Incoterms

Things can get weird when you conduct business over international boundaries. Different laws. Different assumptions related to how contracts are made. Different types of acceptable greetings...sometimes you bow, sometimes you shake hands, sometimes you tickle your business associates under their chins.

Incoterms try to smooth these complexities (well, not the greetings part...you're on your own to figure out when chin-tickling is appropriate). The term "incoterms" is short for "international commercial terms." Put out by the International Chamber of Commerce, they provide guidelines on conducting international transactions...especially topics related to transportation and how various concepts can be interpreted in different jurisdictions.