A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Q

QRs (Quantitative Restrictions)
Explicit limits, or quotas, on the quantity of a good that can be imported or exported during a specified time period. Such limits are usually measured by physical quantity but sometimes by value. A quota may be applied on a selective basis, with varying limits set according to the country of origin or destination, or on a global basis that specifies only the total limit and thus tends to benefit more efficient suppliers. Quotas are frequently administered through a system of licensing.

Quarantine, Sanitary, And Health Laws And Regulations
Government measures to protect consumer, animal, and plant health by regulating the use of dangerous preservatives and other additives in foods. The lack of internationally accepted standards makes it difficult to distinguish between legitimate health standards and protectionist measures.

Quotation
A quotation represents the price and conditions at which a seller is prepared to supply goods.

R

Railway Consignment Note
Railway Consignment Notes are similarly used to the Bill of Lading for transport by rail to an overseas destination.

Received For Shipment Bill of Lading
Received For Shipment Bill of Lading confirms that the shipping company has the goods in custody for shipment.  Exporters load their goods at their factory into a container provided by a transport operator.  The container is transported by road or rail to the port for shipment. The Received For Shipment Bill of Lading is endorsed by the carrier on loading the goods abroad ship at the port.

Reciprocity
The practice by which governments extend similar concessions to each other, as when one government lowers its tariffs or other barriers impeding its imports in exchange for equivalent concessions from a trading partner on barriers affecting its exports (a "balance of concessions").

Reinsurance
The shifting by agreement (known in the insurance industry as a "treaty") of part of the risk (or "exposure") of the original insurer (the ceding company) to another insurer (the reinsurer). Sometimes a reinsurer will, in turn, pass on part of its risk to another reinsurer through a process known as retrocession. International reinsurance is important to developed and developing countries alike.

Request List
A list submitted by a country to a trading partner at an early stage of trade negotiations identifying the concessions it seeks through the negotiations.

Reserve Currency
A national currency such as the dollar or pound sterling, or international currency such as Special Drawing Rights, used by many countries to settle debit balances in their international accounts. Central banks generally hold a large portion of their monetary reserves in reserve currencies, which are sometimes called "key" currencies.

Restitutions
Payments to agricultural exporters in the European Community under the Common Agricultural Policy to cover the difference between internal and world market prices.

Reverse Preferences
Tariff advantages once offered by developing countries to imports from certain developed countries that granted them preferences in turn. Reverse preferences characterized trading arrangements between the European Community and some developing countries (the ACP countries) prior to the advent of the Lomé Convention.

Right Of Stoppage Transit
The Right of an unpaid seller in certain circumstances to arrest the goods sold, after delivery to a carrier and before delivery to the purchaser.

RO-RO (Roll On/Roll Off)
Cargo that is rolled on and off a vessel under its own power. Roll on/roll off shipping allows for quick and easy lading/unlading because the cargo does not need to be loaded and unloaded by winch or crane but can be driven on and off a vessel using a tractor trailer, van, or flatbed truck.

Routing Orders
The Party accepting responsibility for payment of the freight charges have the ultimate right to nominate the Carrier or Freight Forwarder to be used.  Providing that the costs and services level involved match those allowed for in the original quotation.