Foreign trade refers to trade between different countries, which consists of import - import and export - export of services or goods. In general, foreign trade is carried out through commercial transactions that are executed through foreign trade contracts. This concept existed even in ancient states, here foreign trade was connected only with the exchange of any material values.
The development, as well as the existence of foreign trade, is characterized by the following points:
- when it is necessary to get cheap goods from abroad that are more expensive to produce in your own country or in other countries;
- when it is necessary to purchase raw materials and food abroad, if in the home country this raw material or food cannot be obtained due to various conditions;
- when there is the availability of machine production, which requires large markets;
- when it is possible to expand the range of popular goods and services, and this contributes to the development of foreign trade of various countries.
Foreign trade is flourishing every year in different countries, services and goods are becoming more in demand from abroad. So Russia 's foreign trade is not inferior to any significant country in its state. In recent years, sales moments have been the most favorable for Russian foreign trade. Only in 2003, foreign economic activities carried out the national economy, developed it and stimulated development. Basically, Russia exports hydrocarbons - gas, oil, oil products and coal. Also, the foreign trade of Russia consists in the export of chemical and metallurgical products, equipment and machinery, food and weapons. Every year, exports increase by several tens of percent. The same applies to imports, in comparison with other years, it can be determined that the import of goods and services from abroad to Russia also increases in volume. Germany is becoming the largest importer; it is from this country that Russia accepts a larger number of products.
As for the foreign trade in services, here there is a sale and purchase by transport and communications, material and technical supply, domestic and housing services. Services in the global market also include hotel management, insurance and financial services, tourism, education and science, various real estate transactions and much more.
In general, foreign trade in services is based on direct contact between the manufacturer and the consumer. Unlike trade in goods, services are produced and simultaneously consumed, not subject to storage. But we can say that foreign trade in services is closely related to trade in goods, with the movement of labor and with the international movement of capital. Success and success depends on the volume and quality of the services provided. International trade in services is simply unthinkable without any banking, transport and information services.
Many companies in developed countries acquire the production of goods and services in their hedgehog overseas branches. If the service sector in a country is not sufficiently developed, these services must be acquired outside the borders of their state. One of the largest exporters in the field of construction and engineering and consulting services is the Republic of Korea, in the field of tourism - Mexico, and in the financial sector - Singapore.
Foreign trade , and especially in those countries where the economy is developed openly, has a great influence on the entire economy, on its general condition. There are cases when the conditions for the export of goods and services worsen, for example, the price of goods decreases or demand decreases, this can lead to the collapse of national production, to a depreciation of the currency, to a deterioration in the solvency balance sheet and other negative aspects. This also applies to the deterioration of import conditions, for example, higher prices for goods or services.