A trade case is review-ready when an authorized reviewer can understand the transaction, trace material claims to evidence, identify unresolved issues, and continue the review without first rebuilding the case from scattered files.
Five characteristics of a review-ready case
1. A clear case identity
The transaction, parties, goods, value, dates, and relevant references are represented in one canonical case state.
2. Traceable evidence
Every material fact points back to a source document, confirmation, system record, or responsible participant.
3. Visible conflicts
Differences between invoice, contract, shipment, warehouse, or inspection data are not hidden or silently normalized. They are recorded as explicit review questions.
4. Role and authority clarity
The package shows who supplied each item, who confirmed it, and who is authorized to make the next decision.
5. Explicit gaps
Missing documents, unverified claims, expired records, and unanswered questions are listed rather than buried in notes.
Review-ready does not mean approved
A review-ready case is prepared for assessment. It is review-only and non-approval: no financing approval, payment, settlement, token movement, chain submission, or capital execution occurs merely because the package is complete.
This distinction is central to what review-ready means.
A practical test
A new reviewer should be able to answer these questions quickly:
- What transaction is being reviewed?
- Which facts are considered material?
- What evidence supports each fact?
- What remains disputed or missing?
- Which human or organization has authority to decide?
If the reviewer must reconstruct these answers manually from email threads and folders, the case is not yet review-ready.