In international trade there is little face-to-face contact between the exporter and the buyer.

Further, the involvement of third parties that separate the exporter from his customer (e.g. transporters, insurers, banks and national officials) affects the exporter’s ability to control the receipt of sale proceeds of the goods.

However, the exporter can do a great deal to protect his own interests by making appropriate stipulations in the sales contract, by choosing appropriate methods of payment and by complying precisely with all the documentary requirements of the methods chosen.