They act in the name and on behalf of a foreign Principal by which they are mandated.
They are remunerated through a negotiated commission based on vendors’ invoices.
They research the market, negotiate at the request of the Principal and follow up on orders.
They never are ownership of the goods but may be mandated to pay vendors.
Buying offices / Buying Agents
Selling Agents
They are mandated by a vendor or a factory to represent and sell a line of products designated precisely by contract over a designated territory.
They can be involved in the logistics.
They never are owner of the goods.
International Traders
Merchants
They buy and sell merchandise for their own account.
They research a buyer or a seller for particular products.
They take ownership of the goods and pay themselves on the profit resulting from the operation.