2.2 国际贸易

Chapter II Quantity I. Introduction 1. Quantity clause is one of the necessary clauses in a sales contract. And it counts for much 2. Such trade policies as quota and license system are relatedto the quantity, so the quantity of goods delivered should be identical to that called for in the contract 3. The number of quantity plays an important role during the negotiation on price II. Unit of measurement 1. Weight (avoirdupois(常衡), troy(金衡) and apothecaries’(药衡) measure ): ton (long ton, short ton), pound, hundredweight, ounce, gram, kilogram, grain, dram, etc. 1 grain 格令=0.065 gram 克 1 dram 打兰=1.772 grams 克 1 ounce 盎司=28.35 grams 克 ( 31.103grams in troy and apothecaries’ measure) 1 pound 磅=0.454 kilogram 千克 1 hundredweight 英担=50.80 kilograms 千克 1 short ton 短吨(美吨)=2000 pounds 磅=0.907 metric ton 公吨 1 (long) ton 长吨(英吨)=20 hundredweight英担=1.016 metric ton 公吨 1 pair = two pieces 1 dozen = 12 pieces 1 gross = 12 dozens 1 ream = 500 pieces (of paper) 2. Length: millimeter, centimeter, meter, inch, foot, yard, kilometer, mile, 1 meter = 100 centimeters = 1000 millimeters 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters 1 foot = 12 inch 1 yard = 0.914 meter 1 kilometer =1000 meters 1 mile = 1.609 kilometers 3. Area: square meter, square inch, square foot, square yard, acre, hectare 1 square inch 平方英寸 =6.45 sq. centimeters 平方厘米 1 square foot 平方英尺 =144 sq. in.平方英寸 =9.29 sq. decimeters 平方分米 1 square yard 平方码 =0.836 sq. meter 平方米 1 acre 英亩 =4840 sq. yd.平方码 =0.405 hectare 公顷 1 square mile 平方英里 =640 acres 英亩 =259 hectares 4. Volume: cubic centimeter, cubic meter, cubic inch, cubic foot, cubic yard, etc. 1 cubic inch 立方英寸=16.4 cu.centimeters 立方厘米 1 cubic foot 立方英尺=1728 cu.in. 立方英寸=0.0283 cu. meter 立方米 1 cubic yard 立方码=27 cu.ft. 立方英尺=0.765 cu. meter 5. Capacity: liter, quart, pint, gallon, bushel, etc. 1 pint 品脱=0.568 litre 升 1 quart 夸脱=2 pints 品脱=1.136 litres 升 1 gallon 加伦=4 quarts 夸脱=4.546 litres 升 1 bushel 蒲式耳=36.4 litres 升 III. Classification of weight 1. Gross weight 1). It refers to the actual weight of cargo, the weight of both outside and inside package ( tare ). 2). It is very often employed as the basis for calculation of tariff, package fee, or freight cost. 2. Net weight 1). Net weight just refers to the actual weight of cargo itself, excluding the tare. 2). Net weight = gross weight - tare * Four ways to calculate tare: a. actual tare or real tare: -- the genuine heaviness of package -- usually the most accurate heaviness of it b. average tare: -- it is measured from the actual weight of part of the package -- a general figure on a basis of an estimation level c. customary tare: -- a generally recognized weight of package on the market according to a specific standard package -- there are usually standard specifications for package and weight of such package is one of the figure involved in specification d. computed tare: -- the previously agreed upon level of package weight in the contract by the seller and the buyer -- it’s easy to carry out 3). Demi-gross weight: a. it’s also called as semi-gross weight b. semi-gross = gross weight – the weight of outside package 3. Conditioned weight 1). It refers to the result of dry weight plus standard water content. While dry weight here means the balanced weight after water has been extracted through scientific way. 2). There is usually international standard level to reference the water content 3). It’s particularly applicable for those high valued commodities with unstable water content such as silk and wools etc. 4. Theoretical weight 1). It refers to the weight deduced and calculated by the provided technical data or parameters figures 2). It’s typically used for commodities with standard specifications and measurements such as steels. IV. More or less clause 1. Generally speaking, the quantity shall be indicated as clearly as possible and ambiguous word such as about or approximate shall be avoided. 2. It’s understandable that to achieve exactly equivalent quantity as stipulated in the contract is generally impossible. Therefore, as a matter of practice, a more or less clause is often involved in the contract to allow a leeway of margin for the consignment of cargo. 3. The margin usually is 5 percentage of surplus and shortage of the stipulated