diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/components/contracts/ContractApprovalStepsCard.tsx b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/components/contracts/ContractApprovalStepsCard.tsx
index 0d7adc5be..044c729ee 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/components/contracts/ContractApprovalStepsCard.tsx
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/components/contracts/ContractApprovalStepsCard.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useMemo, useState } from "react";
-import { Check, ShieldCheck } from "lucide-react";
+import { Check, ShieldCheck, X } from "lucide-react";
 import {
   Stack,
   Group,
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   Button,
   Box,
   Modal,
+  Textarea,
 } from "@mantine/core";
 import type { Freight } from "@edr/types";
 
@@ -30,6 +31,10 @@ export function ContractApprovalStepsCard({
   const [confirmOpen, setConfirmOpen] = useState(false);
   const [pendingStep, setPendingStep] =
     useState<Freight.IContractApprovalStep | null>(null);
+  const [rejectOpen, setRejectOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [rejectStepRow, setRejectStepRow] =
+    useState<Freight.IContractApprovalStep | null>(null);
+  const [rejectReason, setRejectReason] = useState("");
 
   const steps = useMemo(
     () =>
@@ -60,6 +65,28 @@ export function ContractApprovalStepsCard({
     );
   };
 
+  const openReject = (step: Freight.IContractApprovalStep) => {
+    setRejectStepRow(step);
+    setRejectReason("");
+    setRejectOpen(true);
+  };
+
+  const closeReject = () => {
+    setRejectOpen(false);
+    setRejectStepRow(null);
+    setRejectReason("");
+  };
+
+  const trimmedReason = rejectReason.trim();
+
+  const runReject = () => {
+    if (!rejectStepRow || !trimmedReason) return;
+    mutations.rejectStep.mutate(
+      { stepId: rejectStepRow.id, reason: trimmedReason },
+      { onSuccess: () => closeReject() },
+    );
+  };
+
   const subtitle =
     summary.detail ||
     (nextPending
@@ -106,8 +133,12 @@ export function ContractApprovalStepsCard({
                 key={step.id}
                 step={step}
                 isNext={nextPending?.id === step.id}
-                isPending={mutations.approveStep.isPending}
+                isPending={
+                  mutations.approveStep.isPending ||
+                  mutations.rejectStep.isPending
+                }
                 onApprove={() => openApprove(step)}
+                onReject={() => openReject(step)}
               />
             ))}
           </Stack>
@@ -149,6 +180,54 @@ export function ContractApprovalStepsCard({
           </Group>
         </Stack>
       </Modal>
+
+      <Modal
+        opened={rejectOpen}
+        onClose={closeReject}
+        title="Reject this step?"
+        radius="md"
+        centered
+      >
+        <Stack gap="md">
+          <Text size="sm" c="dimmed">
+            Rejecting the{" "}
+            <Text span fw={600} c="dark">
+              {rejectStepRow?.requiredRole}
+            </Text>{" "}
+            step rejects contract{" "}
+            <Text span fw={600} c="dark">
+              {contract.reference}
+            </Text>{" "}
+            outright. The customer must create a new contract — this cannot be
+            undone.
+          </Text>
+          <Textarea
+            label="Reason for rejection"
+            description="Shared with the customer and the approval chain."
+            placeholder="Explain why this contract is rejected…"
+            minRows={3}
+            autosize
+            withAsterisk
+            value={rejectReason}
+            onChange={(e) => setRejectReason(e.currentTarget.value)}
+          />
+          <Group justify="flex-end" gap="sm">
+            <Button variant="default" radius="md" onClick={closeReject}>
+              Cancel
+            </Button>
+            <Button
+              color="red"
+              radius="md"
+              leftSection={<X size={16} />}
+              loading={mutations.rejectStep.isPending}
+              disabled={!trimmedReason}
+              onClick={runReject}
+            >
+              Reject contract
+            </Button>
+          </Group>
+        </Stack>
+      </Modal>
     </>
   );
 }
@@ -158,11 +237,13 @@ function StepRow({
   isNext,
   isPending,
   onApprove,
+  onReject,
 }: {
   step: Freight.IContractApprovalStep;
   isNext: boolean;
   isPending: boolean;
   onApprove: () => void;
+  onReject: () => void;
 }) {
   const statusColor =
     step.status === "APPROVED"
@@ -222,15 +303,27 @@ function StepRow({
       </Group>
       <Group gap="xs" wrap="nowrap" style={{ flexShrink: 0 }}>
         {isNext && step.status === "PENDING" && (
-          <Button
-            size="compact-sm"
-            color="edr-green"
-            leftSection={<Check size={14} />}
-            disabled={isPending}
-            onClick={onApprove}
-          >
-            Approve
-          </Button>
+          <>
+            <Button
+              size="compact-sm"
+              color="edr-green"
+              leftSection={<Check size={14} />}
+              disabled={isPending}
+              onClick={onApprove}
+            >
+              Approve
+            </Button>
+            <Button
+              size="compact-sm"
+              variant="light"
+              color="red"
+              leftSection={<X size={14} />}
+              disabled={isPending}
+              onClick={onReject}
+            >
+              Reject
+            </Button>
+          </>
         )}
         <Badge
           variant="light"
diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/constants/URLS.ts b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/constants/URLS.ts
index fce620235..a42c7c01b 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/constants/URLS.ts
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/constants/URLS.ts
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@ export const URL_CONSTANTS = {
     STAFF_REJECT: (id: string) => `/contracts/${id}/staff/reject`,
     APPROVE_STEP: (id: string, stepId: string) =>
       `/contracts/${id}/approval-steps/${stepId}/approve`,
+    REJECT_STEP: (id: string, stepId: string) =>
+      `/contracts/${id}/approval-steps/${stepId}/reject`,
     CONTRACT_GENERATE: (id: string) => `/contracts/${id}/contract/generate`,
     CONTRACT_VIEW: (id: string) => `/contracts/${id}/contract/view`,
     CONTRACT_DOCUMENT: (id: string) => `/contracts/${id}/contract/document`,
diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/hooks/contracts/useContracts.ts b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/hooks/contracts/useContracts.ts
index 04a4720aa..69e4e1739 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/hooks/contracts/useContracts.ts
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/hooks/contracts/useContracts.ts
@@ -181,6 +181,15 @@ export function useContractMutations(contractId: string) {
     onError: () => toast.error("Failed to approve step"),
   });
 
+  // Per-step rejection by an approver (line staff / director / CEO). Terminal:
+  // the contract goes to REJECTED and the customer must create a new one.
+  const rejectStep = useMutation({
+    mutationFn: ({ stepId, reason }: { stepId: string; reason: string }) =>
+      contractsService.rejectStep({ id: contractId, stepId, reason }),
+    onSuccess: (data) => onSuccess(data, "Contract rejected"),
+    onError: () => toast.error("Failed to reject step"),
+  });
+
   // Manual fallback generate — used only if auto-generation failed.
   const generateContract = useMutation({
     mutationFn: () => contractsService.generateContract(contractId),
@@ -210,6 +219,7 @@ export function useContractMutations(contractId: string) {
     requestChanges.isPending ||
     reject.isPending ||
     approveStep.isPending ||
+    rejectStep.isPending ||
     generateContract.isPending ||
     signContract.isPending ||
     createBooking.isPending;
@@ -219,6 +229,7 @@ export function useContractMutations(contractId: string) {
     requestChanges,
     reject,
     approveStep,
+    rejectStep,
     generateContract,
     signContract,
     createBooking,
diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/pages/contracts/ContractClearanceDetailPage.tsx b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/pages/contracts/ContractClearanceDetailPage.tsx
index 2c3e6fa9d..7482ca2fb 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/pages/contracts/ContractClearanceDetailPage.tsx
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/pages/contracts/ContractClearanceDetailPage.tsx
@@ -90,11 +90,16 @@ export default function ContractClearanceDetailPage() {
       ].includes(contract.status),
   );
   const linkedBookingId = useMemo(() => {
+    // Prefer the clearance view's server-resolved linkedBookingId (same field the
+    // GL Djibouti page uses). The contract's clearanceCycles[cycle].bookingId can
+    // be null/stale for an export FCFS booking, which would disable
+    // useBookingMilestones → empty milestones → the export "Payment & wagon
+    // allocation" step reads FREIGHT_PAYMENT_SETTLED as not-done and stays stuck.
     const cycle = contract?.clearanceCycles?.find(
       (c) => c.cycleNumber === (contract?.clearanceCycleNumber ?? 1),
     );
-    return cycle?.bookingId ?? undefined;
-  }, [contract]);
+    return clearance?.linkedBookingId ?? cycle?.bookingId ?? undefined;
+  }, [clearance, contract]);
   const bookingAlreadyCreated = Boolean(linkedBookingId) || shipmentLocked;
   const canCreateBooking = ready && !bookingAlreadyCreated;
   const reviewReadOnly = shipmentLocked;
diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/services/contracts.service.ts b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/services/contracts.service.ts
index 7ad051ce7..c23b51df2 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/services/contracts.service.ts
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/services/contracts.service.ts
@@ -185,6 +185,16 @@ export const contractsService = {
       requiredRole,
     }),
 
+  rejectStep: ({
+    id,
+    stepId,
+    reason,
+  }: {
+    id: string;
+    stepId: string;
+    reason: string;
+  }) => postContract<Freight.IContract>(C.REJECT_STEP(id, stepId), { reason }),
+
   // ── Contract document ──
   generateContract: (id: string) =>
     postContract<Freight.IContract>(C.CONTRACT_GENERATE(id)),