An international business transaction requires a precise and detailed underlying contract. However, it can be expensive and time-consuming to draft such a contract oneself. The International Chamber of Commerce, the world business organization, has responded to the market's need for a reliable and equitable model with the ICC Model International Sale Contract, which provides a solution in presenting a set of clear and concise standard contractual conditions for the most basic international trade agreement. 

Although this Model is denominated a 'sale' contract, it is equally appropriate for use by buyers as it balances the interests of exporters (sellers) and importers (buyers).It may thus also be used for a so-called 'purchase' agreement. 

The model contract is divided into two parts: Specific Conditions, which allow the parties to use the Model directly by filling in the blanks in the form; and General Conditions, which provide a platform of standard legal terms and thus a reference tool for contract drafting or negotiation. These General Conditions may be used together with the Specific Conditions, or independently.