International Trade Acronyms

For a complete list of International Trade Acronyms please contact TRG.

AAEI               American Association of Exporters and Importers

AAFA               American Apparel and Footwear Association

AAPA               American Association of Port Authorities

ABI                   Automated Broker Interface

ACE                 Automated Customs Environment

ACH                 Automated Clearing House

ACS                 Automated Commercial System

AES                 Automated Export System

AMS                 Automated Manifest Systems

APEC               Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

APHIS              Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (under USDA)

B/L                   Bill of Lading

BLS                  Bureau of Labor Statistics

BOA                 Basic Ordering Agreements

CAFTA-DR        Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement

CAMIR              Customs Automated Manifest Interface Requirements

CATAIR          Customs & Trade Automated Interface Requirements

CBP                 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (under DHS)

CBPF               Customs and Border Protection Form

CBSA               Canada Border Services Agency

CFR                  Code of Federal Regulations (also C.F.R.)

CHB                 Customhouse Broker

CIF                   Cost, Insurance and Freight, Port of Destination

CVD                 Countervailing Duty

DDC                 Destination Delivery Charge

DHS                 Department of Homeland Security

DIP                   Delay in Payment

DIS                   Defense Investigative Service

DLA                  Defense Logistics Agency

DNP                 Denied Party

DOT                  Department of Transportation

EPZs                Export Processing Zones

FOB                 Free on Board, Named Port

FP&F                Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures

HMR                 Hazardous Materials Regulations

HTSUS             Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States

IA                     Internal Affairs

ICPA                 International Compliance Professionals Association

IS                     Import Specialist

ISA                   Importer Self-Assessment

ISF                   Importer Security Filing

MTA                 Miscellaneous Trade & Technical Corrections Act, 2004

MTB                 Miscellaneous Trade Bill

MTSA               Maritime Transportation Security Act

NAFTA              North America Free Trade Agreement

NAICS              North American Industry Classification System

OGA                 Other Government Agency

OHC                 Origin Handling Charge

PNSI                 Prior Notice System Interface

PNTR                Permanent Normal Trade Relations

PO                   Purchase Order

POA                 Power of Attorney (also PoA)

POA                 Port of Arrival

SITC                 Standard International Trade Classification

SFI                   Secure Freight Initiative

SFTA                Singapore Free Trade Agreement

SHAPE             Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

SIA                   Society for International Affairs

USCIS              U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Service

USCS               United States Customs Service

USDA               U. S. Department of Agriculture

USITC               U. S. International Trade Commission

USML               U. S. Munitions List

USPPI              U. S. Principal Party in Interest

USPS               U. S. Postal Service

USPTO             U. S. Patent and Trademark Office

USTDA             U. S. Trade and Development Agency

USTR                U. S. Trade Representative

VOCC               Vessel Operating Common Carrier

VWP                Visa Waiver Program

WCO                World Customs Organization

WHO                World Health Organization

WEF                 World Economic Forum

WMD                Weapon of Mass Destruction

WTO                 World Trade Organization