英文:foreign correspondence
就是有着国际贸易关系的双方由于彼此的业务往来而产生的信件，但在信息化高度发达的今天，该信件并不局限于纸质信件，也可以是电子邮件、传真或MSN。
外贸函电最常用的内容：建立业务关系、询盘、发盘、回复、销售合同、包装、保险、赔偿、仲裁等。
外贸函电基本要求：主题明确，内容简洁，语言精炼，表述完整。
外贸函电的格式：有固定的语言、习惯用法和常用句型。
外贸函电的语气：各部分语气。开发信、询盘回复一般要客气，表达感谢；平常业务联系要细心、信任；催促付款要紧急而不失礼貌；客户索赔要理解、给予足够的解释和说明。 一、Courtesy 礼貌
语言要有礼且谦虚，及时地回信也是礼貌的表现。
例如：
We have received with many thanks your letter of 20 May, and we take the pleasure of sending you our latest catalog. We wish to draw your attention to a special offer which we have made in it.
You will be particularly interested in a special offer on page 5 of the latest catalog enclosed, which you requested in your letter of 20 May.
二、Consideration 体谅
写信时要处处从对方的角度去考虑有什么需求，而不是从自身出发，语气上更尊重对方。
例如：
“You earn 2 percent discount when you pay cash. We will send you the brochure next month. ”就比 “We allow 2 percent discount for cash payment. We won''t be able to send you the brochure this month.” 要好。
三、Completeness 完整
一封商业信函应概况了各项必需的事项，如邀请信应说明时间、地点等，确忌寄出含糊不清的信件。
四、Clarity 清楚
意思表达明确，要注意：
（一）避免用词错误：
例如：As to the steamers sailing from Hong Kong to San Francisco, we have bimonthly direct services.
此处bimonthly有歧义：可以是twice a month 或者once two month.故读信者就迷惑了，可以改写为：
1.We have two direct sailings every month from Hong Kong to San Francisco.
2.We have semimonthly direct sailing from Hong Kong to San Francisco.
3.We have a direct sailing from Hong Kong to San Francisco.
（二）注意词语所放的位置：
例如：
1. We shall be able to supply 10 cases of the item only.
2. We shall be able to supply 10 cases only of the item.
前者则有两种商品以上的含义。
（三）注意句子的结构：
例如：
1.We sent you 5 samples yesterday of the goods which you requested in your letter of May 20 by air.
2.We sent you, by air, 5 samples of the goods which you requested in your letter of May 20.
五、Conciseness 简洁
（一）避免废话连篇：
例如：
1.We wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter...可改为：We appreciate your letter...
2.Enclosed herewith please find two copies of...可改为: We enclose two copies of...
（二）避免不必要的重复：
（三）短句、单词的运用：
Enclosed herewith----->enclosed
at this time----->now
due to the fact that----->because
a draft in the amount of $1000----->a draft for $1000
六、Concreteness 具体
七、Correctness 正确
常用客套语句?　01.Please accept our thanks for the trouble you have taken.
有劳贵方，不胜感激。
02.We are obliged to thank you for your kind attention in this matter.
不胜感激贵方对此事的关照。
03.We tender you our sincere thanks for your generous treatment of us
in this affair.
对贵方在此事中的慷慨之举，深表感谢。
04.Allow us to thank you for the kindness extended to us.
对贵方之盛情，不胜感谢。
05.We thank you for the special care you have given to the matter.
贵方对此悉心关照，不胜感激。
06.We should be grateful for your trial order.
如承试订货，不胜感激。
07.We should be grateful for your furnishing us details
of your requirements.
如承赐示具体要求，不胜感激。
08、It will be greatly appreciated if you will kindly send us
your samples.
如承惠寄样品，则不胜感激。
09.We shall appreciate it very much if you will give our bid
your favorable consideration.
如承优惠考虑报价，不胜感激。
10.We are greatly obliged for your bulk order just received.
收到贵方大宗订货，不胜感激。
11.We assure you of our best services at all times.
我方保证向贵方随时提供最佳服务。
12.If there is anything we can do to help you, we shall be more
than pleased to do so.
贵公司若有所需求，我公司定尽力效劳。
13、It would give us a great pleasure to render you a similar
service should an opportunity occur.
我方如有机会同样效劳贵方，将不胜欣慰。
14.We spare no efforts in endeavoring to be of service to you.
我方将不遗余力为贵方效劳。
15.We shall be very glad to handle for you at very low
commission charges.
我方将很愉快与贵方合作，收费低廉。
16.We have always been able to supply these firms with their
monthly requirements without interruption.
我方始终能供应这些公司每月所需的数量，从无间断。
17.We take this opportunity to re-emphasize that we shall, at all
times, do everything possible to give you whatever information
you desire.
我们借此机会再此强调，定会尽力随时提供贵方所需的信息。
18.We are always in a position to quote you the most advantageous
prices for higher quality merchandise.
我们始终能向贵方提供品质最佳的产品，报价最为优惠。
19.This places our dealers in a highly competitive position and
also enable them to enjoy a maximum profit.
这样可以使我方经营者具有很强的竞争力，还可获得最大的利润。
20.We solicit a continuance of your confidence and support.
恳请贵方继续给予信任，大力支持.
外贸英语函电范文
Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee of What City
Address: 地址略-------
Tel: 电话号码略　Fax: 传真号码略________
To: Ms Jaana Pekkala, Consultant for China Swiss Organization for Facilitating Investments Fax: +41-1-249 31 33
Total pages of this fax: 2
_________________________
Dear Ms Jaana Pekkala,
We understand from The Swiss Business Guide for China that your organization is helping Swiss firms in seeking opportunities of investing in China and business cooperating with Chinese partners. To establish business relations with your organization and attract Swiss companies'' investment here in What, We write to introduce our city, the city of What, as one of the open cities in Liaoning Province, China and also ourselves, Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee of What, as a What government initiative to facilitate business relationship with foreign companies.
Our committee provides advice and assistance to What firms seeking to export their services, goods to foreign areas and import goods and services abroad. We also assist Whatfirms in establishment of joint ventures and carry the procedures for examination and approval of joint ventures and foreign sole investment firms. Our Committee can provide What companies with information on the world market and specific commercial opportunities as well as organize trade missions, seminars and business briefings.
Our committee facilitates and encourages investment from other countries into targeted sectors of What economy and maintains active promotion of What through its network of contacts in domestic and abroad areas.
Nowadays, we are seeking foreign investment in the field of capital construction, such as improving of tap water system and highway construction. Also, we are setting up a tannery zone in Tong''erpu, the largest leather clothes producing and wholesaling base in North China. We invite Swiss companies with most favorable polices to set up their firms in any form on tanning, leather processing and sewage treatment.
Any information on investment projects into What and on business cooperation with firms in What is highly appreciated and will be pass on to anyone who have approached us with interest in similar project. You are also invited to our city for investigation and business tour.
Should you have any questions, please fell free to contact us.
Thank you for your attention and looking forward to your prompt reply.
Sincerely yours,
Qiming Di
Commercial Assistant
For Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Committee of What City 外贸函电包含商业书信及电报，电传等
1、商业书信的撰写
掌握商业书信的写作规则，原理及结构形式。 完整的标题，恰当的称呼，熟悉国际贸易中的英语术语，符合英语的语法特点，准确的表述，及时的回复。
2、电报，电传
掌握电报电传的种类，计费方法及组成。 一般分为普通电报和加急电报。按照国际电信联盟的规定，电报计费方法如下： 电报中每一个字（word）， 包括姓名和地址均要收费，每封电报（包括姓名、地址、正文）至少是7个字，不足7个字的按7个字收费。 ?? 1997年10月1日起，国际商务电报实行“十码作一” 的计费方法，既含1-10个字码的自然字或组合 字（可根据意群由字母、数字、符号组成组 合字）按1个字计费。 1、建立业务关系
介绍进出口贸易的种类，步骤，掌握如何撰写有关建立业务关系的函电。
2、询价与答复
掌握进出口贸易的几种基本价格条件，相关函电的撰写，并熟悉询价与答复的常用句型。
3、报盘与递盘
掌握报盘中实盘与虚盘两大种类，如何报盘与递盘及相关函电的撰写。
4、还盘，反还盘和接受
掌握还盘，反还盘的技巧， 了解什麽是有效的接受， 并掌握相关函电的撰写及还盘，反还盘和接受的常用句型。
5、订货和签约
了解订货单及合约一般包括事项，掌握相关函电的撰写及订货和签约的常用句型。
6、包装
了解包装的目的，形式，什麽是合理的包装，及唛头，掌握相关函电的撰写及包装的常用句型。
7、装运
了解装运的种类，工具及提单，掌握相关函电的撰写及装运的常用句型。
8、支付与结算
掌握几种常用的付款条件和结算方法，掌握相关函电的撰写，及支付与结算的常用句型。
9、保险
了解风险和损失的种类，常用的保险条款及保单；掌握相关函电的撰写，及保险的常用句型。
10、商检
了解商检的种类，商检条款及商检单；掌握相关函电的撰写，及商检的常用句型。
11、抱怨，索赔,理赔 及仲裁
了解相关知识，掌握相关函电的撰写及常用句型。
12、代理，特殊贸易，经济技术合作
了解相关知识，掌握相关函电的撰写及常用句型。 在涉外经济活动中，外贸函电具有联络业务、沟通交流的作用，作为一种常用的英语应用文体,对于国际贸易商进一步开拓国际市场、发展对外贸易更有着重要的促进作用。
外贸函电业务外贸函电融英语写作与国际贸易业务知识于一体,主要培养学生对外贸信函的理解、翻译和撰写能力。外贸函电不同于普通信函,有其语言、内容、态度、格式方面的文体独特特点，也要学习跨文化交际常识。因此,了解外贸函电的写作基本要求与文体特点,掌握好书写的原则和技能,才能更好地与外商进行交流洽谈,为成功交易打下基础。随着办公自动化与信息技术的发展，通过国际互联网，在计算机间进行交换和自动化处理。广泛的应用电子邮件交流信息，大大加快了信息传播的速度，使用更加方便。　? ?里我们介绍一种商务信函中最通用的格式－齐头式。主要特征就是每行均从左边顶格写，常常采用开放式的标点方式，即除了信文部分，其它部分在必要时才使用标点。信中各段落之间均空一行。
一、信头　二、编号（写信人的名字缩写）和日期　三、封内地址　四、事由　五、称呼　六、开头语　七、正文　八、结尾语　九、结束语　十、签名　十一、附件