对信用证的定义

UCP600对信用证的定义⁽¹²⁾

Article 2　Definitions

For the purposes of these rules：

……

Credit means any arrangement， however named or described， that is irrevocable and thereby constitutes a definite undertaking of the issuing bank to honour a complying presentation.

Honour means：

a. to pay at sight if the credit is available by sight payment.

b. to incur a deferred payment undertaking and pay at maturity if the credit is available by deferred payment.

c. to accept a bill of exchange (“draft”) drawn by the beneficiary and pay at maturity if the credit is available by acceptance.

Issuing bank means the bank that issues a credit at the request of an applicant or on its own behalf.

Complying presentation means a presentation that is in accordance with the terms and conditions of the credit， the applicable provisions of these rules and international standard banking practice.

Applicant means the party on whose request the credit is issued.

Beneficiary means the party in whose favour a credit is issued.

第二条　定义

就本惯例而言，

……

信用证是指一项不可撤销的安排，不论其名称或描述如何，该项安排构成开证行对相符交单予以承付的确定承诺。

承付是指：

a. 即期付款，若信用证以即期付款方式兑用。

b. 承诺延期付款并于到期日付款，若信用证以延期付款方式兑用。

c. 承兑由受益人出具的汇票并于到期日付款，若信用证以承兑方式兑用。

开证行是指按照申请人的要求或以自己的名义开立信用证的银行。

相符交单是指符合信用证的条款条件、本惯例的适用条款以及国际标准银行实务的交单。

申请人是指要求开立信用证的当事人。

受益人是指接受信用证并享受其利益的当事人。

在对信用证的定义上，UCP600对UCP500有所保留，也进行了更新。主要体现在：第一，UCP500定义中银行信用证、双名信用证、不称为信用证的信用证这三项要素在UCP600定义中仍然保留。第二，UCP500在定义中将信用证分类为付款信用证、承兑信用证和议付信用证；而UCP600则在第六条“兑用方式、截止日和交单地点”中将信用证分类为付款信用证、承兑信用证和议付信用证。