Import and export business refers to a series of specific businesses in which goods, including labor services and technology, are bought and sold through contracts with foreign parties. The specific contents include: the mode of sale and trade of import and export commodities; the transportation and storage of import and export commodities; the inspection of import and export commodities; the customs supervision of import and export commodities; the freight insurance business of import and export commodities; the international settlement and bank credit business for the settlement of payment for goods and the provision of funds for import and export commodities, the arbitration work and judicial trial for the settlement of import and export business disputes; the operation and management of import business, etc.

The procedures for each business can generally be divided into three stages: transaction negotiation, contract performance and delivery.
1. In the transaction negotiation stage, the importer first sets out the required conditions, asks the exporter for inquiry or expresses its purchase intention through an intermediary, so that the relevant "supplier" or "exporter" can contact it, or the exporter can directly negotiate with the importer. Then the exporter makes an offer to the importer, which is returned by the importer and "accepted" by both parties through letters and telegrams to complete the offer, and then the deal is concluded, both parties have completed the agreement on the terms of sale and purchase, exchanged letters or signed contracts, and completed the sale and purchase procedures.
2. In the contract performance stage, the importer's job is to apply for import license, import visa, develop letter of credit, negotiate ship (booking) on FOB delivery condition, and insure water insurance on FOB or C & F condition. The exporter's job is to stock up goods, transport in China, negotiate the reservation of ships on C & F or CIF condition, and insure water insurance on CIF condition, export signing, commodity inspection and customs clearance.
3. At the delivery stage, the exporter is in accordance with the provisions of the letter of credit. Prepare the shipping documents within the time specified in the letter of credit to the designated bank settlement (or transfer) to recover the purchase price, or ask the bank to collect the payment (D/P,D/A);