trade-documentation-checklist

Context

Use in Phase 3 once upstream compliance findings (HS code, origin criterion/certification method, export control clearance) are available. This skill assembles and checks consistency — it does not re-derive classification, origin, or control status.

When to Use

• Shipment is ready to move and a full document set needs to be prepared
• Client has received L/C terms and needs a discrepancy-risk review before accepting
• A document inconsistency (HS code, value, quantity, origin claim) needs to be tracked down

Prerequisites

• Confirmed HS code, origin determination, and export control status from compliance specialists
• Commercial terms (Incoterms, payment method) from the sales contract
• L/C terms (if letter of credit is the payment method)

Execution Steps

1. Confirm Upstream Inputs: Verify the HS code, origin criterion and certification method, and export control/license status are all confirmed before drafting final documents — draft with placeholders if any are still pending.
2. Compile Document Checklist: Determine the full required document set for this specific shipment (commercial invoice, packing list, B/L or AWB, certificate of origin, export license if applicable, insurance certificate) based on its compliance profile.
3. Populate Compliance-Sourced Fields: Every field sourced from a compliance finding (HS code, origin claim, license number) must be traceable to the specialist agent that determined it — never fill a field with an unsourced guess.
4. Consistency Verification: Cross-check that HS code, declared value, quantity, and origin claim are identical across every document in the set.
5. Prepare Certificate of Origin: Use the format and certification method fta-origin-analyst determined is required.
6. L/C Terms Review (if applicable): Check letter-of-credit terms against UCP 600 for shipment-deadline feasibility, required-document-list completeness, and consistency between the L/C's goods description and the classified HS code.
7. Flag, Don't Reconcile: If an inconsistency is found across the document set, flag it explicitly rather than silently picking one value to resolve it.
8. Handoff: Pass the finalized document set to logistics-coordinator once shipment is ready to move.

Output Format

• Document checklist with per-document status (drafted / pending compliance input / final)
• Draft document templates with compliance-sourced fields populated
• L/C discrepancy risk review with specific clause citations

Quality Criteria

• [ ] Document checklist covers all required documents for the shipment's compliance profile
• [ ] Cross-document consistency verified (HS code, value, quantity, origin claim identical across all documents)
• [ ] L/C terms reviewed against UCP 600 discrepancy risks (if L/C applies)
• [ ] Certificate of origin format matches the certification method determined by fta-origin-analyst
• [ ] Outstanding items clearly marked as pending compliance input

Related Skills

• fta-origin-determination
• export-control-screening