International Trade Finance

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

International Trade Finance: Learning Objectives

Learn how international trade alters both the supply chain and general value chain of the domestic firm, thereby beginning the globalization process in the trade phase Consider what the key elements in an import or export transaction are in business Discover how the three key documents in importexport the letter of credit, the draft, and the bill of lading combine to finance the transaction and to manage its risks
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-2

International Trade Finance: Learning Objectives

Identify what the documentation sequence is for a typical international trade transaction Learn how the various stages and their costs affect the ability of an exporter to enter a foreign market and potentially compete in both credit terms and pricing See what organizations and resources are available for exporters to aid in managing trade risk and financing Examine the various trade financing alternatives
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-3

International Business
International business
All business activities that involve exchanges across national boundaries

Some countries are better equipped than others to produce particular goods or services
Absolute advantage
The ability to produce a specific product more efficiently than any other nation

Comparative advantage
The ability to produce a specific product more efficiently than any other product

Goods and services are produced more efficiently when each country specializes in the products for which it has a comparative advantage
3|4

Why Nations Trade

Scarce
Recourses Global Ambitions
Prentice Hall, 2005
Business In Action 3e

Limited
Capabilities Economies of Scale
Chapter 3 - 5

International Trade Benefits

Countrys total output increases Offering lower prices Variety of products Allows companies to expand their markets and achieve production and distribution efficiencies

Top Ten Merchandise-Exporting States

Figure 3.1

Source: http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/state/2005_year_end_dollar_value_05.html, accessed May 23, 2010.

3|7

Measuring International Trade

Balance
of Trade
Surplus

Balance
of Payments
Cash Inflow

Deficit

Cash Outflow

Prentice Hall, 2005

Business In Action 3e

Chapter 3 - 8

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, http://bea.gov/international/bp_web/simple.cfm?anon=90730&table_id=1&area_id=3, accessed April 19, 2010.

Figure 3.2

3|9

The Trade Relationship

Trade financing shares a number of common characteristics with traditional value chain activities conducted by all firms
All companies must search out suppliers for goods and services Must determine if supplier can provide products at required specifications and quality All must be at an acceptable price and delivered in a timely manner

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-10

The Trade Relationship

Understanding the nature of the relationship between the exporter and the importer is critical to understanding the methods for import-export financing utilized in industry Three categories of relationships:
Unaffiliated unknown party (detailed sales contract) Unaffiliated known party (exporter has previously
conducted business successfully) Affiliated party (foreign importer that is subsidiary business unit)
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-11

Exhibit 20.1 Financing Trade: The Flow of Goods and Funds

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-12

Exhibit 20.2 Alternative International Trade Relationships

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-13

The Trade Dilemma

International trade must work around a fundamental dilemma:
Imagine an importer and an exporter who would like to do business with one another Because of the distance between the two, it is not possible to simultaneously hand over goods and receive payments in person How do participants in international trade mitigate the risks associated with conducting business with a stranger?

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-14

Exhibit 20.3 The Mechanics of Import and Export

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-15

Key Documents
As we will see in the following exhibits, letters of credit, order bills of lading and sight drafts are critical in conducting international trade
An example of a letter of credit occurs when an importer obtains a banks promise to pay on its behalf, knowing the exporter will trust the bank When the exporter ships the merchandise to the importers country, title to the merchandise is given to the bank on a document called an order bill of lading The exporter asks the bank to pay for the goods using a sight draft The bank, having paid for the goods, now passes title to the importer who eventually reimburses the bank

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-16

Exhibit 20.4 The Bank as the Import-Export Intermediary

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-17

Exhibit 20.5 The Trade Transaction Timeline and Structure

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-18

Difference between a letter of credit (L/C) and a draft.

A Letter of Credit (L/C) is a document issued by a bank promising to pay if certain documents are delivered to that bank A draft is an order sent to that bank written by a business firm ordering the bank to make payment. (A personal check is a simple form of a bank draft.)

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-19

Letter of Credit (L/C)

Letter of Credit (L/C) is a banks conditional promise to pay issued by a bank at the request of an importer in which the bank promises to pay an exporter upon presentation of documents specified in the L/C The essence of an L/C is the promise of the issuing bank to pay against specified documents, which means that certain elements must be present for the bank Issuing bank must receive a fee for issuing L/C Banks L/C must contain specified maturity date Banks commitment must have stated maximum amount Banks obligation must arise only on presentation of specific documents and bank cannot be called on for disputed items Banks customer must have unqualified obligation to reimburse bank on same condition of banks payment
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-20

Letter of Credit (L/C)

Commercial L/Cs are classified as follows
Irrevocable Vs. Revocable irrevocable letters of credit are non-cancelable while its opposite can be cancelled at any time Confirmed Vs. Unconfirmed An L/C issued by one bank can be confirmed by another bank

Advantages of L/Cs are that it reduces risk of default and a confirmed L/C helps secure financing Disadvantages of L/Cs are the fees charged and that the L/C reduces the available credit of the importer
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-21

Exhibit 20.6 Parties to a Letter of Credit (L/C)

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-22

Exhibit 20.7 Essence of a Letter of Credit (L/C)

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-23

Draft
A draft, sometimes called a bill of exchange (B/E) check, is the instrument normally used in international commerce to effect payment
It is a written order by an exporter instructing an importer or its agent to pay a specified amount at a specified time The party initiating the draft is the maker, drawer, or originator while the counterpart is the drawee In a commercial transaction where the buyer is the drawee it is a trade draft, or the buyers bank when it is called a bank draft

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-24

Draft
If properly drawn, drafts can become negotiable instruments
As such they provide a convenient instrument for financing the international movement of merchandise To become a negotiable instrument, there are four requirements
Must be written and signed by buyer Must contain unconditional promise to pay Must be payable on demand or at a fixed date Must be payable to bearer

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-25

Draft
Types of drafts include
Sight drafts which is payable on presentation to the drawee (exporter is paid at once) Time drafts exporter receives the expected draft (bankers acceptance) back from the bank, allow a delay in payment. It is presented to the drawee who accepts it with a promise to pay at some later date
When a time draft is drawn on a bank, it becomes a bankers acceptance. Exporter may hold the bankers acceptance until maturity When drawn on a business firm it becomes a trade acceptance

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-26

Bankers Acceptances
Bankers Acceptance
When a draft is accepted by a bank, it becomes a bankers acceptance Example: Acceptance of $100,000 for exporter
Face amount of acceptance
Less 1.5% p.a. commission for 6 months Amount received by exporter in 6 months Less 7% p.a. discount rate for 6 months Amount received by exporter at once

$100,000
750

$ 99,250 3,500

$95,750

Exporter may discount the acceptance note in order to receive the funds up-front
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-27

Bill of Lading
Bill of Lading (B/L) is issued to the exporter by a common carrier (is a person or company that transports goods or
people for any person or company and that is responsible for any possible loss of the goods during transport)

transporting the merchandise:

details a shipment of merchandise, gives title to the goods, and requires the carrier to deliver the merchandise to the appropriate party It serves the purpose of being a receipt, a contract and a document of title
As a contract the B/L indicates the obligation of the carrier to provide certain transportation As a document of title, the B/L is used to obtain payment or written promise of payment before the merchandise is released to the importer
20-28

Bill of Lading
Characteristics of the Bill of Lading
A straight B/L provides that the carrier deliver the merchandise to the designated consignee ( ) only An order B/L directs the carrier to deliver the goods to the order of a designated party, usually the shipper ( , ) A B/L is usually made payable to the order of the exporter
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-29

Documentation in Typical Trade Transaction

Example: Assume Trident receives order from Canadian buyer; Trident will export financed under L/C requiring a bill of lading with exporter collecting a time draft accepted by Canadian buyers bank
The Canadian buyer places order with Trident Trident agrees to ship under L/C Canadian buyer applies to bank (Northland Bank) for L/C to be issued in favor of Trident for merchandise Northland Bank issues L/C in favor of Trident and sends it to Southland Bank (Tridents bank)

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-30

Documentation in Typical Trade Transaction

Trident ships the goods to the Canadian buyer Trident prepares a time draft and presents it to Southland Bank. The draft is drawn on Northland Bank with required documents including bill of lading Trident endorses () the order bill of lading in blank so that title to goods goes with holder of documents Southland Bank Southland Bank presents draft and documents to Northland Bank for acceptance, Northland accepts and promises to pay draft at maturity 60 days

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-31

Documentation in Typical Trade Transaction

Northland Bank returns accepted draft to Southland Bank; Southland Bank could ask for discounted draft receiving funds today Southland Bank, now having a bankers acceptance, may sell the acceptance in the open market or it may hold the acceptance in its own portfolio If Southland Bank had kept the acceptance, it would transfer the proceeds less commission to Trident

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-32

Documentation in Typical Trade Transaction

Northland Bank notifies Canadian buyer of arrival of documents; Canadian buyer signs note to pay Northern Bank for the merchandise in 60 days After 60 days, Northland Bank receives payment from Canadian buyer On same day, holder of matured acceptance presents it for payment and receives it face value; it may be presented at Northland Bank or returned to Southland Bank for collection through normal bank channels

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-33

Exhibit 20.8 Steps in a Typical Trade Transaction

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-34

Government Programs to Help Finance Exports

Governments of most export-oriented industrialized countries have special financial institutions that provide some form of subsidized credit to their own national exporters These export finance institutions offer terms that are better than those generally available from the competitive private sector Thus, domestic taxpayers are subsidizing lower financial costs for foreign buyers in order to create employment and maintain a technological edge
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-35

Government Programs to Help Finance Exports

Export Credit Insurance
Provides assurance to the exporter or the exporters bank that an insurer will pay should the foreign customer default In the US the Foreign Credit Insurance Association (FCIA) provides this type of insurance

Export-Import Bank
Known as the Eximbank, it facilitates the financing of US exports through various loan guarantee and insurance programs

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-36

Trade Financing Alternatives

In order to finance international trade receivables, firms use the same financing instruments as they use for domestic trade receivables including;
Bankers Acceptances Trade Acceptances Factoring Securitization Bank Credit Lines Covered by Export Credit Insurance Commercial Paper

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-37

Exhibit 20.9 Instruments for Financing Short-Term Domestic and International Trade Receivables

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-38

Forfaiting: Medium and Long Term Financing

Forfaiting is a specialized technique to eliminate the risk of nonpayment by importers in instances where the importing firm and/or its government is perceived by the exporter to be too risky for open account credit The essence of forfaiting is the non-recourse sale by an exporter of bank-guaranteed promissory notes, bills of exchange, or similar documents received from an importer in another country The following exhibit outlines a typical forfaiting transaction
20-39

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

Exhibit 20.10 Typical Forfaiting Transaction

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-40

International Trade Agreements

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the World Trade Organization
General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
International organization of 153 nations dedicated to reducing or eliminating tariffs and other trade barriers Most-favored-nation status (MFN)Each member of GATT was to be treated equally by all other members Kennedy Round, Tokyo Round, Uruguay Round, Doha Round

3 | 41

WTO Members Share in World Merchandise Trade

Figure 3.4

Source: www.wto.org, accessed on May 25, 2010.

3 | 42

The Evolving European Union

Figure 3.5

Source: http://europa.eu/abc/european_countries/index_en.htm, accessed May 25, 2010.

3 | 43

Summary of Learning Objectives

International trade takes place between three categories of relationships: unaffiliated unknown parties, unaffiliated known parties, and affiliated parties Trade transactions between affiliated parties typically do not require contractual arrangements or external financing. Trade transactions between unaffiliated parties typically do as well as some type of external financing such as letters of credit

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-44

Summary of Learning Objectives

Over many years, established procedures have arisen to finance international trade. The basic procedure rests on the interrelationship between three key documents, the L/C, the draft, and the bill of lading Variations in each type of the three documents provide a variety of ways to accommodate any type of transaction In the simplest transaction, in which all three documents are used, an importer applies for and receives a L/C from its bank
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-45

Summary of Learning Objectives

In the L/C, the bank substitutes its credit for that of the importer and promises to pay if certain documents are submitted to the bank. The exporter may now rely on the promise of the bank rather than that of the importer The exporter typically ships on an order bill of lading, attaches the bill of lading to a draft ordering payment from the importers bank and presents these documents, plus any additional documents, through its own bank to the importers bank

Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-46

Summary of Learning Objectives

If the documents are in order, the importers bank either pays the draft (sight draft) or accepts the draft (time draft). In the latter case, payment is at a future date. At this step the importers bank acquires title to the merchandise through the bill of lading and releases it to the importer against a promise to pay If a sight draft is used, the exporter is paid at once, if a time draft is used the exporter receives the accepted draft, now a bankers acceptance, back from the bank and holds it until maturity or sells it at a discount
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-47

Summary of Learning Objectives

Total costs of an exporter entering a foreign market include the transaction costs of trade financing, import/export duties and the costs of foreign market penetration which includes distribution, inventory and transportation expenses Export credit insurance provides assurance to exporters that insurance will pay should importer default In the US, the Foreign Credit Insurance Association provides this insurance The Ex-Im bank is an independent agency established to stimulate and facilitate the foreign trade of the US
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-48

Summary of Learning Objectives

Trade financing uses the same financing instruments as in domestic receivables financing, plus some specialized instruments that are only available for financing international trade A popular instrument for short-term financing is a bankers acceptance; its all-in-cost being comparable to other money market instruments such as marketable bank certificates of deposit Other short-term financing instruments with a domestic counterpart are trade acceptances Forfaiting is an international trade technique that can provide medium and long-term financing
Copyright 2009 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.

20-49