Lesson 21 Confirm ing a Purchase

I. About the letter:

It is a general procedure in foreign trade thatwhen a business transaction is concluded，both the buyer and the seller should confirm the deal by sending each other a confirmation. In import business，the buyer w ill send a Purchase Confirmation(a Purchase Order/Purchase Contract) to the seller confirming the purchase. It is a very important documentmade out in w ritten form to ascertain the obligation and right of both parties.

II. Additional notes:

1. confirm确认，证实

We confirm our fax of the 5th regarding Walnutmeat.

兹确认我方5日关于核桃仁的传真。

We confirm having offered you 50 metric tons ofWalnutmeat.

兹确认向你方订购50公吨核桃仁。

2. purchase n./v.

Total purchase to date adds up to 350 metric tons.

迄今为止购买总数为350公吨。

We are agreeable to opening an L/C to cover our purchase.

我方同意为所购货物开立信用证。

We are interested in purchasing 20 metric tons Licorice Extract.

我们有兴趣购买二十公吨甘草膏。

3. the captioned goods标题所指货物

类似的用法还有:

the above-mentioned goods or the goodsmentioned above上述商品

the said goods该商品

4. terms and conditions条款，条件

This is a combined expression usually used more formally in foreign trade，but there is somewhat difference between them.

“Term”is usually used w ith payment. e.g. payment terms，on CIF terms，usual terms. etc.

It refers to themain subjects.

“Condition”is commonly used with terms other than payment，e.g. packing conditions，conditions of shipment.

In business correspondence，“condition”is also used in“on condition that”.

We'd like to place a considerable order with you on condition that you grant us 5% discount.

如果你方答应给我们5%的折扣，我们愿意向你方大量订购。

5. draft汇票

汇票又可称bill of exchange或bill，draft最常用。

Your draftw ill be honored on presentation.

你方汇票见票即付。

动词honor，meet，take up，protect，pay等与draft连用时，作“照付，兑付”解，课文中的draft at sight还可写作sight draft指即期汇票。

6. in your favor以你方为抬头，以你方为受益人

7. preferably

More examples:

Please send us a full range of samples of your Men's Shirts，preferably by air.

请寄给我方你们男士衬衣的全系列样品，最好航空邮寄。

One of our clients is interested in Jasmine Tea of first grade and second grade，preferably the former.

我方一客户对一级和二级菊花茶感兴趣，特别是前者。

III. Chinese version of the letter:

确认购货

敬启者:

“鹦鹉”牌白水泥

通过双方往来信函，兹确认按下列条款向你方购买上述商品1 000长吨(每长吨2 240磅):

价格:装船净重CFR热那亚，每长吨×××英镑。

包装:装于5层牛皮纸袋内，每袋净重约110磅。

质量:卖方保证货物完全符合中国出口标准。

装船期:2008年一月按一批或二批自秦皇岛运往热那亚，最好用直达轮装运。

支付方式:开立以你方为受益人的、保兑的、不可撤销的信用证，凭即期汇票支付。

我们很高兴与你公司达成了这第一笔生意，并希望进一步扩展对双方互利的贸易。

谨启

IV. Key to exercises:

1. Fill in the blankswith variations of the words given below:

A. 1) satisfies 2) Satisfied 3) satisfaction

B. 1) regard 2) regarding 3) regards

C. 1) covered 2) covering 3) covering

D. 1) resulting 2) result 3) results

E. 1) regrettable 2) regretful 3) Regret

2. Fill in the w ith appropriate infinitives or gerunds::

1) to have increased

2) to change

3) to have left

4) to avoid，making

5) to confirm having sold

3. Translate the following into English:

1) We have the pleasure of confirming our purchase from you of 300 tons of Steel Plate.

2) As regards quality，we need your guarantee that the goodswere produced in 2005.

3) The goods are to be delivered in three equalmonthly installments of 100 tons，commencing from October.

4) We trust this initial businessw ill lead to further development of trade between us.

5) We w ill open an irrevocable L/C available by sight draft in your favour w ithin thisweek.

6) We have duly received your irrevocable L/C and believe that shipment can be arranged w ithin nextweek.

7) We have today established w ith the Bank of China，London an L/C in your favour for the amount of Stg.￡50，000.

8) If you can sell large quantities of Men's Leather Shoes in your place，please let us know by fax.

9) We find it necessary to stress the importance of making punctual shipment within the validity of the L/C.

10) They claimed having bought the same article elsewhere at a lower price.

V. Optional reading:

Dear Sirs，

We thank you for your quotation dated July 28 and the samples of your umbrellas. Both the quality and prices are satisfactory，and we are pleased to confirm the lettersand e-mails exchanged between us and to enclose Order No.AB822. Now the deal has been successfully put through. The goods are urgently needed and prompt shipment is essential.

Yours faithfully，

Encl. Order No. AB822

ORDER

Please supply

Packing: each piece to be in a black nylon cover

1 dozen per box，5 boxes per carton

Payment: by L/C at sight

Insurance: for 110% of invoice value

We have instructed our bank to open an L/C for the amount of this order.

You w ill soon hear from your bank.

Yours faithfully，

参考译文:

敬启者:

感谢你方7月28日报价及雨伞的样品。品质和价格都令人满意，我们很高兴地确认我们之间的往来信件和电邮并随函第AB822号订单。现在交易已成功达成。因为急需货物，请立即装运。

谨启

附件:第AB822号订单

订单

包装:每件装一黑尼龙袋

每盒装1打，5盒装一纸箱

支付:即期信用证

保险:按发票金额110%投保

我们已通知我方银行按订单金额开出信用证。

希望尽快收到你方银行的来信。

谨启