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Sovereign Risk

Sovereign risk (also known as political risk, or country risk) is the added dimension of risk associated with doing business internationally. Sovereign risk exists in addition to the more common form of credit risk referred to as commercial risk. (Commercial risk involves the risk that the buyer will be unwilling or financially unable to make payment to the seller).

Sovereign risk involves events that are beyond a foreign customer's ability to control, and include:

  • Controls placed on foreign exchange by a foreign government
  • Riots or civil unrest
  • Strikes or war
  • Seizure or destruction of property by the government
  • Changes in the political, economic or regulatory environment that prevent a customer from paying its foreign creditor(s)
  • The risk that unfavorable changes in a customer's overall currency exchange position might prevent payment of a debt owed to a foreign creditor.

Source: Michael Dennis, author of "Credit and Collection Handbook" available at the NACM Bookstore.

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