Breaking Into Trade Finance: A Reader’s Question, Mr. Old Man’s Answer Intro: Every now and then, I receive thoughtful questions from young professionals eager to step into the world of trade finance. Recently, Chaudhary wrote to me after following my LinkedIn posts, asking how best to build a strong foundation in this field. His question, and my response, may be useful for anyone considering the same path. QUESTION Hi sir, I … Read More
Loose Container on a Bill of Lading – Discrepancy or Not? Intro: Every so often, LC practitioners stumble upon shipping terms that spark debate. One such term is “Loose Container”—often seen on draft or final Bills of Lading. Does it simply describe the cargo, or does it trigger a discrepancy under an LC? Let’s look at a real query from PSP and unpack the answer. QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, … Read More
AUTHORIZATION/APPROVAL FOR NEGOTIATION OR PAYMENT OF DISCREPANT DOCUMENTS Intro: One of the recurring headaches in L/C practice is what to do with discrepant documents. The beneficiary wants their money, the nominated bank worries about reimbursement, and the issuing bank sits in the middle waiting for the applicant’s word. A common query is whether the issuing bank can “pre-approve” or authorize payment against documents with discrepancies, and what that … Read More
PR nho nhỏ cho trang web www.mroldman.net – “MR. OLD MAN – For Those Who Eat, Sleep and Breathe Letters of Credit and Cycling” Năm 2017, Mr. Old Man chính thức xây dựng trang web www.mroldman.net dựa trên nền tảng của website cùng tên trên WordPress và blog từ thời Yahoo 360. Ban đầu, trang web chủ yếu đăng các bài viết và Q&A tư vấn về nghiệp vụ thanh toán quốc tế và tài trợ thương mại. Sau này, khi bắt đầu đam mê xe … Read More
Endorse First, Cancel Later — Can the Beneficiary Still Win? Intro: Sometimes in trade finance, a small action like endorsing a bill of lading too soon can create a big legal headache. What happens if a bank endorses the BL, then cancels that endorsement and returns the documents due to discrepancies? Here’s Mr. Old Man’s take — plus practical tips for both the beneficiary and the issuing bank on how … Read More
Drafts under Negotiation LCs Restricted to the Confirming Bank – Who Should They Be Drawn On? Intro: In practice, there have been cases where LCs available by negotiation with confirming banks state that drafts be drawn on the confirming bank. This does not comply with Article 2 of UCP 600. Where an LC contains such a term, should the draft be drawn on the confirming bank or the issuing bank? ______ QUESTION Dear Sir, Can … Read More
Consignee Mismatch? When the Certificate of Inspection and Bill of Lading Don’t Have to Match Intro: A recent LC case raised a dispute over alleged “conflicting information” between the consignee stated in a Certificate of Inspection and that shown in the bill of lading. The issuing bank cited UCP 600 Article 14(d) to justify refusal, while the beneficiary argued that ISBP 821 allows such differences under specific circumstances. Here’s Mr. Old Man’s take on whether … Read More
Variable Pricing Clause – Aluminum Linked to LME Intro: Applicable where the final unit price is to be determined based on London Metal Exchange (LME) quotations around the shipment date. The following clause ensures price calculation is objective, documentary evidence is provided, and the maximum price cap is observed. QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, Hope you are doing well. Need your guidance in regard to LC Issuance for … Read More
When Can a Non-Nominated Bank Negotiate? Risks and Realities for Bank B in Documentary Credit Transactions In the world of documentary credits, the terms of availability play a critical role in determining which banks are authorized to act under the credit. A common point of confusion arises when a beneficiary chooses to present documents to a bank that is not nominated in the LC — raising the question: Can that bank negotiate the documents? And if … Read More
Can an Issuing Bank Rescind an Accidental Acceptance? Legal and Practical Insights In the fast-paced world of documentary credits, a single SWIFT message sent in error can expose an issuing bank to serious risks—especially when it concerns acceptance of discrepant documents. One such query came from Suraj, raising an important issue: What happens when a bank mistakenly sends an acceptance message without first securing a waiver from the applicant—and then tries to … Read More