Contents
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• 1 Terminology
• 2 How it works
• 3 Legal principles governing documentary credits
• 4 The price of LCs
• 5 Legal Basis for Letters of Credit
• 6 Risks in International Trade
• 7 See also
• 8 Notes
[edit] Terminology
The English name “letter of credit” derives from the French word “accreditif”, a power to do something, which in turn is derivative of the Latin word “accreditivus”, meaning trust.[1] This in effect reflects the modern understanding of the instrument. When a seller agrees to be paid by means of a letter of credit he/she is looking at a reliable bank that has an obligation to pay him the amount stipulated in the credit notwithstanding any defence relating to the underlying contract of sale. This is as long as the seller performs his/her duties to an extent that meets the credit terms.
[edit] How it works
Imagine that a business called the Acme Electronics from time to time imports computers from a business called Beijing Computers, which banks with the Shanghai Business Bank. Acme holds an account at the Commonwealth Financials. Acme wants to buy $500,000 worth of merchandise from Beijing Computers, who agree to sell the goods and give Acme 60 days to pay for them, on the condition that they are provided with a 90-day LC for the full amount. The steps to get the letter of credit would be as follows:
• Acme goes to The Commonwealth Financials and requests a $500,000 letter of credit, with Beijing Computers as the beneficiary.
• The Commonwealth Financials can issue an LC either on approval of a standard loan underwriting process or by Acme funding it directly with a deposit of $500,000 plus fees between 1% and 8%.
• The Commonwealth Financials sends a copy of the LC to the Shanghai Business Bank, which notifies the Beijing Computers that payment is ready and they can ship the merchandise Acme has ordered with the full assurance of payment to them.
• On presentation of the stipulated documents in the letter of credit and compliance with the terms and conditions of the letter of credit, the Commonwealth Financials transfers the $500,000 to the Shanghai Business Bank, which then credits the account to the Beijing Computers by that amount.
• Note that banks deal only with documents under the letter of credit and not the underlying transaction.
• Many exporters have misunderstood that the payment is guaranteed after receiving the LC. The issuing bank is obligated to pay under the letter of credit only when the stipulated documents are presented and the terms and conditions of the letter of credit have been met accordingly.
这是毕业论文要用的啊,请各位帮忙不要用翻译软件啊