As we wrap up 2025, one thing is clear: U.S. exporters and importers continue to face a fast-changing global trade environment. From regulatory shifts and compliance crackdowns to ongoing supply chain challenges, staying informed has never been more important.
At Passages: The International Trade Blog, our mission has remained the same—to help simplify the complexities of exporting and importing with clear, practical guidance. This year, we published more than 100 new articles covering everything from must-have export documents to compliance risks and Incoterms comparisons. And you responded! Thousands of professionals across the trade community turned to these resources to work more efficiently, reduce risk and ensure they get paid.
To celebrate the close of the year, we’ve compiled the most-read articles of 2025. These top 10 blog posts reflect the questions exporters are asking most—about documentation, regulations, classification and more. Whether you're just getting started or looking to fine-tune your process, these resources can help you strengthen your trade operations in 2026.
And because the value doesn’t stop with blog posts, we’re also sharing our most popular exporting guides and export form templates—free tools you can use to simplify your day-to-day work.
Let’s dive in.
Once an international sale is made, the hard work is just beginning. You need to ship the goods to your buyer in a timely manner and make sure you get paid in full and on time. The key for both is to provide accurate export documents. Here we explain 12 of the most common export forms.
The United States is the world’s second-largest exporter, with trade topping $7.3 trillion last year. In this article, we share the top U.S. exports, the regions that purchase the most U.S. goods and how your company can pursue exporting to those markets. (Subscribe to the blog so you don't miss our update for 2026!)
Exporters and importers are sometimes confused about the differences between the Incoterms 2020 rules DDP and DAP, including who is responsible for what costs during the international journey and when risk transfers from the seller to the buyer. We explain the differences.
A house bill of lading is always a receipt for a shipment from one exporter, while a master bill of lading is a receipt that could potentially cover the shipments of many exporters, as they are consolidated by the carrier into a larger shipment.
Don't be overwhelmed by the hundreds of international shipping terms. We've published a glossary of more than 250 trade terms used by importers and exporters. Bookmark this page and refer to it when you stumble across a word or acronym that has you stumped.
There are five common payment options used for exports. Letters of credit (LCs) are one of the most secure instruments available to international traders. They can protect the interests of both the exporter (seller) and the importer (buyer). But they can be time-consuming and expensive to use.
Exporters often use Harmonized System (HS), Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and Schedule B codes interchangeably. They know these codes classify their products for international trade. While that's OK in casual conversation, it's important to know the differences when it comes to actual usage.
At first glance, the differences between a proforma and commercial invoice appear small. But when you understand how and when both types of invoices are properly used in an import-export transaction, you see how important it is to accurately complete both forms.
This guide explains when and how to use more than 20 common export forms, and includes a link to a sample template for each form that you can download and use—for free!
Are you confused by the different but similar types of product classification? Many new (and experienced) exporters are puzzled by the Harmonized System (HS), Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and Schedule B Codes. This guide explains what you need to understand.
Incoterms provide exporters and importers clear, succinct rules that help them understand their responsibilities, clarify any gray areas in contracts and can save a lot of headaches when used correctly. With an understanding, goods will be delivered more easily and sellers will get paid more quickly.
Make sure you know what you need to do to file through the Automated Export System (AES), along with who can do the filing and when one is required.
Export compliance regulations don’t just apply to the big guys. Even the smallest U.S. businesses that send their products to customers outside the country are subject to a variety of export regulations and could face substantial penalties for violating these rules.
👉 Find all of our free exporting guides here.
A certificate of origin is an important document in international trade because it identifies the country of origin of goods being exported. Customs authorities in many countries require the certificate of origin because they use the information to help determine the admissibility of goods and the duty rate to apply to imports.
Once your international sale is complete and your goods are ready to be sent to the buyer, you need to prepare a commercial invoice and include it with your shipment.
Shipping dangerous goods internationally by vessel is regulated through the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and you may need to provide this Dangerous Goods Declaration.
An international sale often begins with a letter of inquiry from a potential buyer expressing interest in one or more of your products, outlining the terms of their interest, and asking for an informal or formal quote. The buyer may request the quote in the form of a proforma invoice.
A Certificate of Free Sale is used when you are registering a new product in a country. You’re sending a Certificate of Free Sale to the customs authority in that country saying, in effect, “This is a new thing I’m going to start importing, and here are my support documents that confirm this product(s) is legal to sell in the country of manufacture."
👉 Find our library of free export form templates here.
Thanks for making Passages your go-to resource for international trade in 2025. As global trade continues to evolve, staying informed and compliant is more important than ever.
Be sure to subscribe for expert insights and practical tips in the year ahead. And if you’re ready to simplify your export process, see how Shipping Solutions software can help you save time, reduce errors and stay compliant.
Here’s to a smooth and successful 2026!
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