Hidden Risks of Soft Clauses in Letters of Credit

The letter of credit is an essential document in international trade, which ensures the interests of both buyers and sellers. The terms on the letter of credit are divided into complex and Soft clauses. Soft Clause refers to conditions not stipulated or negotiable in the letter of credit, such as mode of transportation, shipment period, insurance coverage, etc. Complex terms refer to the conditions specified in the letter of credit that must be complied with, such as payment deadline, payment place, quantity, quality, price, etc., of the goods.

Uncertain Payment Terms: Soft Clause may contain vague or ambiguous payment terms, leading to delays in payment or failure to ensure total compensation. For example, a letter of credit may require additional verification on certain documents or the submission of specific evidence, which may result in delays or denials of payment. For example: require the seller to obtain an inspection certificate (ex.: Inspection certificate signed by....) issued by a third party before shipment, and stipulate that the issuing bank must confirm the signing of the inspection certificate. The risk of this part will lie in the "inspection certificate" In the process of refusing to pay for reasons such as "unable to confirm" or reconfirming for this reason, the issuing bank charges higher oil and electricity charges from the bill transfer bank...etc.

Variation in Documentation Requirements: Soft Clause in a letter of credit may require the submission of a series of documents and certifications, which may require a particular format or have specific content. If the seller fails to understand or meet these requirements accurately, it may be at risk of payment. Additionally, the required documents may change during the transaction, making it difficult for the seller to keep up with changing requirements.

Billing risk: In some cases, a letter of credit may require submitting documents for billing before shipment. This can threaten the seller as they must submit documents before payment without any assurance that the buyer will fulfill their payment obligations. For example, Non-recourse letter of credit (Non-Recourse L/C ), when the word "WITHOUT RECOURSE" appears in the letter of credit, if the buyer refuses to pay, it cannot claim the payment from its indorser or predecessor power.

Buyer payment risk: Soft terms may contain payment restrictions or conditions on the buyer, such as advance payment or installment payment. This may result in the buyer being unable to pay on time or in total payment obligations, thereby increasing the seller's credit risk.

Political and Economic Risk: Letters of credit may be affected by the political and economic conditions of the buyer's country. In the event of political unrest, currency devaluation, or financial crisis in the buyer's government, the seller may be at risk of payment or being unable to receive the total amount.

To mitigate these risks, sellers should carefully study the soft terms of the letter of credit to understand their requirements and limitations. Sellers should take the following steps to mitigate the risks hidden by soft words in letters of credit:

In general, sellers should be alert to soft terms in letters of credit and take necessary steps to mitigate possible risks. Establishing an excellent cooperative relationship and communication channels and seeking professional support and advice will help ensure the smooth progress of trade and reduce uncertainty.

The following are examples of our practical requirements for buyers to modify or add soft terms:

These are some common examples of modifying or adding soft terms, and you can make appropriate adjustments according to your specific situation and needs. I hope this information is helpful to you.