美国对外贸易定义FOB

FOB術語的解釋
買賣雙方基本義務的劃分按國際商會對FOB的解釋，買賣雙方各自承擔的基本義務。

概括起來，可作如下劃分：
一、賣方義務
1、在合同規定的時間或期限內，在裝運港，按照習慣方式將貨物交到買方指派的船上，並及
時通知買方。

2、自負風險和費用，取得出口許可證或其他官方批准證件。

在需要辦理海關手續時，辦理貨
物出口所需的一切海關手續。

3、負擔貨物在裝運港越過船舷為止的一切費用和風險；
4、自付費用提供證明貨物已交至船上的通常單據。

如果買賣雙方約定採用電子通訊，則所有
單據均可被具有同等效力的電子數據交換(EDI)信息所代替。

二、買方義務
1、自負風險和費用取得進口許可證或其他官方批准的證件。

在需要辦理海關手續時，辦理貨
物進口以及經由他國過境的一切海關手續，並支付有關費用及過境費；
2、負責租船或訂艙，支付運費，並給予賣方關於船名、裝船地點和要求交貨時間的充分的通知；
3、負擔貨物在裝運港越過船舷後的一切費用和風險；
4、接受賣方提供的有關單據，受領貨物，並按合同規定支付貨款。

《1941年美國對外貿易定義修訂本》對FOB的解釋
《1941年美國對外貿易定義修訂本》對FOB的解釋分為六種，其中只有：指定裝運港船上交貨” (FOB Vessel，"named port of shipment”)、所以，《1941年美國對外貿易定義修訂本》對FOB的解釋與運用，同國際上的一般解釋與運用有明顯的差異，這主要表現在下列幾方面：
1、美國慣例把FOB籠統地解釋為在某處某種運輸工具上交貨，其適用範圍很廣，因此，在
同美國、加拿大等國的商人按FOB訂立合同時，除必須標明裝運港名稱外，還必須在FOB
後加上“船舶”(Vessel)字樣。

如果只訂為“FOB SanFrancisco”而漏寫“Vessel”字樣,則賣方只負
責把貨物運到舊金山城內的任何處所，不負責把貨物運到舊金山港口並交到船上。

2、在風險劃分上，不是以裝運港船舷為界，而是以船艙為界，即賣方負擔貨物裝到船艙為止
所發生的一切丟失與損壞。

3、在費用負擔上，規定買方要支付賣方協助提供出口單證的費用以及出口稅和因出口而產生
的其他費用。

使用FOB術語應註意的幾個問題
1.“船舷為界”的確切含義
以裝運港船舷作為劃分買賣雙方所承租風險的界限是FOB、CIF、CFR同其他貿易術語的重要區別之一。

“船舷為界”表明貨物在裝上船之前的風險，包括在裝船時貨物跌落碼頭或海中所造成的損失，均由賣方承擔。

貨物上船之後，包括在運輸過程中所發生的損壞或滅失，則由買方承擔。

以“船舷為界”是說以風險劃分的界限，而不能把它作為劃分買賣雙方承擔的責任和費用的界限，因為裝船作業是一個連續的過程，它包括貨物從岸上起吊，越過船舷，裝入船艙。

如果賣方承擔了裝船的責任，他必須完成上述作業，而不可能在船舷辦理交接。

在實際業務中，FOB 合同的賣方往往根據合同規定或雙方確定的習慣做法，負責將貨物在裝運港實際裝在船上，並提供清潔已裝船提單。

關於裝船費用負擔問題，一般情況下，賣方要承擔裝船的主要費用，而不包括貨物上船後的整理費用，即理艙費和平艙費。

但在實際業務中，並非都按這一統一模式規定，而是出於不同考慮，可有不同規定方法，這在下麵會具體論述。

2.船貨銜接問題
按照FOB含義，買方應負責租船訂艙並將船期、船名及時通知對方，而賣方負責在規定期限內將貨物裝上買方指定的船上。

但是，如果買方不按期派船，賣方有權撤銷合同和要求賠償損失，或有權代買方租船裝運，或憑裝運地倉庫單代替提單索取貨款。

如果未經賣方同意，船隻提前到達，則賣方不負責支付空艙費或滯期費。

相反，如果買方按期派船，而賣方未能及時備貨按期裝船，則賣方應支付由此造成的滯期費和空艙費。

在FOB條件下，有時買方可能委托賣方代其租船訂艙，但這僅屬委托代辦性質，賣方可以同意也可以不同意。

如果賣方租不到船隻或訂不到艙位，其風險由買方自負，買方無權向賣方提出賠償損失或撤銷合同。

總之，按FOB術語成交，對於裝運期和裝運港要慎重規定，訂約之後，有關備貨和派船方面，也要加強聯繫，密切配合，以保證船貨很好的銜接。

3.裝船費用的負擔問題
按照FOB定義，賣方應負責支付貨物裝上船前的一切費用，而買方應負責貨物上船以後的一切費用。

大宗商品按FOB條件成交時，買方通常採用租船運輸。

由於船方通常多按不負擔裝卸條件出租船舶，故買賣雙方容易在裝船費用由誰負擔問題上引起爭議。

為此，買賣雙方訂立合同時，應在FOB後另列有關裝船費用由誰負擔的具體條件，以及責任，這就導致了FOB的一些變形。

常見的有下列幾種：
(1)FOB Liner Term(班輪條件)。

這一變形是指裝船費用按照班輪運輸的做法來辦，即船方管裝管卸，裝卸費打入班輪運費之中，自然由負責租船訂艙的買方承擔，賣方不負擔裝船的有關費用。

(2)FOB Under Tackle(吊鉤下交貨)。

指賣方將貨物交到買方指定船隻的吊鉤所及之處，即吊裝入艙以及其他各項費用概由買方負擔。

這一術語一般使用不多。

(3)FOB Stowed-FOBS(理艙費在內)。

指賣方負責將貨物裝入船艙並承擔包括理艙費在內的裝船費用。

理艙費是指貨物入艙後進行安置和整理的費用。

(4)FOB Trimmed-FOBT(平艙費在內)。

指賣方負責將貨物裝入船艙並承擔包括平艙費在內的裝船費用。

平艙費是指對裝入船艙的散裝貨物進行平整所需的費用。

FOB的上述變形只是為了表明裝船費用由誰負擔問題而產生的，它們並不改變FOB的交貨地點以及風險劃分的界限。

4.美國對FOB的不同解釋
以上有關FOB的解釋都是按照國際商會的《通則》做出的，然而，不同的國家和不同的慣例對FOB的解釋並不完全一致。

它們之間的差異在有關交貨地點、風險劃分界限以及賣方承擔的責任義務等方面的規定上都可以體現出來。

例如美國和美洲一些國家採用的《1941年美國對外貿易定義修訂本》中，將FOB概括為6種。

其中的前3種是在出口國內指定地點的內陸運輸工具上交貨，第4種是在出口地點的內陸運輸工具上交貨，第5種是在裝運港船上交貨(與《2000年通則》解釋的FOB術語相似)，第6種是在進口國指定內陸地點交貨。

上述第4種和第5種在使用時應加以註意，因為這兩種術語在交貨地點上有可能與《通則》相同。

比如都是在舊金山(San. Francisco)交貨，如果買方要求在裝運港口的船上交貨，則應在FOB和港名之間加上“Vessel”(船)字樣，變成FOB Vessel San. Francisco,否則賣方有可能按第4種，在舊金山市的內陸運輸工具上交貨。

即使都是在裝運港船上交貨，關於風險劃分界限的規定也不完全一樣。

按照美國的《定義》的解釋，買賣雙方劃分風險的界限不是在船舷，而是在船上。

賣方責任<3>規定“承擔貨物一切滅失/或損壞責任，直至在規定日期或期限內，已將貨物裝載於輪船上為止”。

另外關於辦理出口手續問題上也存在分歧。

按照《通則》解釋，FOB條件下，賣方應“自行承擔風險及費用，取得出口許可證或其它官方批准證件”。

但按照美國的《定義》賣方只是“在買方請求並由其負擔費用的情況下，協助買方取得由原產地及/或裝運地國家簽發的為貨物出口或在目的地進口所需的各種證件”。

RAFTDS
(II) F.O.B.(Free on Board)
Note : Seller and buyer should consider not only the definitions but also the "Comments on all F.O.B. Terms" given at the end of this section, in order to understand fully their respective responsibilities and rights under the several classes of "F.O.B." terms.
(II-A) "F.O.B.(named inland carrier at named inland point of departure)"
Under this terms, the price quoted applies only at inland applies only at inland shipping point, and the seller arranges for loading of the goods on, or in, railway cars, trucks, lighters, barges, aircraft, or other conveyance furnished for transportation.
Under this quotation :
Seller must (1) place goods on, or in, conveyance, or deliver to inland carrier for loading ;
(2) provide clean bill of lading or other transportation receipt, freight collect ;
(3) be responsible for any loss or damage, or both, until goods have been placed in, or on, conveyance at loading point, and clean bill of lading other transportation receipt has been furnished by the carrier ;
(4) render the buyer, at the buyer's request and expense, assistance in obtaining the documents issued in the country of origin, or of shipments, or of both, which the buyer may require either for purposes of exportation, or of importation at destination. Buyer must (1) be responsible for all movement of the goods from inland point of loading and pay all transportation costs ;
(2) pay export taxes, or other fees or charges, if any, levied because of exportation;
(3) be responsible for any loss or damage, or both, incurred after loading at named inland point of departure ;
(4) pay all costs and charges incurred in obtaining the documents issued in the country of origin, or of shipment, or of both, which may be required either for purposes of exportation, or of importation at destination.
(II-B) "F.O.B.(named inland carrier at named inland point of departure) Freight Prepaid To (named point of exportation)"
Under this term, the seller quotes a price including transportation charges to the named point of exportation and prepays freight to named point of exportation, without assuming responsibility for the goods after obtaining a clean bill of lading or other transportation receipt at named inland point of departure.
Under this quotation :
Seller must (1) assume the seller's obligations as under II-A. except that under (2) he must provide clean bill of lading or other transportation receipt, freight prepaid to named point of exportation.
Buyer must (1) assume the same buyer's obligation as under II-A, except that he does not pay freight from loading point to named point of exportation.
(II-C) "F.O.B.(named inland carrier at named inland point of departure) Freight Allowed To (named point)"
Under this term, the seller quotes a price including the transportation charges to the named point, shipping freight collect and deducting the cost of transportation, without assuming responsibility for the goods after obtaining a clean bill of lading or other transportation receipt at named inland point of departure.
Under this quotation :
Seller must (1) assume the same seller's obligations as under II-A, but deducts from his invoice the transportation cost to named point.
Buyer must (1) assume the same buyer's obligations as under II-A, including payment of freight from inland loading point to named point, for which seller has made deduction.
(II-D) "F.O.B.(named inland carrier at named point of exportation)"
Under this term, the seller quotes a price including the costs of transportation of the goods to named point of exportation, bearing any loss or damage, or both, incurred up to that point.
Under this quotation :
Seller must (1) place goods on, or in, conveyance, or deliver to inland carrier for loading ;
(2) provide clean bill of lading or other transportation receipt, paying all transportation costs from loading point to named point of exportation ;
(3) be responsible for any loss or damage, or both, until goods have arrived in, or on, inland conveyance at the named point of exportation ;
(4) render the buyer, at the buyer's request and expense, assistance in obtaining the documents issued in the country of origin, or of shipment, or of both, which the buyer may require either for purposes of exportation, or of importation at destination. Buyer must (1) be responsible for all movement of the goods from inland conveyance at named point of exportation ;
(2) pay export taxes, or other fees or charges, if any, levied because of exportation;
(3) be responsible for any loss or damage, or both, incurred after goods have arrived in, or on, inland conveyance at the named point of exportation ;
(4) pay all costs and charges incurred in obtaining the documents issued in the country of origin, or of shipment, or of both, which may be required either for purposes of exportation, or of importation at destination.
(II-E) "F.O.B. Vessel (named port of shipment)"
Under this term, the seller quotes a price covering all expenses up to, and including, delivery of the goods upon the overseas vessel provided by, or for, the buyer at the named port of shipment.
Under this quotation :
Seller must (1) pay all charges incurred in placing goods actually on board the vessel designated and provided by, or for, the buyer on the date or within the period fixed ;
(2) provide clean ship's receipt or on-board bill of lading ;
(3) be responsible for any loss or damage, or both, until goods have been placed on
board the vessel on the date or within the period fixed ;
(4) render the buyer, at the buyer's request and expense, assistance in obtaining the documents issued in the country of origin, or of shipment, or of both, which the buyer may require either for purposes of exportation, or of importation at destination. Buyer must (1) give seller adequate notice of name, sailing date, loading berth of, and delivery time to, the vessel ;
(2) bear the additional costs incurred and all risks of the good from the time when the seller has placed them at his disposal if the vessel named by him fails to arrive or to load within the designated time ;
(3) handle all subsequent movement of the goods to destination ;
(a) provide and pay for insurance ;
(b) provide and pay for ocean and other transportation ;
(4) pay export taxes, or other fees or charges, if any, levied because of exportation;
(5) be responsible for any loss or damage, or both, after goods have been loaded on board the vessel ;
(6) pay all costs and charges incurred in obtaining the documents, other than ocean ship's receipt or bill of lading, issued in the country of origin, or of shipment, or of both, which may be required either for purposes of exportation, or of importation at destination.
(II-F) "F.O.B.(named inland point in country of importation)"
Under this term, the seller quotes a price including the cost of the merchandise and all costs of transportation to the named inland point in the country of importation. Under this quotation :
Seller must (1) provide and pay for all transportation to the named inland point in the country of importation ;
(2) pay export taxes, or other fees or charges, if any, levied because of exportation;
(3) provide and pay for marine insurance ;
(4) provide and pay for war risk insurance, unless otherwise agreed upon between the seller and buyer ;
(5) be responsible for any loss or damage, or both, until arrival of goods on conveyance at the named inland point in the country of importation ;
(6) pay the costs of certificates of origin, consular invoices, or any other documents issued in the country of origin, or of shipment, or of both, which the buyer may require for the importation of goods into the country of destination and, where necessary, for their passage in transit through another country ;
(7) pay all costs of landing, including wharfage, landing charges, and taxes, if any ;
(8) pay all costs of customs entry in the country of importation ;
(9) pay customs duties and all taxes applicable to imports, if any, in the country of importation.
Note : The seller under this quotation must realize that he is accepting important responsibilities, costs, and risks, and should therefore be certain to obtain adequate insurance. On the other hand, the importer or buyer may desire such quotations to
relieve him of the risks of the voyage and to assure him of his landed costs at inland point in country of importation. When competition is keen, or the buyer is accustomed to such quotations from other sellers, seller may quote such terms, being careful to protect himself in an appropriate manner.
Buyer must (1) take prompt delivery of goods from conveyance upon arrival at destination.
(2) bear any costs and be responsible for all loss or damage, or both, after arrival at destination.
Comments on All F.O.B. Terms
In connection with. F.O.B. terms, the following points of caution are recommended : 1. The method of inland transportation, such as trucks, railroad cars, lighters, barges, or aircraft should be specified.
2. If any switching charges are involved during the inland transportation, it should be agreed, in advance, whether these charges are for account of the seller or the buyer.
3. The term "F.O.B. (named port)", without designating the exact point at which the liability of the seller terminates and the liability of the buyer begins, should be avoided. The use of this term gives rise to disputes as to the liability of the seller or the buyer in the event of loss or damage arising while the goods are in port, and before delivery to or on board the ocean carrier. Misunderstandings may be avoided by naming the specific point of delivery.
4. If lighterage or trucking is required in the transfer of goods from the inland conveyance to ship's side, and there is a cost therefor, it should be understood, in advance, whether this cost is for account of the seller or the buyer.
5. The seller should be certain to notify the buyer of the minimum quantity required to obtain a carload, a truck-load, or a barge-load freight rate.
6. Under F.O.B. terms, excepting "F.O.B. (named inland point in country of importation)", the obligation to obtain ocean freight space, and marine and war risk insurance, rests with the buyer. Despite this obligation on the part of the buyer, in many trades the seller obtains the ocean freight space, and marine and war risk insurance, and provides for shipment on behalf of the buyer. Hence, seller and Buyer must have an understanding as to whether the buyer will obtain the ocean freight space, marine and war risk insurance, as is his obligation, or whether the seller agrees to do this for the buyer.
7. For the seller's protection, he should provide in his contract of sale that marine insurance obtained by the buyer include standard warehouse to warehouse coverage.。