KNOWLEDGE CENTRE

Foreign Trade and International Shipping Glossary

The 56 terms you meet most often in customs, micro export and e-export, with clear and accurate definitions. Search for a term or browse by letter.

  • Terms56
  • ScopeCustoms · shipping · e-export
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A

ATA Carnet
An international customs document that allows samples, trade fair materials and professional equipment to be imported temporarily without duties and then brought back.
A.TR Movement Certificate
A document that, under the Türkiye–EU Customs Union, exempts industrial goods in free circulation from customs duty in the EU. Agricultural products are not covered. Learn more
AWB (Air Waybill)
The contract of carriage and tracking document for a shipment carried by air. In express shipping, the tracking number is usually the AWB number. Learn more

B

Binding Tariff Information (BTI)
An official decision by the customs administration on the tariff classification (HS code) of a product, binding for a set period. Learn more

C

CE Marking
A mark showing that a product meets the EU's health, safety and environmental requirements. It is mandatory for selling many product groups in the EU.
Certificate of Origin
A document showing the country in which a product was made. Some countries require a certificate of origin on import.
CIF
The total of the cost of the goods, insurance and freight (Cost, Insurance, Freight). Many countries calculate customs duty on the CIF value; it is also an Incoterms delivery term. Learn more
CITES
The convention that regulates international trade in endangered species of plants and animals. Trade in coral, ivory and some tree species requires a permit.
Commercial Invoice
The core document for customs procedures, showing the price of the sale and the description, quantity and value of the goods. Learn more
Consignment Export
Exporting goods before a final sale is made and receiving payment once they are sold abroad. It can also be done with the ETGB up to 600 kg and €30,000. Learn more
Cultural Property
Movable works of historical, artistic or cultural value. Under Turkish Law No. 2863, taking them out of the country is prohibited. Learn more
Customs Broker
A licensed expert authorised to carry out customs procedures on behalf of an importer or exporter.
Customs Union
The arrangement in force between Türkiye and the EU since 1996 that removes customs duties on industrial goods. The A.TR certificate is used under it. Learn more
Customs Value
The value on which customs duty is calculated. Depending on the country, it is the cost of the goods (FOB) or the total of the cost of the goods, freight and insurance (CIF).

D

Dangerous Goods
Substances that pose a safety risk in air or other transport and require special packaging, marking and declaration (e.g. lithium batteries, perfume, aerosols). Learn more
DAP
Delivery term (Delivered at Place): the shipment is delivered to the buyer's address, and taxes and customs costs in the destination country are paid by the buyer. Learn more
DDP
Delivery term (Delivered Duty Paid): the sender pays all costs in the destination country, including customs duty and taxes; the buyer pays nothing on delivery. Learn more
De Minimis
The value threshold below which a country does not charge customs duty and/or VAT on low-value shipments. The US de minimis exemption of $800 has been suspended since 29 August 2025. Learn more
Desi
The Turkish term for weight calculated from a box's volume. In international express transport it is usually calculated as length × width × height ÷ 5000. Learn more
Door to Door
A transport model in which the shipment is collected from the sender's address and delivered to the recipient's address. Learn more

E

E-Export
Selling and shipping products to buyers abroad through marketplaces or your own e-commerce website. Learn more
EORI Number
A registration number that identifies economic operators in customs procedures in the EU. It is required for businesses making bulk imports into the EU. Learn more
EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)
A system that makes those placing products such as packaging, electronics, batteries and textiles on the market responsible for waste management. Registrations such as LUCID in Germany and the IDU in France fall under it.
ETGB
Electronic Commerce Customs Declaration; the common name in Türkiye for the Simplified Customs Declaration used in micro export. Learn more
EUR.1 Movement Certificate
A document that proves a product's origin in exports to countries with which Türkiye has free trade agreements, allowing preferential customs duty rates. Learn more
Export Regime
The customs regime that allows goods in free circulation to leave the customs territory.
Express Cargo Operator
A company authorised to carry out customs procedures for goods carried by post and express cargo. The operator files the micro export declaration. Learn more
EXW
Delivery term (Ex Works): the seller makes the goods available at its own premises; transport, customs and all costs are paid by the buyer. Learn more

F

FBA
Fulfillment by Amazon: a model in which the seller sends products to Amazon's warehouses and orders are packed and delivered by Amazon. Learn more
FBM
Fulfillment by Merchant: a model in which Amazon orders are shipped by the seller directly to the buyer. Learn more
FOB
Delivery term (Free on Board): the seller bears the costs and risk until the goods are loaded onto the vessel at the port of loading. Learn more
Free Circulation
The status of a product whose taxes have been paid and import formalities completed, so that it can be sold freely in a customs territory.
Freight
The transport charge. In international shipping, freight depends on weight, volume, distance and service type. Learn more
Fulfillment
Managing product storage and the preparation, packing and shipping of orders from a single point. Learn more

G

Gross Weight
The total weight of a product including its packaging and packing materials. The micro export limit is 600 kg gross.
GTİP
Customs Tariff Statistical Position: Türkiye's classification code for a product in the customs tariff. Its first six digits are the same as the international Harmonized System (HS) code. Learn more

H

HS Code (Harmonized System)
The 6-digit international code system developed by the World Customs Organization and used worldwide to classify products. Learn more

I

IATA DGR
The International Air Transport Association's Dangerous Goods Regulations. They set the rules for carrying products such as batteries, perfume and sprays by air. Learn more
Importer of Record
The person or company officially responsible for the import, payment of taxes and regulatory compliance in the destination country. Learn more
Incoterms®
Delivery terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce that define how costs and risks are shared between buyer and seller (e.g. EXW, DAP, DDP). Learn more
IOSS
Import One-Stop Shop: a system in which VAT on consumer sales of up to €150 to the EU is collected at the time of sale and declared through a single point. Learn more
ISPM 15
The standard requiring wooden pallets and crates used in international trade to be heat-treated against pests and stamped. Learn more

L

Lithium Battery (UN3480 / UN3481)
A type of battery classed as dangerous goods in air transport. UN3480 covers batteries on their own; UN3481 covers batteries inside or packed with equipment. Learn more
LUCID
The packaging register in Germany with which every seller of packaged products to consumers must register. Learn more

M

Micro Export
The declaration of export shipments of up to 600 kg gross and €30,000 by an express cargo operator, using a simplified declaration. Learn more
MSDS (Safety Data Sheet)
A document showing a product's chemical content, hazards and transport conditions. It may be requested for cosmetics, chemicals and battery shipments. Learn more

O

OSS
One-Stop Shop: a system that lets VAT on distance sales to consumers within the EU be declared in a single member state. Learn more

P

Packing List
A list showing the contents, quantities, weights and dimensions of the boxes in a shipment. It makes customs clearance and delivery easier for multi-box shipments.
PCCC
The personal customs clearance code used by individual buyers in South Korea, made up of the letter P and 12 digits. Learn more
Proforma Invoice
An invoice issued before a sale takes place, serving as a quotation. It can be used for consignment exports and sample shipments.

S

Simplified Customs Declaration (BGB)
The declaration used for goods carried by post and express cargo. It is used in micro export and is commonly known in Türkiye as the ETGB. Learn more

T

Tracking Number
A unique number used to follow a shipment's movements in the carrier's network. Learn more

U

UN Number
The four-digit identification number the United Nations assigns to dangerous goods (e.g. UN1266 for perfume). Learn more
UN38.3
The test standard that proves the transport safety of lithium batteries. A test summary may be requested for battery shipments. Learn more

V

VOEC
The Norwegian scheme in which VAT is collected at the time of sale on consumer sales of up to NOK 3,000 per item. Learn more
Volumetric Weight
Weight calculated from the space a box takes up. The shipping charge is based on whichever is greater: the actual weight or the volumetric weight. Learn more

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