Independent agent versus employee
The proposed model pays eligible completed assignments by commission, not a salary or employment guarantee. The actual engagement terms and local classification require review before work starts. Salaried country staff and independent agents are separate roles.
Commission basis
The proposed commission is 2% of the goods purchase contract value, excluding CMDT’s buyer fee and separate freight or import charges. For a $40,200 goods contract this is $804 gross. The eligible value, shared assignments and adjustments must be agreed in writing.
Safe receipt and payout
The model pays after goods arrive safely and buyer receipt is confirmed. It does not specify a fixed number of days after confirmation. The assignment agreement must address confirmation delays, partial receipt, disputed damage and administrative timing.
Expenses and cash timing
Document travel, accommodation, sample delivery, translation, inspections and re-visits separately. Reimbursement and advances are not automatic. Assess expected net earnings and days to payment before accepting an assignment.
Checks and professional boundaries
Collecting a certificate, checking its apparent relevance, independently verifying it and professionally certifying goods are different tasks. Refer work beyond your capability to the agreed qualified specialist and record the limitation.
Pilot assessment
Record task hours, expenses, visits, evidence quality, issues and time to payout. Agent interest, registration or an interview is not a guarantee of future assignments. The pilot should test whether the terms work for agents as well as buyers and suppliers.
Planned AI assistance — not live
We plan to draft checklists from approved order requirements, turn visit notes into reports, help translate messages and flag missing evidence. These capabilities are not live. Agents would check every report against their observations; CMDT would review the work. AI would not certify physical goods, approve buyer acceptance or release commission. The 2% commission and confirmed-safe-receipt condition remain unchanged.
Pilot terms and responsibilities
This is an expression of interest, not a job offer or a promise of assignment volume. These policies need agreement for each pilot; this deck does not create an entitlement or impose final terms. Specialist inspectors, freight providers and customs professionals retain their own contracted responsibilities.
