IATA CODE NUMBER

A two digit alphanumeric code for air shipments to indicate the export carrier.

IMPORT

To receive goods or services from abroad.

IMPORT CERTIFICATE

A certificate required by certain countries in order to engage in specific import activities.

IMPORT DUTY

A certain tax, either ad valorem (based on value), specific (based on measure), or compound (based on value and measure) that is levied on imported items.

IMPORT LICENSE

A document required and issued by some national governments for the importation of goods into their country.

IMPORTER OF RECORD

The party in whose name the entry is made.

IN BOND

Shipment moving under Customs bond for clearance at a port other than the port of discharge.  

IN TRANSIT

A term used to describe a shipment of goods which has temporarily stopped in the port of a country, other than the destination country, for purposes of re-fueling, to split loads, etc., but does not enter the commerce of another country.

INDEPENDENT ACTION

An action whereby an ocean shipping conference member carrier sets a tariff or rate that is different from the established conference tariff or rate.

INDIVIDUAL VALIDATED LICENSE

A license granted by the Department of Commerce that grants permission to an exporter to export a specific amount of goods to a certain recipient for up to a two year period.

INLAND BILL OF LADING

A bill of lading used in transporting goods overland to the exporter’s international carrier.  Although a through bill of lading can sometimes be used, it is usually necessary to prepare both an inland bill of lading and an ocean bill of lading for export shipments.

INITIAL CARRIER

The transportation line to which a shipment is tendered at origin by the shipper.

INITIAL POINT

The point at which a shipment originates.

INTER-GOVERNMENTAL MARITIME CONSULTATIVE ORGANIZATIONBody for definition of dangerous categories or hazardous cargo (IMCO Classes).

INTERNAL CONTROL PROGRAM 

A program to ensure that exports and re-exports are not made contrary to the Export Administration Regulations.  

INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION

A trade association that oversees participating air carriers, and promotes the interests of shippers, passengers, and other travel industry participants.

INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF PARIS

An organization based in Paris that promotes international business.

INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL TERMS

Terms of sale that define what costs will be borne by the buyer/seller, and when and where the transfer risk of loss and title to goods will take place.  Some terms include the following:  Ex Works; Free Carrier; Free Alongside Ship; Free On Board; Cost and Freight; Cost, Insurance and Freight; Carriage Paid; Carriage and Insurance Paid; Delivered At Frontier; Delivered Ex Ship; Delivered Ex Quay; Delivered Duty Unpaid; and Delivered Duty Paid.

INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY ECONOMIC POWERS ACT

An act which authorizes the president to investigate, regulate compel or prohibit any economic transaction in order to protect national interests. (USA)

INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMENS ASSOCIATION

An association of longshoreman that works towards promoting the good of their society.

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME DANGEROUS GOODS CODE

A code adopted by the International Maritime Organization that classifies dangerous goods and hazardous cargo.

INTEGRATED ROUTE

A carrier branded multi-carrier bookable route.

INTENT TO DENY

A letter that informs an applicant of the decision by the Bureau of Export Administration’s to deny a license application.

INTERCHANGE

Passing freight from one carrier to another between lines.

INTERLINE FREIGHT

Freight moving from origin to destination over two or more transportation lines.

INTERMODAL SHIPMENT

A shipment that may be transferred from one form of transport to another, as from a highway truck, to a railway freight car, to an ocean vessel.

INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION

Using more than one mode of transportation to deliver shipment.

INTERSTATE COMMERCE

Exchanging of goods between buyers and sellers in two or more states.

INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT

An Act of Congress regulating the practices, rates and rules of transportation lines engaged in handling interstate shipments within the U.S.  

INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION

The Federal body charged with the duty of enforcing Acts of Congress affecting common carriers, including railroads, trucks, buses, inland water carriers and pipelines in interstate commerce within the U.S.

INTERIOR POINTS INTERMODAL

A term used by ocean carriers to describe door to door delivery service.  Ocean carriers frequently quote rates on an IPI basis.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ORGANIZATION

An international, non-governmental body with headquarters in Geneva.  Through a system of committees, the ISO brings technical experts together from around the world to negotiate voluntary recommended technical specifications on a broad spectrum of items.  

INTRASTATE COMMERCE

Business conducted within one state.

INVOICE ARRIVAL NOTICE

Notification that an invoice has arrived.

INWARD CHARGES

Charges incurred by a ship or cargo when entering a port.

ISRAEL FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

A preferential trade agreement between the United States and Israel.

ISSUING CARRIER

The carrier by which a tariff is published or Bill of Lading or other document is created.

ITEMS

Commodities, software, and technology.