Incoterms® Rules

Incoterms® 2020

Features an in-depth introduction to help users select the appropriate Incoterms® rule for their sale transaction and incorporates expanded explanatory notes for users at the start of each Incoterms® rule.

For further information please contact

  • Emily O'CONNORSenior Policy Manager, Banking Commission/Commercial Law and Practice +33 (0)1 49 53 28 26 Contact by email

What are the key changes in Incoterms® 2020? 

The introduction in the most recent version explains the purpose and use of the Incoterms® rules, identifies differences between Incoterms® 2010 and Incoterms® 2020. 

Free Carrier (FCA) has been revised for Incoterms® 2020 to cater to a situation where goods are sold FCA for carriage by sea and buyer or seller (or either party’s bank) requests a bill of lading with an on-board notation. FCA in article A6/B6 now provides for the parties to agree that the buyer will instruct the carrier to issue an on-board bill of lading to the seller once the goods have been loaded on board, and for the seller then to tender the document to the buyer (often through the banks). 

All costs associated with a given Incoterms rule now appear at article A9/B9 of that rule, allowing users to see the full list of expected costs at a glance. In addition to the aggregated presentation, the costs associated with each item still appear in the respective articles to accommodate a user who wants to focus on a specific aspect of the sale transaction.

The Incoterms® 2020 rules provide for different levels of insurance coverage in the Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) rule and Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP) rule. 

CIF Incoterms® rule, which is reserved for use in maritime trade and often used in commodity trading, the Institute Cargo Clauses (C) remains the default level of coverage, giving parties the option to agree to a higher level of insurance cover.  The CIP Incoterms® rule now requires a higher level of cover, compliant with the Institute Cargo Clauses (A) or similar clauses.

It recognises that not all commercial trade transactions from the seller to the buyer are conducted by a third-party carrier.  

The latest edition includes clearer and more detailed security-related obligations in articles A4 on carriage and A7 on export/import clearance of each Incoterms® rule. Costs relating to these requirements also appear in the consolidated costs article, A9/B9. 

No, simply renamed and moved to more accurately reflect the content of the rule. The former Delivered at Terminal (DAT) has been changed to Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU) to emphasise that the place of destination can be any place and not just a “terminal,” and to underscore the sole difference from Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU) – under DAP the seller does not unload the goods, under DPU, the seller does unload the goods. 

And since delivery under DAP happens before unloading, Incoterms® 2020 presents the newly named DPU after DAP. 

Incoterms® 2020 Training 

The ICC Academy, ICC’s dynamic e-learning platform, is offering dedicated training courses, as well as the official Incoterms® 2020 Certificate to ensure that the trade terms are appropriately applied. The curriculum includes interactive case studies that allow trainees to apply their understanding of the Incoterms® rules by simulating real-life work scenarios.  

In addition, below is a list of ICC Registered Incoterms®2020 rules trainers, who have passed ICC’s official Incoterms® 2020 examination and can provide further assistance.  

CountryFirst name/NameProfessionNational Committee
South AfricaMark GoodgerGlobal Trade ConsultantICC South Africa
South AfricaRhoda KellnerGlobal Trade and Capacity ManagerICC South Africa
South AfricaReginald MoyoAssociate and Founder of Emprise Matrix, Project Management StartupICC South Africa
South AfricaLeandri du ToitInternational Trade Consultant; Managing Director at Connect Logistics ConsultingICC South Africa

CountryFirst name/NameProfessionNational Committee
BoliviaJean-Pierre Antelo DabdoubInternational Trade and Customs SpecialistICC Bolivia
CanadaAnn ArcherTrade ManagerICC Canada
CanadaRachid DenaneCertified International Trade ProfessionalICC Canada
CanadaGreg HendersonInternational Trade ConsultantICC Canada
CanadaEmiliano IntrocasoEDC Advisor & Knowledge Program ManagerICC Canada
CanadaLeroy LoweDirector of Training and Development, FITTICC Canada
CanadaLora Rigutto VigliatoreInternational Trade Professional & Adjunct ProfessorICC Canada
CanadaFloyd SimpkinsPresident, Simcor Solutions Inc.ICC Canada
ColombiaMaximiliano Rodríguez FernándezLawyer/ Partner Sotomonte AbogadosICC Colombia
Costa RicaRoger GuevaraAttorney at Law / Partner at BatallaICC Costa Rica
MexicoMiguel Ángel Bustamante MoralesForeign Trade ExpertICC Mexico
MexicoEdgardo MunozFull Tenure ProfessorICC Mexico
United StatesArthur O’MearaPrincipal, O’Meara and AssociatesUSCIB
United StatesFrank ReynoldsIncoterms® Rules Expert / Incoterms®2020 Drafting Group MemberUSCIB

CountryFirst name/NameProfessionNational Committee
AustraliaBob RonaiIncoterms®2020 Drafting Group MemberICC Australia
IndiaK. ParameswaranCorporate Trainer and Advisor – International Trade and FinanceICC India
IndiaMihir ShahAdvisor, Consultant and Trainer in International BusinessICC India
IndonesiaMesagus AzhariSenior Technical Advisor, ICC IndonesiaICC Indonesia
ThailandThomas E. FernandezDirector Sales and Operations, Fair & Easy Co., Ltd.ICC Thailand

CountryFirst name/NameProfessionNational Committee
BelgiumEddy de CosterHead of Trade Expertise DeskICC Belgium
BelgiumPatrick VanbavinckhoveSenior Trade ExpertICC Belgium
BelgiumEduard VerhaegenConsultant International ForwardingICC Belgium
BelgiumHugo VerschorenInternational Trade Finance Trainer and ConsultantICC Belgium
BelgiumVivek SinghTrade Finance Competence CenterICC Belgium
Czech RepublicPavel AndrleInternational Trade & Finance Trainer and ConsultantICC Czech Republic
Czech RepublicPetr KolarFreight Distribution Expert and ResearcherICC Czech Republic
Czech RepublicDr. Petr RožekLogistics ExpertICC Czech Republic
EstoniaTiit TammemägiCertified International Trade Expert; Chair, ICC EstoniaICC Estonia
FranceEmily O’ConnorDirector, Trade and InvestmentICC Global
FranceMarianne Artusio-ChenotJurist – Customs Engineering/International Trade ComplianceICC France
FranceJulie BonnetonInternational Trade Expert – Transport logistics and distribution, technics and norms, import-exportICC France
FrancePhilippe BonnevieInternational trade expert -transportICC France
FranceClaude CagnoncleTrade Finance product expert – ICC expert in trade finance litigationICC France
FranceDiana CammaranoGlobal Supply chain management ExpertICC France
FrancePatricia DahoutRegulatory legal expert in international development developmentICC France
FranceSophie DaumasInternational TradeICC France
FranceAlain EscaffreTransport and customs purchasing expertICC France
FranceMaryline Favre MartinozCustoms / Import- ExportICC France
FranceFabienne FilinInternational Marketing/ Commerce International -Logistique, Achats, Lean Manufacturing, Techniques douanières ExpertICC France
FranceSophie Gobetti import-export documentation Expert, international transport, customs, payments and financial security (Credoc, Remdoc…)ICC France
FranceSophie GuédonInternational trade – logistics, import-export, trade finance international payments, letters of credit, customsICC France
FranceAurélie HuréInternational trade expert – sales managementICC France
FranceValérie LuvaraInternational trade – intra-community (EU) and import-export (third countries) sales and purchases, contractual clauses, transport, export documents, customs, paymentsICC France
FranceMadeleine Nguyen TheInternational trade Import-Export ExpertICC France
FranceChristoph RadkteLawyer / Incoterms®2020 Drafting Group MemberICC France
FranceDaniel VillarExpert commerce international /Trade finance – letters of credit, model contract of international saleICC France
GermanyProf. Dr. Burghard PiltzLawyer / Incoterms®2020 Drafting Group MemberICC Germany
NorwayChristian J. LienLegal Advisor/Claims Manager Marine InsuranceICC Norway
SwedenTell HermansonInternational Trade AdvisorICC Sweden
SwedenOscar TibergLawyerICC Sweden
SwitzerlandClaudia  FeusiInternational Trade and Customs SpecialistICC Switzerland
SwitzerlandPetra Schnegg-MannForeign Trade ManagerICC Switzerland
UkraineMykola LarinHead of Association of exporters and importers, Expert in international trade, Certified expert of the Ukrainian CCI on export to the EUICC Ukraine
United KingdomSteve BerryCompliance & International Trade AdvisorICC United Kingdom
United KingdomCharles DebattistaBarrister / Incoterms®2020 Drafting Group MemberICC United Kingdom
United KingdomMark HaywardManaging DirectorICC United Kingdom
United KingdomTim HiscockExport Development and International Trade AdvisorICC United Kingdom
United KingdomDavid LoweLawyer / Incoterms®2020 Drafting Group MemberICC United Kingdom
United KingdomGavin MakowskiCustoms & International Trade SpecialistICC United Kingdom
United KingdomArne MielkenVice PresidentICC United Kingdom
United KingdomBernard O’ConnorPartnerICC United Kingdom
United KingdomCalvin SherattCustoms and Export ExpertICC United Kingdom
United KingdomRachel StocktonInternational Trade and Customs SpecialistICC United Kingdom
United KingdomSandra StrongManaging PartnerICC United Kingdom
United KingdomHolly TongeCustoms & International Trade SpecialistICC United Kingdom
United KingdomJon WaldenPrincipal Consultant, Customs and Trade FacilitationICC United Kingdom

CountryFirst name/NameProfessionNational Committee
Saudi ArabiaMohamed AtteyaInternational Trade ConsultantICC Saudi Arabia

Is there mobile access to Incoterms® 2020?

The Incoterms® 2020 app features essential information and insights regarding the commercial trade terms from a trusted source, in one, easy-to-access location. 

Download the Incoterms® 2020 app

The Incoterms® 2020 app is the only official app from the creators and guardians of the Incoterms® rules, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)