Here’s a breakdown:

Freight Rate Negotiation: 

This involves discussing and bargaining with freight forwarders or shipping lines to get the most competitive price for transporting your goods. This can involve factors like shipment volume, route, urgency, and competition among carriers.

FOB (Free On Board): 

Under FOB terms, the seller’s responsibility ends once the goods are loaded onto the ship at the origin port. The buyer is then responsible for all costs associated with transporting the goods from that point onwards, including the freight rate. However, since the seller is responsible for arranging the initial transportation to the port, negotiating the freight rate with the carrier can still be beneficial for the seller, as it can impact their overall costs.

EXW (Ex Works): 

Under EXW terms, the seller’s responsibility is only to have the goods ready for collection at their origin location (factory, warehouse). The buyer is then responsible for everything else, including arranging transportation, export clearance, and negotiating the freight rate directly with the carrier.