Incoterms Explainer

Explain any Incoterms 2020 rule: what the seller and buyer each do, where risk and cost pass, and when to use it.

Pay by wallet (x402) incoterms-explain

Example

Input
{
  "incoterm": "EXW"
}
Answer
{
  "error": "Unknown Incoterm: \"test\". Must be one of the 11 Incoterms 2020 rules.",
  "available_codes": [
    "EXW",
    "FCA",
    "CPT",
    "CIP",
    "DAP",
    "DPU",
    "DDP",
    "FAS",
    "FOB",
    "CFR",
    "CIF"
  ],
  "available_terms": [
    {
      "code": "EXW",
      "full_name": "Ex Works",
      "suitable_for": "any"
    },
    {
      "code": "FCA",
      "full_name": "Free Carrier",
      "suitable_for": "any"
    },
    {
      "code": "CPT",
      "full_name": "Carriage Paid To",
      "suitable_for": "any"
    },
    {
      "code": "CIP",
      "full_name": "Carriage and Insurance Paid To",
      "suitable_for": "any"
    },
    {
      "code": "DAP",
      "full_name": "Delivered at Place",
      "suitable_for": "any"
    },
    {
      "code": "DPU",
      "full_name": "Delivered at Place Unloaded",
      "suitable_for": "any"
    },
    {
      "code": "DDP",
      "full_name": "Delivered Duty Paid",
      "suitable_for": "any"
    },
    {
      "code": "FAS",
      "full_name": "Free Alongside Ship",
      "suitable_for": "sea_and_inland_waterway_only"
    },
    {
      "code": "FOB",
      "full_name": "Free On Board",
      "suitable_for": "sea_and_inland_waterway_only"
    },
    {
      "code": "CFR",
      "full_name": "Cost and Freight",
      "suitable_for": "sea_and_inland_waterway_only"
    },
    {
      "code": "CIF",
      "full_name": "Cost, Insurance and Freight",
      "suitable_for": "sea_and_inland_waterway_only"
    }
  ]
}

Inputs

FieldTypeRequiredWhat it is
incotermstringYesIncoterm code (EXW/FOB/CIF/DDP/etc)

Output fields

How reliably each field appears in a successful answer.

FieldTypeAppears
errorstringSometimes (present only for some inputs)
versionstringAlways (present in every successful answer)
incotermobjectAlways (present in every successful answer)
published_bystringAlways (present in every successful answer)
available_codesarraySometimes (present only for some inputs)
available_termsarraySometimes (present only for some inputs)

How to call it

The same tool through each route. MCP clients reach it through Strale’s server at https://api.strale.io/mcp; the call below is what the agent sends.

# Needs an API key. max_price_cents caps what this call may cost.
curl -X POST https://api.strale.io/v1/do \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STRALE_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "capability_slug": "incoterms-explain",
    "inputs": {
      "incoterm": "EXW"
    },
    "max_price_cents": 3
  }'

Limitations

  • Contract changes and local customs are not considered

    AI-generated explanation of Incoterms 2020 — does not account for contractual modifications or local trade customs

    What to do instead: Verify specific obligations against the ICC Incoterms 2020 publication and your actual contract terms