The purchasing process may involve indirect means, such as going through third countries; in the case of many pea and lily varieties, American firms are only willing to sell to Japan where seed patents are protected, and Taiwan buyers must then pay more to obtain them from the Japanese.
購買過程有時也會出現波折，例如必須透過第三國購買，像許多豌豆科植物和百合花就是美國廠商只肯賣給有種苗專利保護的日本，我們再向日本購買，被多賺一手。