International Trade Terms & Customs Documents: Incoterms, DDP/DDU/DAP, SABER and Import Checklists

Oct 16，2026

Quick answer: Most shipping disputes and unexpected charges trace back to one of two things: a trade term that neither side fully scoped, or a document that was never prepared. This cluster collects the terms and paperwork that actually decide who pays for what, and who is liable when cargo is held.

What this guide covers

Article	What it answers
Commonly used international trade terms	The Incoterms that appear most often in China export quotations, and what each one puts on the buyer and the seller.
DDP vs DDU vs DAP: the difference	How Baton Logistics applies the three most commonly confused delivery terms in practice.
Customs clearance operation	How the customs clearance step is actually run, and where delays originate.
China to UAE import documents checklist	Required vs conditional documents for UAE sea freight imports.
Saudi Arabia SABER / SASO certificates	Which Saudi certificates apply to your goods from China.
RCEP cross-border Q&A	What changed after RCEP implementation and how exporters use it.

Read the full articles

Commonly used international trade terms — The Incoterms that appear most often in China export quotations, and what each one puts on the buyer and the seller.
DDP vs DDU vs DAP: the difference — How Baton Logistics applies the three most commonly confused delivery terms in practice.
Customs clearance operation — How the customs clearance step is actually run, and where delays originate.
China to UAE import documents checklist — Required vs conditional documents for UAE sea freight imports.
Saudi Arabia SABER / SASO certificates — Which Saudi certificates apply to your goods from China.
RCEP cross-border Q&A — What changed after RCEP implementation and how exporters use it.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most commonly used Incoterms in China export?

The terms that appear most often in China export quotations are covered in the Incoterms reference in this cluster, which sets out what each term puts on the buyer and on the seller.

What is the difference between DDP, DDU and DAP?

They differ in who bears the duties, taxes and final delivery risk. The DDP vs DDU vs DAP explainer in this cluster shows how Baton Logistics applies each one in practice.

Which documents are required to import into the UAE and Saudi Arabia?

Both require commodity-specific paperwork prepared in advance. The UAE import document checklist separates required from conditional documents; the Saudi guide covers which SABER/SASO certificates apply.

Why does customs clearance get delayed?

Most delays originate in documentation rather than in transport. Preparing commodity-specific paperwork before departure is the single most effective mitigation.