Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT
Chapter 4
DOCUMENTARY CREDIT
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In this chapter
1. General introduction
2. Procedure
3. Letter of credit (L/C)
4. Advantages & disadvantages of
documentary credit
5. Documentary credit operation at commercial
banks (textbook)
6. Document examination (textbook)
1. General introduction
Legal foundation
Definition
Features
Parties involved
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Versions of UCP
Versions Year of Publication /
Revision
UCP 1st version 1933
UCP 151 (1st revision) 1951
UCP 222 (2nd revision) 1962
UCP 290 (3rd revision) 1974
UCP 400 (4th revision) 1983
UCP 500 (5th revision) 1993
UCP 600 (6th revision) 2007
UCP 600
Full name: Uniform Customs
and Practice for Documentary
Credits ICC, 2007 Revision, No
600.
Latest version applied in
Documentary Credit
Consists of 39 articles
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1.2. Definitions
“Credit means any arrangement, however
named or described, that is irrevocable, and
thereby constitues a definite undertaking of
the issuing bank to honour a complying
presentation.” (Article 2 – UCP 600)
1.2. Definitions
A documentary credit is the written promise of a
bank, undertaken on behalf of a buyer, to pay a
seller the amount specified in the credit provided
the seller complies with the terms and conditions
set forth in the credit.
The terms and conditions of a documentary
credit revolve around two issues: (1) the
presentation of documents that evidence title to
goods shipped by the seller, and (2) payment.
(Edward G. Hinkelman, A short course in
International Payment)
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1.2. Definitions
Documentary credit is an agreement, in which a
Bank (Issuing Bank), based on the
requirements of a client (applicant), pay a
specified sum of money to another person
(beneficiary) or accept his B/E within
specified amount, as long as he presents a
set of documents complying with L/C’s
requirements.
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1.2. Definitions
Banking day: a day on which a bank is
regularly open at the place at which an act
subject to these rules is to be performed.
Presentation: either the delivery of documents
under a credit to the issuing bank or
nominated bank or the documents so
delivered.
Complying presentation: a presentation that
is in accordance with the terms and conditions
of the credit, the applicable provisions of these
rules and international standard banking
practice (ISBP) (Article 2 – UCP 600)
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COMPLYING PRESENTATION
UCP600 Art. 2
A presentation that is
in accordance with
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1.2. Definitions
Honour means:
a. To pay at sight if the credit is available by sight
payment.
b. to incur a deferred payment undertaking and pay at
maturity if the credit is available by deferred payment.
c. to accept a bill of exchange ("draft") drawn by the
beneficiary and pay at maturity if the credit is available by
acceptance.
Negotiation: the purchase by the nominated bank of
drafts (drawn on a bank other than the nominated bank)
and/or documents under a complying presentation, by
advancing or agreeing to advance funds to the
beneficiary on or before the banking day on which
reimbursement is due to the nominated bank.
(Article 2 – UCP 600)
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1.3. Features:
Relations between parties
Issuing Bank
Exporter / Importer /
Sales Contract
Seller Buyer
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1.3. Features
L/C is a contract between 2 parties (Issuing
bank and Beneficiary).
Credits v. Contracts: L/C is independent from
sales contract. (Art.4 UCP600)
Documents v. Goods: L/C (banks) only deals
with documents and payment shall only be
made based on documents. (Art.5 UCP600)
L/C requires strict compliance of documents.
L/C – a safe method of payment?
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Negotiating Bank
Accepting Bank
Reimbursing Bank
Transfering Bank
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2. Procedure
L/C issuance
L/C payment/settlement
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L/C
L/C L/C
Amend-
Appli-
ment
cation
(If any)
Exporter / Importer /
Sales Contract
Seller Buyer
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Documents
Documents
$$$
Goods
Exporter / Importer /
Seller Buyer
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Pays/Reimburses
Documents
Documents
Pays $$$
$$$
Goods
Exporter / Importer /
Seller Buyer
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Nominated/Paying Bank’s
reponsibilities
Scrutinise/Check compliance of documents:
- Exact
- Complete
Non-discrepant/complying documents => ?
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Pays/Reimburses
Documents
Documents
Negotiation
Crediting
$$$
Goods
Exporter / Importer /
Seller Buyer
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Payment
Documents
Acceptance
Credting
advice
Goods
Exporter / Importer /
Seller Buyer
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1. When satisfied that the stipulations in the credit can be met, the
exporter arranges for shipment and prepares the necessary documents.
2. The exporter/beneficiary sends the documents evidencing the shipment
of the goods accompanied by a usance B/E drawn on the IB to the AB.
3. The AB forwards the documents plus settlement instructions to the IB
after inspecting them for compliance.
4. The IB examines the documents and if the documents meet with the
requirement of a letter of credit, the bank advises AB of acceptance of
the B/E.
5. The AB advises the exporter of the acceptance.
6. The importer accepts to pay at maturity on complying presentation and
receives the documents for taking delivery of the goods.
7. At maturity the IB debits the importer’s account and remits
funds/proceeds to the AB for the credit of the exporter/beneficiary’s
account.
8. The AB credits the beneficiary’s account and forwards payment advice.
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TYPES OF DOCUMENTARY
CREDITS
STANDARD DOCUMENTARY CREDITS
Revocabl
e
Irrevocable (noncancellable by the buyer) (cancella
ble by the
buyer)
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TYPES OF DOCUMENTARY
CREDITS
STANDARD DOCUMENTARY CREDITS
Revocable
Irrevocable (noncancellable by the
(cancellable by
buyer)
the buyer)
Confirmed L/C
Unconfirmed L/C
(payment
(payment
guaranteed by a
guaranteed only
second bank, in
by the issuing
addition to the
bank)
issuing bank)
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TYPES OF DOCUMENTARY
CREDITS
SPECIALIZED DOCUMENTARY
CREDITS
• Red clause
• Back-to-back
• T/TR
• Transferable
• Revolving
• Deferred payments
• Reciprocal
• Stand-by
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Open account
Confirmed L/C (T/T after Sight collection
shipment)
Cash in advance
Unconfirmed
Term collection (T/T before
L/C
shipment)
Source: RBS
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3. LETTER OF CREDIT
Definition
Importance
Content
Amendment
Classification
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3.1. Definition
L/C is a document issued by Issuing Bank
under the Applicant’s request, acting as a
definite undertaking to pay/honour the sum
specified in the L/C to the Beneficiary within a
specified amount of time if the Beneficiary
presents a set of documents in strict
compliance with the terms and conditions set
in that letter.
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3.1. Definition
A letter of credit is issued by the buyer’s
bank at the buyer’s request in accordance
with the payment terms of the underlying
contract, and is a guarantee of payment by
that bank.
(Bhogal & Trivedi, 2019, p11)
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3.2. Importance
L/C is the major means of Documentary Credit.
L/C is issued based on International sales
contract, but then is independent of such
contract.
L/C governs activities of relevant parties:
Applicant, Issuing Bank, Beneficiary, Advising
Bank, Paying Bank,...
L/C is used to compare and adjust the details
in International sales contract (if any).
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Risk Comparison
INTERNATIONAL
METHODS OF PAYMENT
TWO PRINCIPLES UNDER L/C
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48
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Risk Comparison
INTERNATIONAL
When non-conforming
documents are presented, the
the banks insist issuing bank is under NO
that the obligation to pay the seller for
documents the shipment.
presented
comply exactly
with the L/C When conforming documents
terms and are presented, the issuing
conditions bank must pay or reimburse
the advising bank, and the
buyer is obliged to pay the
issuing bank.
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3.3. Content
1. L/C Number (Field 20)
2. Issuing place
3. Date of issue (Field 31C)
4. Date and place of expiry (Field 31D)
- Place of expiry: exporter’s / importer’s / third
party’s country.
- Date of expiry:
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3.3. Content
6. Full name and address of parties to the documentary
credits (Field 50, 59, 42A)
7. Amount of money (Article 30) (Field 32B, 39A / 39B /
39C) 39A: Percentage of Credit Amount Tolerance
8. Period for presentation: 21 days from shipment and
within L/C validity (UCP 600, Art.14) (Field 48)
9. Date of Payment: at sight or at x days/deferred
payment. (Field 42C / 42M / 42P)
10. Date of Shipment: L/C’s validity (Field 44C, 44D)
Date of shipment
L/C’s validity
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Date of shipment
Sea transportation:
- “The date of issuance of the transport document will be
deemed to be the date of dispatch, taking in charge or
shipped onboard, and the date of shipment. However, if
the transport document indicates, by stamp or notation, a
date of dispatch, taking in charge or shipped onboard, this
date will be deemed to be the date of shipment.” (UCP 600
Article 19.a.ii) & (UCP600 Article 20.a.ii)
- A bank will only accept a clean transport document. A
clean transport document is one bearing no clause or
notation expressly declaring a defective condition of the
goods or theirpackaging. The word "clean" need not
appear on a transport document, even if a credit has a
requirement for that transport document to be "clean on
board". (UCP 600 Article 27)
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Date of shipment
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3.3. Content
11. Partial shipment: (Field 43P)
Shipment on more than one means of
conveyance within the same mode of transport
will be regarded as covering a partial shipment,
even if the means of conveyance leave on the
same day for the same destination. (UCP 600
Article 31)
If partial shipment is not allowed, L/C should
state: “Partial shipment: not permitted /
prohibited / not allowed”
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3.3. Content
12. Transhipment: (Field 43T)
UCP 600, Article 19:
b. Transhipment means unloading from one means of
conveyance and reloading to another means of
conveyance (whether or not in different modes of
transport) during the carriage from the place of dispatch,
taking in charge or shipment to the place of final
destination stated in the credit.
c. i. A transport document may indicate that the goods will
or may be transhipped provided that the entire carriage is
covered by one and the same transport document.
ii. A transport document indicating that transhipment will or
may take place is acceptable, even if the credit prohibits
transhipment
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3.3. Content
13. Description of Good / Services: (Field 45A)
commodity, specification, quantity, price,
packaging and marking, ...
14. Transportation terms: Incoterms, place of
shipment, mode of transport, ...
15. Documents required: (Field 46A) Documents
relating to commodity, mode of transport, payment
and legal framework.
16. Commitment of payment from Issuing bank
(Field 78)
17. Additional conditions: (Field 47A)
18. Signature of issuing bank: L/C issued by
Telex/Swift.
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3.4. Amendment
Amendment of L/C: modification, correction or
cancelation of some L/C terms and conditions.
Including:
- Increase or decrease in L/C’s value
- Changes in latest shipment date, L/C’s expiry date
- Increase or decrease in amount of goods
- Modification of TTR and Reimbursing bank
- Modification of Confirmed L/C and Confirming Bank
Amendment should take place before shipment
date and within L/C’s validity time.
Article 9, 10 UCP 600.
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3.5. Classification
Based on Revocability
Based on Payment time
Based on Uses
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4. Advantages and
Disadvantages of L/C
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Exercise:
Risk Comparison
INTERNATIONAL
L/C – Analyze the advantages &
METHODS OF PAYMENT
disadvantages
Advantages Disadvantages
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1.
References
Nguyen Xuan Minh et al. Import-Export Operations. NXB Đại học Quốc
gia TpHCM. 2016.
2. Nguyen Van Tien et al. Giáo trình Thanh toán Quốc tế và Tài trợ Ngoại
thương. NXB Thống kê, 2015.
3. Tran Hoang Ngan et al. Giao trinh thanh toan quoc te. NXB Kinh te
TPHCM. 2016
4. Bhogal T. & Trivedi A. International Trade Finance A pragmatic
Approach. 2nd edition. 2019
5. Hinkelman, Edward G. A short course in International payments. 4th
edition. World Trade Press. 2011
6. Belay Seyoum. Export-import theory, practices, and procedures (third
edition). Taylor & Francis, 2014
7. Jim Sherlock & Jonathan Reuvid. The Handbook of International Trade -
A Guide to the Principles and Practice of Export (2nd edition). GMB
Publishing Ltd., 2008
8. RBS. Guide to international trade. N.d
9. http://lnweb90.worldbank.org/ECA/Transport.nsf/0/786e3f9f52ad3214852
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56b7a0051b6be/$FILE/PAYMENTP.pdf
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