When reviewing suppliers' quotes for research purchases, proposed freight terms are often found within the shipping or delivery terms section of the quote. Paying attention to these terms is crucial for understanding the expectations of the distribution of costs, risks, and responsibilities for the shipment, as the proposed freight terms specify which party is expected to be responsible for transportation, insurance, and customs clearance.

INCOTERMS, short for International Commercial Terms, are the internationally recognized rules that define the responsibilities and obligations of buyers and sellers in international trade transactions.

This table of allocations of costs to buyer/seller according to Incoterms 2020 visually shows which party is expected to be responsible for which service depending on which INCOTERM is specified within the shipping or delivery terms section of the supplier's quote.