欧美国家对进出口贸易流程中各个环节给予的原汁原味的定义和解释描述竟是这样的如下：

An agent is a company ( or  person) acting on behalf of or representing another company,

代理人是一个公司或个人代表另一公司行事。

There is a lot of documentation (paper work) involved in arranging the transportation of exported goods, An agent who handles the documentation and transportation of exported goods is called an export agent or forwarding agent.

安排出口货物的运输需要办理很多单证（文件工作）。专门办理出口货物的文件和运输的代理人称为出口代理或货运代理。

The forwarding agent arranges the transportation of the goods from the factory or warehouse to the quay or to the airport.

货运代理安排货物从工厂或仓库到码头或机场的运输。

Goods are sometimes stored in a warehouse until they are sent (or despatched) to the buyer. When They arrive in the importing country they may then be stored in a warehouse are called storage costs.

货物有时存储在仓库中，直到它们送到（或发送）给买方。当他们到达进口国时，他们可能被存储在仓库中，称为存储成本。

The import agent is reponsible for arranging the despatch (dispatch) of the goods from their point of arrival in the importing country ( the quay or the airport) to the buyer and for arrange the documentation.

进口代理负责安排把货物从进口国（码头或机场）到达地点发运并交给买方，并安排办理相关文件。

The main documents involved in exporting goods are the Bill of Lading (if the goods are shipped) or Airwaybill ( if the goods are despatched by air),

出口货物所涉及的主要文件有提单（如果货物是海运的）或航空运单（如果货物是空运的）

the customs declaration form, the  insuarance certificate and sometimes a certificate of origin.

海关申报表，报销单，有时候还有原产地证书。

The Bill of Lading has three main functions:

提单有三个主要功能：

(1) it is a receipt for the goods signed by the shipping company;

它是由船公司签署的货物的收据;

(2) it is a contract between the shipping company and the forwarding agent;

它是船公司和运输代理之间的合同；

(3)it is the title document which proves ownership of the goods,

它是证明货物所有权的所有权文件，

the contract between the forwarding agent and the airline is called the Airwaybill.

运输代理和航空公司之间的合同称为航空运单。

The form which shows the value of the goods for taxation purposes is called the customs declaration form.

出于税务目的显示货物价值的表格称为报关单。

The  document which proves where the goods were originally sent from is called the certificate of origin.

证明货物最初发送地点的文件称为原产地证书。

Before an export agent agrees to represent an exporting company. he must be sure that the company can guarangee continuous production, that they can maintain high quality,

在出口代理同意代表一家出口公司之前。他必须确保公司能够保证连续生产，他们可以保持高质量

that they can provide an adequate supply of spare parts and that they will keep delivery dates, In other words, when a company guarantee continuous production they promise that production will not stop;

他们可以提供足够的备件供应，并保持交货日期。换句话说，当公司保证连续生产时，他们承诺 生产不会停止;

its products( the company must maintain high quality); if any of the goods need replacement parts, the company will be able to supply enough spare parts;

其产品（公司必须保持高品质）; 如果任何货物需要更换零件，公司将能够提供足够的备件;

and the company will deliver the goods when promised (they must keep delivery date).

并且公司将承诺交付货物（他们必须保留交货日期）。