"menu,and on the"save web page"dialogue box select the folder for saving web pages,and on the"file name"input the file name of this web page,then single click "save"button；

Duplicate the information from the web page to file.To do that,you select the infor mation on the web page to be saved(if you want to save the whole web page,then single click"all select"button on"edit"menu、and single click"copy"on"edit"menu.Finally,turn to the procedure for editing the information(for example,word),single click the position where the information is stored and then single click the "paste"on"edit"menu.

Scientists have discovered that the brain can make its own drugs.The brain contains peptides,a protein substance.Peptides can act directly on the brain to change aspects of mental activity.There are peptides that may change or improve,for example,creativity, intelligence,imagination,and memory.Peptides have a great capacity to stimulate the brain to conquer deficiencies.They also improve the qualities of memory and learning already in the brain.They hold the secret to mood and emotion.Some day the peptides may be the chemical way to create better and more efficient brains.

科学家们业已发现，______。脑中含有肽______一种蛋白质。肽能直接作用于大脑，______。例如，有些肽就能够改变或提高创造力、智力、想像力和记忆力。肽具有一种______。它也能改善大脑已有的记忆力和学习素质。______。将来有一天，肽可能成为改善和提高大脑效率的一种化学手段。

Accommodation in a family home providing a single bedroom,breakfast and evening meal will cost around＄80 per week.Alternatively,if you wish to cook for yourself,accommodation in a single room in a family home would be approximately＄50 per week.

We estimate that,in addition to your tuition fees,you will therefore need＄5,000 a year to cover your accommodation,food,clothing,local travel and incidental expenses.

Finally,may I say how pleased we are that you have chosen to come to York to study.Your tutors look forward to meeting you.

寄宿家庭将提供一间卧室、早餐和晚餐，这样的食宿一周的费用大约80美元。如果你愿意自己做饭，______。

______，除学费外，你还需每年5000美元以支付住宿、食品、服装、当地旅游及其他一些杂费。

最后，非常高兴你能来约克学习。______。

I．Work assignment

English teaching(listening，speaking，reading and writing)and conducting English comer．

Ⅱ.The salary treatment

1．Monetary salary 4500-5500 yuan/rnonth.The salary will be paid on the 15th of each month with RMB from the day of starting work to the expiration of the contract.In case the time is shorter than a whole month,the payment shall be counted by day。The daily wage shall be 1/30 of the monthly salary(the same with February).No more than 70%of the salary can be changed into foreign currencies monthly.The employed party shall pay the personal income tax in accordance with the Personal Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China.

2.The host college pays 2,200 yuan for one year's contract for traveling or 1,100 yuan for half year's contract.

3.The medical expenses will be reimbursed by the host college if the amount is no more than 2,200 yuan per year or 1,100 yuan for half year's contract.

4.The host provides the employed with a flat free of charge with bedroom,sitting room, kitchen and bathroom as well as a set of fumiture,TV set,ffidge,washing machine,heater, and kitchen utensils.

5.The host provides the employed with a bicycle.If the bicycle is stolen or damaged, the employed is responsible to have them repaired and/or buy a new one.At the end of the contract the employed should return the bicycle to the host.

6.The host college provides the employed with telephone,computer and printer.The expenses of using telephone will be paid by the employed.

7.For the employed teacher whose period of stay for half a year the host college provides single international flight fare(international economy class for the nearest distance between China and the country of the employed party)；for the employed whose period of stay for one year the host college provides double international flight fare(international economy class for the nearest distance between China and the country of the employed party).

Ⅲ. Work time, rest and holidays

1. The host college assigns the employed no more than 20 hours of teaching Monday through Friday each week and the employed works 5 days every week. If more work is to be assigned, the host college must obtain the employed agreement and pay him 40 yuan for each extra working hour.

2. The employed party is entitled to the following holidays and festivals in China: New Year's Day, Spring Festival, May Day, National Day and other holidays stipulated by laws and regulations.

3. The employed party is entitled to the following holidays and festivals according to his nationality: two days off for Christmas and one day off for the National Day of his home country.

4. The employed party under one-year contract is entitled to a four-week paid vacation. The employed party under half a year contract has no paid vacation.

Ⅳ. Sick leave and private affairs leave

1. Certificate from doctors for foreigners appointed by the host college should be presented when the employed party asks for sick leave. If the sick leaves amount to less than 30 days within one-year contract (15 days for half a year contract), the employed shall be paid with 100% of the salary. In case the leaves exceed 30 days, the host college has the right to terminate the contract.

2. Private affairs leave absence of the employed party shall be approved by the host college. The host college will deduct the salary by day. In case of absence from work without the host college's permission, three days' pay will be deducted for each day absent. For serious circumstances, the host college has the right to terminate the contract and investigate the liability of the employed party for violation of the contract.

Ⅴ. The employed party's responsibilities

1. The employed observes the regulations of host college and the regulations for foreign teacher apartment.

2. Teach classes as designated by the host college.

3. Prepare individual lesson plans as well as teaching plan for semesters according to the host college teaching plans and textbooks.

4. Dress professionally. No shorts, vest or slippers in classrooms.

5. Start and end classes promptly. Notify the host college at least three hours ahead of time if unable to teach a class because of illness.

6. Spend time on preparing for classes, grading homework, preparing and grading exams, and other teaching-related activities.

7. Participate in conferences and meetings of the college.

8. Take blood test and physical examination as required by Chinese laws.

9. Keep the apartment tidy and clean. Pay for damages done to furniture inside the apartment.

Ⅵ. The probation period of the contract

The probation period of the contract shall be 30 days. In the probation period, if the host college finds out the employed party is unfit for the assignment specified in the contract for reasons of health or professional ability, the host college has the right to terminate the contract.

Ⅶ. Others

1. The host college responsible for renewing the employed visa or changing a tourist visa into a working visa, a residence card for foreigners, and a foreign expert certificate. The host college pay for all the costs involved. The employed party shall pay for all the costs involved in obtaining a visa to return to China if the employed is traveling outside of China on his own during holidays. The Public Security Bureau shall impose a fine if the employed visa is not renewed in time. If the delay is caused by the host college, then the host college shall pay the fine; if the delay is caused by the employed party, then the employed party shall pay the fine.

2. This appendix has equal validity of the standard contract and comprises an integral part of the contract.

(the signature of the host college)?????(the signature of the employed party )

年??月??日?????????????month??day??year

Role of Customs Agencies??When importing goods into any country, a company must be totally familiar with the customs operations of the importing country. In this context, "customs" refers to the country's import and export procedures and restrictions, not its cultural aspects. The primary duties of the US Customs Service, for example, are "the assessment and collection of all duties, taxes, and fees on imported merchandise, the enforcement of customs and related laws, and the administration of certain navigation laws and treaties". As a major enforcement organization, it "combats smuggling and frauds on the revenue and enforces the regulations of numerous other Federal agencies at port of entry and along the land sea borders of the United States". An importer needs to know how to clear goods, the duties that must be paid, and special laws that exist.

When merchandise reaches the port of entry, the importer must file documents with customs officials in which a tentative value and tariff classification are assigned to the merchandise.?The US govemment has over 10 000 tariff classifications, and about 60% of them are subject to interpretation. That is, a particular product could fit more than one classification. In these cases, customs officials examine the goods to determine whether there are any restrictions on their importation. If there are none, the importer pays the duty and the goods are released. The amount of the duty depends on the product's country of origin, the type of product, and other factors.

A broker or other import consultant can help an importer minimize import duties by doing the following :

(1) Valuing products in such a way that they qualify for more favorable duty treatment. Different product categories have different duties. Finished goods usually have a higher duty than do parts and components.

(2)Qualifying for duty refunds through drawback provision. Some exporters use in their manufacturing process imported parts and components on which they paid a duty. In the United States, the drawback provision allows exporters to apply for a refund of 99% of the duty on the imported goods, provided the goods are used in the manufacture of goods that are exported.

(3) Deferring duties by using bonded warehouses and foreign trade zones. Companies do not have to pay duties on imports stored in bonded warehouses and foreign trade zones until the goods are removed for sale or used in a manufacturing process.

(4) Limiting liability by properly marking an import's country of origin.?Governments assess duties on imports based in part on the country of origin, a lower duty on an import may be had by ensuring that the import's country of origin is accurate. In the United States, if an article or its container is not properly marked when it enters the country, a marking duty equal to 10% of the customs value of the article is assessed.

A direct identification drawback is permitted on imported merchandise that is actually used to manufacture goods for export, provided the imported goods are not used for final consumption domestically and are exported within a certain period of the import date. Sometimes domestic merchandise is substituted for merchandise that was imported for eventual export, in which case substitution drawback is permitted for duties on the imported merchandise.

Questions for reading :

Key Points Concerning A Sales Contract??A sales contract embodies a set of different terms such as quality, quantity, payments, delivery, and insurance, etc. When the exporter and customer are negotiating, they should consider and agree upon these terms. Apparently, each party hopes to stipulate terms favorable for himself. But arrangements which are advantageous to one party are often disadvantageous to the other party. Therefore, some practical suggestions and tactics should be given adequate importance in negotiation of a contract. In this sector, you will have a look on the problems international trade negotiators may face and suggestions in solving them.

Name of goods

It is recommended that the names of goods to be exported correspond to the names used in the customs lists of the importing country, in order to minimize problems at customs, and to facilitate calculation of import duties.

The exporter should be consistent in the names he uses for his products, referring to them precisely as he does in the catalogs he gives to the importers, for the purpose of avoiding any trouble of breach of an agreement for nonconforming goods.

Quantity

In indicating length, weight, volume and so on, the metric system should be used unless the sale is between countries which use another system.

For goods whose quantity could easily decrease during transportation, the biggest issue will be where and when to establish the quantity as a basis of payment and so on. The buyer wants the quantity to be determined upon receipt of the goods at his warehouse, while the seller wants to establish the quantity at the time of shipment at his plant. This issue can be solved only in connection with the closely related issues of risk of loss and insurance.

Quality

An order specifying goods "as per sample" is apt to lead to trouble, because often it is not made clear that a sample is first requested as a basis for future orders, and because it is not always clear just how much deviation from the sample will be tolerated.?It is therefore recommended that the quality of goods be specified by specifications or detailed description of samples and that these specifications or descriptions be made a part of the agreement.

Price

The contract price will be closely related to the conditions of delivery, such as FOB, CFR, or CIF. One of these delivery terms will be chosen after consideration of the economic and political factors involved. The problem here is that these terms are not always understood to mean the same thing. For example, in common practice, delivery is deemed completed, and title to the product and the risk of loss pass to the importer, upon shipment. This definition of delivery is called FOB. However, the definition of FOB under Incoterms differs from the definition used in the USA. Therefore, to avoid the problems arising from the different possible meanings of these terms, it is highly recommended that each of these terms, whenever used in an agreement, be defined in it.

A drastic change in the foreign exchange rate could absorb all the profit expected from a transaction or could even cause a deficit. Both parties, therefore, may wish to establish their right to request a price change or to cancel the agreement in such a case.?An importer can avoid this risk of foreign exchange rate by insisting on a price in his own country.

Destination

In the event that the destination port is too crowded ,?and the exporter's ship must wait for many days to enter the port, transportation expense will necessarily be increased. These will be borne by either the exporter or the importer depending upon the agreements made between the two. Even in CIF or CFR contracts, it is possible to provide that the importer will bear any additional port charge. If a port cannot be safely used because of war, the doctrine of force majeure usually excuses a ship from delivering products at the port. In such a case, the exporter should be allowed to deliver the goods at the nearest port possible, especially when the disabling disturbances continue for some time. In general, it is wise for the exporter to set forth in his contract a list of several ports at which the goods may be delivered.

Insurance

The exporter will want insurance to be taken out to cover war risks, strikes, riots, civil commotion, spontaneous combustion, and other risks of this type which are usually exempted from insurance. The exporter will want this coverage to be at the importer's expense, by means of including the insurance premiums in CIF or CFR prices. Both parties should keep in mind that taking out of insurance will be closely related to the contract clause that allocates the risk of loss. A conlract should make clear when and where the risk of loss or damage passes from the exporter to the importer. The exporter then need not worry about loss or damage after the risk has passed to the importer; and the importer need not worry about insurance covering damages that occur before the risk passes to him.

Customs duty

There will be no dispute over the common practice that customs duties are to be paid by the importer. However, the importer will argue that the exporter must pay any additional duties imposed as a result of the exporter's errors as to quantity or price indication, and that the exporter should pay any additional expense due to the exporter's mistake or mishandling.

The exporter will have to accept such an argument by the importer if the importer has provided clear instructions with regard to labeling, documentation, or other specifications affecting customs procedures with which the exporter has not complied.

Questions for reading :

[Bill of Exchange??The majority of international payments are made by way of bills of exchange either with or without a documentary credit. There are five parties to a bill of exchange : drawer, drawee, payee, acceptor and endorser.

The drawer is the person who draws the bill and the drawee is the person(or firm) on whom the bill is drawn. The payee is the person or firm to whom the bill is payable and it is most frequently the drawer. The acceptor is the person who undertakes to pay the bill by writing his acceptance across the face of the bill. An acceptance is a legal undertaking to pay the amount of the bill. An endorser is a person who endorses a bill by signing his name on it(usually on the back).

A bill is negotiated when it is transferred from one person to another in such a way as to?constitute the transferee , the holder of the bill. A bearer bill is one that can be passed on by mere delivery. It is one that has been made out "X days after date pay the bearer,etc. " or one made out to a fictitious payee , or one which has been endorsed in blank,i. e. the last endorser has not given any instructions but merely signed his name. A bearer bill does not need to be endorsed by those who negotiate it , but to some extent it is less reliable than a bill with many endorsements. Bills which are not bearer bills are negotiated by endorsement and delivery. Those endorsing a bill as agents or representatives of a company can make this clear so that they are not personally liable.

When a bill is presented for acceptance, the drawee should accept it, if he refuses to do so, claiming perhaps that he has not authorized the bill to be drawn and knows nothing about it, the bill is dishonored by non-acceptance. If a bill is presented for payment on the due date,and the acceptor refuses to pay it,then the bill is dishonored by non-payment. It is now necessary for the holder to take certain action to protect himself.

· He must give notice of dishonor to the drawer and all other endorsers of the bill. In practice he usuaUy gives notice of the dishonor to the person from whom he obtained the bill , who?gives notice to the person from whom he obtained it and the bill moves backwards towards the drawer. The process could be short-circuited if certain of the endorsers were famous names, for example accepting houses, who?could?easily be?approached?directly to honor the bill. Eventually the drawer must honor it, and he will bring an action against the acceptor.

· If it is a foreign bill, he must protest the bill, to safeguard his rights against the drawer and endorsers. There are two ways of obtaining formal evidence of the dishonor of the bill. The first is called "noting"?the bill. The holder asks a notary public to re-present the bill. This official,when refused either acceptance or payment as the case may be,then writes on the face of the bill that it was dishonored. The " note"?constitutes formal evidence of dishonor , so it is necessary to use the bill as evidence in court. With foreign bills a more formal process called " protesting" , is carried out. The notary public re-presents the bill, and if it is dishonored he draws up a formal certificate of dishonor,the protest. The protest must contain a copy of' the boill,and be signed by the notary making it. It must then specify the person at whose request the bill is being protested, the place and date of protest, the cause or reason for protesting the bill,the demand made and the answer given, or the fact that the drawee or acceptor could not be found. Protest will usually be done on the day of dishonor,but if there is good reason why this is not possible, it must be done with reasonable diligence after the delay has occurred. This might arise where the bill was presented by post and returned dishonored by post.

The legal consequences of dishonor may be listed as follows :

(a) The protesting of a foreign bill secures the position of the holder against all previous endorsers and the drawer. They become liable to compensate the holder for the loss he has suffered.

(b)ln practice the holder will turn to the person from whom he obtained the bill and will be put in funds by that person. That person then tums to his endorser and so on.

It might appear that a break in the chain could develop in the case of a bearer bill, because the bill is transferred by mere delivery and the transferor by delivery does not put his name on the bill. Although a person who transfers by delivery is not liable on the bill to the whole world , he is liable to his immediate transferee , because he warrants that the bill is what is purports to be , that he has right to transfer it , and that at the time of transferring it he knew of no fact rendering it valueless.

(c) Eventually the bill reaches the drawer who honors it and turns to the acceptor. They may agree to renew the bill with suitable arrangements on interest if the acceptor's difficulties are purely temporary. If this is not agreeable, the drawer may begin an action which will end in judgment for the drawer, possibly in distraint on the assets of the acceptor,or even in his bankruptcy.

Sometimes bills are "claused"?with phrases which require the drawee to pay more than the actual value of the bill. There are three chief reasons why these were introduced over the years. First , the aim was to throw the burden of any exchange risk on to the foreign drawee. Second,it was to enable the drawer to provide for the payment of interest by the drawee,in order to compensate the drawer for the time taken for the drawee's payment to reach him. Third, a clause was often helpful in permitting the banker to act as an arbiter in deciding what rate of exchange to use when the drawee paid in local currency.

When the exporters and importers have been trading with one another for some time and have built up a satisfactory trading relationship, they may decide to dispense with documentary credits and rely solely on documentary bills as a means of payment. This means that the exporter will ship his goods and attach the documents relating to the consignment to the bill of exchange, which he draws on the importer. The bill and documents are then sent through the exporter's bank to the importer's bank (or another bank in the importer's country) for acceptance and/or payment. If they decide to trade on the basis of a clean bill of exchange then, the exporter will send the documents directly to the importer. The exporter loses control over the documents once he has parted with them and must rely upon the good faith of the importer for ultimate acceptance and payment of the bill.

A bill of exchange is a useful device not only as a means of settlement but also,if it is a usance bill as a means of obtaining credit. An exporter, having drawn a usance bill on his buyer,may obtain funds immediately by negotiating the bill or by borrowing from his bank against the bill that is sent for collection. The importer has the usance of the bill as a period of credit and may be able to resell the goods and obtain the proceeds before the maturity date of the bill. The bill is also useful as evidence of a debt , which can be used in a court of law.

When a biU of exchange is drawn under a documentary credit the drawer is assured of acceptance and payment by the issuing bank provided that he has fulfilled all the terms and conditions of the credit. No such assurance exists without a documentary credit, however , and therefore not to trade on a documentary bill basis is much more risky from the point of view of the exporter. Nevertheless, as the documents are channeled through the banking system with instructions that they should be handed over to the importer only against acceptance or payment of the bill, the system obviously does offer more protection than trading on the basis of clean bills of exchange.

If the exporter asks his bank to collect a documentary bill on his behalf, he instructs the bank to release the documents against acceptance of the bill, the bill is known as a D/ A bill. If the documents are to be released only against payment the bill is a D/P bill. While a sight bill is drawn the documents will be handed over only against payment, but for the majority of usance bills the instruction to the bank is to release the documents against acceptance?of the?bill. In?some?countries, particularly?in?the?Far East, the documents may not be handed over until payment, even if the exporter wishes them to be released against acceptance. This encourages the importer to pay the bill before maturity. In some countries, it is possible for the importer legally to demand the documents upon acceptance of the bill, even though the exporter's instructions are for documents against payment. The drawee of a bill is entitled to inspect the documents. If the bill is a D/P bill, the drawee is usually allowed to respect them at the bank.

The process of discounting a foreign bill of exchange is called negotiation. The procedure is similar to that of discounting a domestic bill,in that the banker buys the bill and hands over the face value of it less discount,but there are some differences. Unlike a domestic bill,the bill will probably not have been accepted and may be either a sight bill or a usance bill. Indeed there may not be a bill at all as the documents may be negotiated on their own ones. When a bank negotiates a bill,it in effect buys it and then sends it for collection in its own right. However, it usually requires the exporter to sign a form undertaking to recompense the bank in the event of the bill being unpaid.

The amount of interest charged by a bank on a negotiation is calculated on the period between the date of negotiation and the date on which the bank receives the proceeds , and will include the time in getting the bill presented for acceptance , for it is only then that the usance of most bills begins to become effective.

Another expense that will be deducted by the negotiating bank will be the postal charges and?stamp duty ,if any, plus?a commission.

Questions for reading :

The Major Currencies in the World??The currencies of the world's major economies have names and backgrounds that are as diverse as the countries themselves.

The dollar is the name for the currency used in many countries including the United States , Canada, and Australia. It gets its name from a silver coin minted during the Middle Ages in a small valley, or "Thal" , in?Bohemia called?Joachimathal. Just a sausage Frankfurt called "Joachimsthaler" or simply " Thaler" , and came to be called?" dollar" in English.

The pound, used in Britain, Egypt, and Lebanon among others, refers to the weight used in determining the value of coins, based on precious metals such as gold or sterling. The penny has the same origin as the word pawn,found in terms such as pawn shop , and?originally?meant "to?pledge".?A?penny , like?any?currency , is?a?" pledge " of value.

In Italy and Turkey , the currency is called lira. The word is based on the Latin lira, meaning "pound" and once again referring to the weight of the original coins.

In?Spanish , the word meaning?" weight" , peso is used to describe the?coins?that were based on a certain weight of gold or silver. Originally,there were gold coins called peso de oro and silver ones?called peso de plata. In Spain , the currency is called peseta, meaning "small peso". The word peso is used to describe the currency in many Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America.

In Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, the word for crown-krone in Denmark and Norway,krona in Sweden-is used to describe the currency that was originally minted by the king and queen,with royal crowns stamped on the earlier coins. Today,the crown has been replaced by other symbols , but the name remams.

The franc,used in France, Switzerland, and other countries and territories,is based on?the early coins used in France, that bore the Latin inscription franconium rex , meaning "king of the Franks". The com, as well as the country, took its name from one of the original tribes that settled in the area, the Franks.

The German mark and Finnish markka derive their name from the small marks that were cut into coins to indicate their precious metal content. The German mark, deutsche mark in?German ,is often called by its?shortened name , D-mark.

The ancient Chinese word yuan meant "round", or "round thing". The name of the Japanese currency, the yen, and the name of the?Chinese currency, the yuan , both derived from the old Chinese word,refer to the round shape of the original coins.

Problem may arise when using the plural forms of these currencies. Most take the English?plural "s", for?example , pounds , dollars , francs , Deutschmarks , etc.?However , some are invariable: yuan, yen, baht, and rand. Others keep the plural form of the language spoken in the country of origin: lira-lire , krone-kroner, krona-kronor , markka-markkaa , etc.

Currencies are said to be convertible or invertible. Semi-convertible currencies can only be bought or sold through a country's central bank for documented commercial transactions. The exchange rates are fixed. Semi-convertible currencies are typical of third world countries.

A hard currency is one which is strong and unlikely to fall in value. A soft currency is one from a country with a week balance of payments and for which there is little demand.

Questions for reading :

Procedures of Marine Insurance??Usually insurance is arranged by the exporter (under CIF terms etc. ) or the importer (under FOB,?CFR terms etc.)?approaching an insurance company which has a department specializing in cargo insurance. They may start by inquiring and choosing the right coverage and then negotiate insurance premium rates. Sometimes, brokers may be utilized whose assistance can be of enormous benefit as they are highly skilled specialists and can obtain sound and reliable coverage, together with competitive premium rates. In export trade, who will effect insurance depends on the particular trade terms adopted. Under CIF terms, it is the seller who arranges insurance with an insurance company. Under the terms as FOB, CFR, the buyer effects insurance, but he may ask the seller to arrange insurance on behalf of the buyer. An insurance policy is issued when goods are insured, but it is also usual for certificate of insurance to be issued for documentary purposes. An insurance policy is acrually a contract, serving as evidence of the arrangement between the insurer and the person taking out insurance. It forms part of the shipping documents.

In completing the insurance contract-the insurance policy-either party, buyer or seller,?will undergo different steps,?they are :

1. To apply for marine insurance

In some countries, the first step the insured party should take is to apply for insurance from a certain insurance company. The applicant should fill in the special form-the proposal form, which gives all the details concerning ownership, value, time span insurance will be for, risks and coverages, etc.

2. To determine the insurance value of the goods to be insured

Cenerally speaking, the value to be insured is based on the value of the commercial invoice; the need for maintaining adequate insurance has already been stressed. The recommended minimum amount is the total CIF value plus 10% for other fees and normal margin of profit. Probably the best way of determining needed insurance is to estimate the market value of the goods at the port of destination and to obtain coverage for that amount. Other methods of arriving at a valuation of goods may also be agreed,as determination of the value to be insured varies from country to country.

3. To determine the insurance average and coverage

Determining the right coverage sometimes can be easy, and sometimes difficult. The decision can be made only on the basis of the following factors : the nature of the product; packing considerations such as difference of air and sea transport; shipping route and ports consideration such as any transshipment on the way to the final port, etc.?Based on the above factors , the insured may consider the averages and coverages. The average is closely linked with the goods and the goods,in return, are related with the coverage.

4. To determine insurance premium rates

The rates charged by the insurance company depend on many factors. The important determinants include the type of coverage desired, shipping routes, types of conveyances, duration of the voyage , and nature of the goods. Also important is each individual shipper's past loss experiences. Af'ter a period of favorable experience, rates may be lowered. Conversely,a shipper with a bad loss record may find his premiums increased. Generally, the greater the risks that the consignment is exposed to,the higher the premium will be. Premium for sending goods through the Persian Gulf,where the area is at a war, are much higher than sending oil through the Suez Canal. More exactly, the factors determining the insurance premium rates include the carrying vessel, nature of' the packing used, type of merchandise involved, nature of transit and related warehouse accommodation, previous experiences , the extent of cover needed and the volume of cargo involved.

5. To sign an insurance policy

Before filling in and signing an insurance policy, it is important to know what an insurance policy is and the kind of insurance policies. The most common policies being used now in the world today are msurance policy, insurance certificate and open policy , etc.

6. To lodge an insurance claim

Whenever an actual loss occurs ,it is important that the one having an interest in the goods can get fair, efficient, and rapid adjustment of his claims. A basic prerequisite for having a claim recognized by the insurance company is that the one making the claim has an insurable interest in the goods. Susceptibility to financial loss by the claim, if the shipment is lost or damaged,is sufficient to demonstrate an insurable interest. Claims can be made by the shipper,the buyer or even a carrier that has first lien on goods for unpaid freight charges. The one who registers a claim is not so easy. It needs patience, evidence and knowledge.

Most insurance company policies require that immediate notice be given to the nearest branch or agency in the event of damage giving rise to claim under a policy on goods. When notified of damage, the company's agent appoints a suitable surveyor to inspect the goods and to report on the nature and extent of damage. A common practice is for a report or certificate of loss incorporating the surveyor's findings to be issued to the consignees , the latter paying the fee. This certificate of loss is included with the claim papers and, if the loss is recoverable under the insurance cover,the fee is refunded to the claimants.

In some circumstances , the claim pap ers are returned to the place where the insurance was effected and subsequently to the underwriters.?However, especially where goods are sold on CIF terms and the policy is assigned to the consignees;arrangements are made for any claims to be paid at destination. In such cases, the consignees approach the agents named in the policy for payment of their claims. Of course, the claims procedure will vary by circumstances but undoubtedly a quicker settlement should be secured in the event of loss or damage.

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The function of packing mainly shows as follows : packing can be used to protect the goods and keep them as good and complete as they are shipped in the circulation field; packing?makes it convenient for stoiing, taking care of, transporting, loading, unloading the goods;strong packing can prevent the goods from being stolen and damaged; reasonable packing can lessen shipping space and save freight. Marketing packing makes it convenient for consumers to select, carry, or use the goods. Marketing packing can also beautify the commodity, attract consumers, expand sales and increase the gains on foreign exchange. In addition to all those mentioned above, packing of the goods, in a sense,incarnates the level of a country's?economic construction, science and technology, culture and art, etc.

In order to satisfy the rapid development of our foreign trade,we should grasp the latest achievement of packing science, do well in our export trade, and try to make our packing more scientific, economical, strong, merchantable, and pleasing to the eyes, and do our utmost to increase the foreign exchange eamings. So the following points should be complied with.

We should greatly strengthen the research into packing materials, packing contains and packing methods, in which we should not only attach importance to many years' experience in our packing work but also earnestly study the advanced experience of foreign countries, and start from the reality of our country to continuously improve our commodity packing work.

We should carefully study the packing characteristics, developing tendency and relative packing regulations and decrees in intemational markets so as to make the packing of our export commodity adapted to marketing requirements and consumption habits. Especially we should pay close attention to the needs for our packaging decorations of the goods in foreign supermarkets, and the reasonable stipulations on packing of import countries , thus increasing our commodity sales.

We should strengthen the study of the design for packaging decorations, improve packing techniques, blaze new trails, and continuously increase the artistic level of packing.

We should realize the standardization of our exporting commodity packing and unification of materials, specifications, capacities, standards and sealing methods, only in this way can it be easy to measure,identify,load,unload and transport the goods, so as to promote the smooth fulfillment of business.

On possible conditions, we should properly make acquisition of advanced technology from abroad to help produce the high level and advanced packing materials which we can not make by our technology process,in order to meet the requirements of the international market for high level packaging materials.

Specifically speaking, we should study the packing from both protective and promotional aspects. This kind of product production needed in one market may differ from that needed elsewhere. A hot, humid climate probably requires a package different from that needed in a cooler, drier area. The kind of transportation and ways of handling the product can also dictate package differences. Stronger protection must be built into package if it will be subjected to bad roads, long distances and frequent or rough handling. Long and slow distribution channels also increase the demands on the package. If one market has a three-month cycle of production to final consumption and another market has a six-month cycle , the latter market probably will require a more durable and expensive package. This is especially true if the market with a slow distribution cycle also has bad transportation and other conditions punishing to packages, as is frequently the case. For the reason the poorer countries may require more expensive packaging in spite of' their lower purchasing power. In addition to these conditions within the channel,the way the final buyer uses the product will also affect the package. If the buyer has a slow usage rate and lacks appropriate storage facilities,the demands on the package are increased.

Promotional aspects of packaging, those attributes which help persuade channel members to handle the product and consumers to buy it, often vary among markets, too. Channel members want minimum breakage and theft , plus ease of handling. The retailer is concemed about shelf storage and display. A country with a large number of very small retail outlets may want a package different from the one desired by a country where self- service supermarkets are popular. Because of shopping habit and retail structure, most of the detergent sold in France , Germany , and Spain is packed in three-and-one-half kilogram round drum.

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