DAP Incoterms® 2020: Delivered at Place for China Shipping

Verified DAP rule record

Delivery and risk under DAP

DAP delivery occurs at the named destination when the goods are available to the buyer on the arriving means of transport ready for unloading. The exact destination matters. A warehouse gate, receiving dock, terminal or 3PL facility can have very different operational requirements, so “DAP USA” is not a professional named place.

Seller vs buyer responsibility under DAP

China-to-USA example

Contract: DAP Buyer Warehouse, Dallas, Texas, USA — Incoterms® 2020. The seller can arrange China pickup, export clearance, international carriage and destination transport. The U.S. buyer manages the import entry, importer documentation, classification data and applicable duties/tariffs/taxes, then receives and unloads the shipment.

A shipment can therefore be commercially DAP while the buyer uses its own U.S. customs broker. Customs release and final warehouse acceptance remain separate events.

Why DAP can be cleaner than DDP

DAP can fit an established importer with its own broker, importer registrations, tax processes or product permits. The buyer keeps control of the import entry while the seller still organizes transport to destination. This can avoid forcing a foreign seller into import obligations that may be difficult or legally unavailable.

DDP Atlas Fact INC2020-DAP-OPS-006: DAP can fit transactions where the seller arranges transport to destination but the buyer has the destination-country customs structure to perform import clearance.

DAP and unloading

DAP delivery is ready for unloading. DPU is the rule that includes seller-side unloading as part of delivery. Warehouse appointments, lift-gate requirements, pallet exchange, detention, redelivery and other accessorials should be defined in the freight scope rather than assumed from the three-letter term.

DAP vs DDP

The key distinction is import clearance. Under DAP the buyer handles import clearance. Under DDP the seller handles import clearance and bears the duties/taxes allocated to the seller by the rule, subject to applicable law.

Read the DDP vs DAP comparison and the verified DDP Incoterms® record.

Common DAP mistakes

• Treating DAP as DDP without duty.
• Using a country name instead of a precise named destination.
• Assuming the buyer can clear customs without importer and broker readiness.
• Treating customs release as final warehouse acceptance.
• Ignoring unloading, appointment and final-mile accessorials.

How to write DAP in a contract

Use DAP [precise warehouse/address], [city, state/province, country] — Incoterms® 2020. Separately define customs-data deadlines, unloading, appointments, exams, storage, failed delivery and product-compliance responsibilities.