Development international trade is under a significant influence of factors of an economic, scientific, technical, political nature, gradually transforming its structure, both geographical and commodity. Second half of the 20th century characterized by the rapid pace of development of world commodity markets and simultaneous changes in the international division of labor. The leading countries of the world market have gradually reoriented their production from agricultural products and products with low added value in favor of high-tech and science-intensive products, respectively, occupying leading positions in the world commodity markets of mechanical engineering, metalworking, and the chemical industry. The market niches liberated at the same time were occupied by the developing countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which were formed after the collapse of the socialist economic system, including Ukraine. However, such specialization is not profitable for most of these countries, since it cannot provide them with a worthy place in the world market, which leads to a low level of their competitiveness.

The main trend of the current stage of development of international trade in goods is an increase in the share of manufacturing products in it (3/4 of world exports) and a decrease in the share of raw materials. The dynamics of international trade in goods has the following features: Almost 40% of the value of world exports is in technically complex, differentiated products of machinery and transport equipment. The increase in exports of engineering products is accompanied by a simultaneous growth in trade in components, assemblies, parts, and semi-finished products.

As can be seen from fig. 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, the highest growth rates of world trade volumes fall on 70 years. XX century, for example, in 1973. This figure was 268.8%, and since 1983, the growth rate of exports tends to decrease. At the same time, it should be noted that the average growth rates of world exports are much higher than those of world GDP growth; 60% of world exports go to developed countries.

Rice. 1.12. Dynamics of world trade and GDP for 1948-2008

Rice. 1.13. Growth rates of world trade and GDP for 1948-2008

Rice. 1.14. Graph of annual changes in the volume of world exports of goods for 1965-2009,%

In 1960, the share of world merchandise exports in world GDP was 10%, and in 2008 it rose to 35%. The dynamic growth of this indicator in developing countries has recently stimulated an increase in export volumes. Real exports from these countries from 1995 to 2008 Increased by 2.5%. Since 1995, world trade has grown at an average of 7.5% per year. Over the past 15 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of regional and sub-regional trade agreements concluded in the world economy. The regional structure of world trade has also undergone changes, as can be seen from the data given in Table. 1.2.

Table 1.2. Geographic structure of international trade

The share of Europe in the structure of world exports of goods increased by 6%, Asia by 13.7%, the Middle East by 4.5%, the share of Africa decreased by 3.8%, North America by 15.1%, South and Central America by 7 , 5%. Among the countries of North America, the largest volume of exports is accounted for by the United States.

During 1970-2007, there were structural shifts in trade in the commodity-industry attribute (see Fig. 1.16). Significant differences are determined by the following commodity groups, as mineral products, vegetable products, chemical products and semi-finished products, the exchange of which prevailed in 1970, and in 2007 the share of such goods decreased, but sales of mechanical equipment, machinery and mechanisms, office equipment and high technology products increased. This indicates a change in the orientation of international trade in raw materials and semi-finished products to finished products and the results of scientific activity.

Rice. 1.16. Diagrams of changes in the commodity structure of world exports in 1970 and 2007

The global commodity market is characterized by a branched structure, in which the market for fuel and energy products occupies a leading position and plays a significant role in foreign trade relations. The most common among them is the market for oil, natural gas, coal, and electricity.

The international trade in oil is characterized by the constant growth of its exports; in fact, this mineral has become the most massive product of foreign trade. Recently, the largest oil exporters are Saudi Arabia (17%), Norway (7%), Russia (7%), Venezuela (6%). The OPEC countries (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, founded in 1960) account for about 40% of the world supply of this product. Initially, the organization included Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, which was the initiator of its creation. They were later joined by nine more countries: Qatar (1961), Indonesia (1962), Libya (1962), United Arab Emirates (1967), Algeria (1969), Nigeria (1971), Ecuador (1973-1992, 2007), Gabon (1975-1994), Angola (2007). Now OPEC has 13 members. The share of the CIS countries (including Russia) is about 17% of the volume of oil supplies by independent producers. The total volume of annual oil exports to the world market is about 1900000000 tons. The main oil importers are the USA (26%), Japan (11%), Korea (6%), Germany (5%), France (4%). Countries such as the USA, Holland, Singapore and China are both exporters and importers of this raw material. These countries import products of primary oil refining, then carry out their deeper processing, the products of which are exported.

Until 2015 Major exporters gas may face its oversupply in the world market. At the same time, the excess of gas pipelines and liquefied gas terminals will reach 250 billion cubic meters. m, which is four times the capacity of gas pipelines according to 2007 data. Thus, an oversupply of gas on the market will be a blow to Russia, Iran and Qatar, which control most of its world reserves. The production of liquefied gas is one of the most promising sectors of the energy market, characterized by high growth rates. By 2010, its supply will almost double, and this is about 40% of the world trade in natural gas; therefore, the global market for this product will be controlled by several countries. Currently, sales of liquefied natural gas account for about 27% of the world's exports of this product. The main energy consumers are increasingly buying liquefied natural gas. According to the forecast, by 2015 the import of "blue fuel" will grow in the USA mainly due to this product.

The ratio between oil and gas prices is in the range of 0.60.7 and in the future can be maintained until 2020.

The main importers of coal are the countries of Western Europe (about 160 million tons) and the Asia-Pacific region (more than 200 million tons, including Japan - 130 million tons, South Korea- about 50 million tons and Taiwan - about 20 million tons), and the leading exporters are the USA, Australia, South Africa, Colombia, Venezuela, Indonesia, Canada, China, Poland and Russia. The sale of coal by these countries provides more than 90% of the world's import needs.

The coal market is traditionally considered a buyer's market - supply exceeds demand. In general, coal prices are more stable and less dependent on current market fluctuations than oil prices (besides, coking coal prices are more stable than energy prices).

Mineral resources are the basis for the development of the economy, which determines the country's export potential, leads to the deployment and development of productive forces. The total annual output of the world mining complex is approximately 0.8-1.4 trillion. USD.

A feature of the international trade in iron ore is that over the past 100 years, the developed countries of the world have become importers. This is due to both the depletion of these resources and the deterioration of their quality, which increases the cost of extraction and enrichment. Every year, 40% of the produced oil is exported in the world. iron ore. The main exporters are Australia and Brazil, Ukraine exports 45 million tons of ore and ranks seventh in the world after India, Russia, the USA and China. The contribution of individual states to this industry is also changing: the share of China and Russia is growing, and the share of Japan, the USA, Germany, and Ukraine is decreasing. Non-ferrous metallurgy products occupy a leading position in international trade. Developing countries are significant exporters of raw materials for the non-ferrous metallurgy complex of industrialized countries.

The products of the timber industry complex have held 3.5-4% of total world exports over the past years. The import of timber products on the world market is the most important source of meeting the needs: in Japan, imports provide about 70% of national needs, in the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium - from 80 to 90%, Germany - 57%, France - 46%, in the countries of the Middle and Middle East, as well as in the USA - 40% each. The turnover of world trade in timber industry products has been constantly growing and becoming more complex in recent years. Today it is about 300 billion US dollars, world exports of these products have grown by more than 25 times, and imports - by more than 22 times.

The market for chemical products in terms of exports and imports occupies one of the leading places in the world, providing national economies with new construction materials, agriculture with mineral fertilizers, pesticides and growth stimulants, consumer demand for household chemicals, polymer materials. The most powerful sector in commodity structure chemical market is trade organic matter, representing more than 60% of the world's exports and imports of chemical products.

Inorganic chemistry ranks second in terms of international trade.

One of the most important types of international trade is the trade in machinery and equipment, which is developing at a faster rate than other groups of goods. The position of individual countries in the market of machinery and equipment leads to the intensity of development the latest technologies, determines the place and role of the country in scientific and technological progress, authority and influence in modern world. In recent years, in the structure of international trade, the leading place was occupied by products of transport engineering (25% of world exports and 26% of imports), precision engineering and instrumentation (24% and 23%, respectively), as well as power engineering (21% and 20%). The export struggle takes place mainly between the countries of Europe and Asia, the share of which varies on average from 30 to 40%. They act as the main competitors in the market, determine both the cost of production and export development strategies.

International trade in goods light industry plays a special role in complex system world economic relations. The identification of general patterns in the development of the market for these goods is complicated by the variety of products, however, the trends, dynamics and geographical orientation of commodity flows in this market primarily determine the scientific and technical, globalization and integration processes in the world economy.

International trade in agricultural products belongs to the least predictable types of international trade and is characterized by low growth rates of trade, as well as sharp fluctuations in export-import volumes. The commodity structure of world trade in agricultural products is dominated by grains and products of their processing, milk and dairy products, sugar, meat and meat products, and drinks. The level of food security is reflected in the country's position in world trade. If in the first half of the twentieth century. The leading exporters were countries of medium and low levels of economic development, while in the second - predominantly highly developed regions. A stable specialization has developed on the world grain market: grain production is concentrated only in developed countries, and most developing countries are not able to solve their grain problems and are forced to widely import grain. Now the world grain market has undergone changes: crops in the USA and Canada have decreased; ending stocks in the largest exporting countries have decreased; new exporting countries entered the market, such as Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Turkey.

A state based on powerful intellectual potential feels much more confident in the world community. The high level of intellectual activity in the country determines its political, economic and territorial independence. Intellectual potential significantly affects the level of production, life and well-being of the people. In particular, achievements reflected in intellectual property objects can be largely associated with the competitiveness of goods and services, and therefore they become one of the main factors economic growth.

The South Asian states have long been heading towards the use of the achievements of science and technology. Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and other countries of this region consider labor to be the main source of wealth, especially if it is combined with the use of scientific achievements and new technologies in industry and agriculture.

The total cost of licenses for the use of industrial property objects and technologies has reached more than 50 billion dollars a year. According to experts, the volume of sales in the international market of science-intensive products manufactured on the basis of the use of intellectual property reaches up to 2300000000000 dollars a year. Brand names have become valuable assets for many companies, often exceeding the value of fixed capital (tangible assets). The top list of 100 global brands (data from Miilward Brown Optimor) for 2009 is given in Table. 1.3. According to the brand consulting agency Interbrand, the most expensive brand in 2008-2009. The Coca-Cola Company is recognized; second place is occupied by IBM; the third is Microsoft; fourth - General Electric (GE) fifth - Nokia; and Google is in seventh place.

The general trend of growth in the absolute size of the value of intellectual property objects is confirmed by the activities of individual companies. For example, of the $146 million received from the sale of the Dodge automaker, $74 million was brand value. Taking into account the value of a well-known brand on the market, Nestle acquired Perrier for $2500,000,000. Similarly, Philip Morris acquired Kraft for $13 billion, which was 600% more than its book value.

If we consider all types of property as objects of trade in the markets of the most developed countries, then there is a clear trend: the growth rate of trade in goods containing an intellectual component exceeds the growth rate of trade in other goods. Thus, the world trade in licenses for the use of industrial property gives an increase of up to 12% per year, while at the same time the growth of the world industrial production does not exceed 2.5-3% per year.

On the present stage international trade in services is developing at a relatively fast pace, showing an increasing influence on the development national economy individual states and the world economy as a whole, increasing its importance in social life all countries of the world. Today, in most economically developed countries, the service sector accounts for an average of half to two thirds of GDP and almost two thirds of the employed population.

Table 1.3. Top 100 Global Brands (Miilward Brown Optimor) 2009

This trend is explained not only by the "servisization" of society, but also by the fact that the service sector is also characterized by the widespread use of non-traditional forms of employment, the organization of the management process and the mode of work of the population. A similar situation is also observed in the distribution of enterprises and organizations by sectors of the economy: the largest increase in the number of registered companies is in the service sector. The period of 2002-2003, when the share of the service sector in GDP reached its highest point, can be considered the peak of serving the world economy. A slight decrease in the contribution of this industry to GDP, which has been observed in recent years, is primarily caused by the global economic crisis, which led to a reorientation of consumer demand.

Considering the dynamics of the structure of consumer spending in economically developed countries, we can state an increase in the share of spending on services, especially on high-level services. For example, in the United States over the past 50 years, the share of spending on services as a whole has increased from 33 to 58%, including: health care - from 4.0 to 14.8%, education - from 0.9 to 2.4%, recreational services - from 1.7 to 3.9%, financial services and operations - from 3.5 to 7.7%. The demand for services from the production side was growing dynamically, which is why such expenses became an important budget item in many industries.

Trade in services has doubled in 7-8 years, and world exports have doubled in just the last fifteen years. Perhaps in 10 years trade in services will overtake trade in goods. According to international statistics, this sector provides more than 50% of income received, and in many economically developed countries the service sector reaches 75% of GDP (in the USA - 70%, Germany - 60%, Belgium - 70%). Such a high rate is also characteristic of developing countries, but this is due more likely to the underdevelopment of industry or agriculture (Honduras - 72%, El Salvador - 69%).

The world services market is dominated by nine countries: the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, which account for 2/3 of world exports of services and more than 50% of imports (Table 1.4). About half of these exports (44%) are accounted for by four countries: Great Britain, USA, Germany, France.

Table 1.4. Leading global exporters and importers of services

The international exchange of services is carried out mainly between developed countries and is characterized by a high degree of concentration.

There are three groups of developing countries in international trade in services:

New industrial countries, especially in the Asian region: South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Thailand, which have increased the volume of services over the past two decades by more than 6 times;

Countries for which the production of services is the main direction of economic development (usually island or small states), they are characterized by specialization in tourism, financial or transport services;

The least developed countries that export mainly raw materials to the world market (Angola, Ghana, Libya, Iran); for them trade in services is less than 10%.

In terms of growth rates in all countries, the absolute leaders are business and professional services, in particular marketing, management, leasing, scientific research, as well as information and computer, consulting and accounting and auditing services. The dynamism of this block of services is determined by the content of activities that are very important for the development of the modern economy. These services usually require highly qualified subjects, they form national competitiveness (tab. 1.5).

Table 1.5. Dynamics of international trade in business services

Thus, the dynamics of the development of the world leasing market is a clear evidence of the impact of foreign trade in services on economic development. At the present stage of development of the world market, the volume of international leasing operations is about 5% of the world volume of export-import of equipment. Over the past 15 years, the volume of leasing operations in the world has grown more than 5 times and now exceeds $500 billion per year. Today, there are about 100 countries in the leasing services market, half of which are developing countries, where leasing is spreading at an accelerated pace, especially in the segments industrial equipment, Vehicle etc. North America leads in terms of leasing operations (more than 224 billion US dollars or 43.8% of this market). The second place is occupied by the countries of Europe (more than 190 billion US dollars or 37.2% of the market). For example, the total volume of the European leasing market in 2005 amounted to

229,532 million euros, of which equipment leasing - 192,160 million, the share of equipment leasing in total investment - 17.4%. The leading role in the European leasing market is played by the 4 most developed countries: Great Britain (53,651 million euros), Germany (44,410 million euros), Italy (38,040 million euros), France (26,915 million euros); their share is 71% of the world market for these services.

The expansion of the leasing market is objective factor characteristic of the process of internationalization of production and financial sphere. As you know, the leasing market makes it possible to import equipment to many countries of the world with limited resources. Leasing is more reliable in meeting financial obligations than other forms of investment, as it allows for the transfer of technology from economically developed countries to developing ones.

When assessing the role of foreign trade in services in the development of the economy, the ability of the latter to be a source of attracting foreign investment deserves special attention. The main forms of foreign direct investment in the service sector are joint ventures and transnational corporations. Thus, today the service sector accounts for 59% of the total value of agreements on international mergers of companies and 45% of investment transactions.

The impact of foreign direct investment also extends to the development of the export industries of the host country and consists in creating on its territory the necessary and adequate modern requirements infrastructure. For example, international corporations specializing in hotel services(Hilton, Karyad, Novotel, etc.), by opening their network of establishments abroad, create prerequisites for the export of tourism services by the host country.

Given the current global economic crisis, the strongest in the last 70 years, we analyze the state of international trade in 2009 and the outlook for 2010. After 1965, the volume of world trade tended to decline, for example: 2001. - 0.2%, 1982 - 2%, 1975 - 7%, but not a single decrease in this indicator was so strong.

2009 was characterized by a decrease in exports of goods by an average of 12.2%, which affected all countries and regions, in particular: the USA - 13.9%, the EU - 14.8%, Japan - 24.9%. The least negative effects were observed in the countries exporting oil from the Middle East.

East - 4.9%, Africa - 5.6%, Central America - 5.7%, Asia - 11.1% and China - 10.5%. The decline in global trade was the largest since World War II. Import volumes also decreased: CIS - 20.2%, North and Central America - 16.5%, USA - 16.5%, EU - 14.5%, Japan - 12.8%. The value of world exports of goods changed by 23%, services by 13%. Most of all, the cost of transport and other commercial services has decreased, due to the close relationship of this type of activity with international trade in goods. The leading exporters of goods were Germany and China (10% of world exports each), importers were the USA (13%) and China (8%). It should be noted that countries do not use trade barriers in the implementation of international trade in these difficult conditions of crisis and compliance with the rules and principles of the WTO.

According to forecasts, world trade will tend to grow by 9.5% in 2010, exports of goods from economically developed countries will increase by 7.5%, and developing countries, and the CIS - by 11% and for two to three years, perhaps trade level reached in 2008.

SUMMARY

International trade is the primary form of international economic relations, it is the exchange of goods and services between state-registered national economies, that is, between states.

The standard model of international trade links supply and demand within a country with demand and supply abroad, balancing both processes. For the national economy, participation in international trade takes the form of foreign trade.

Foreign trade is the exchange of goods of one country with others, provides for paid export (export) and import (import) of goods and services.

In its entirety international trade different countries creates international trade.

Factors of international trade:

Deepening the international division of labor and the internationalization of production;

The introduction of the achievements of the scientific and technological revolution, which, in particular, is manifested in the renewal of fixed capital, the creation of new types of products, the emergence of new sectors of the economy and the reconstruction of traditional ones;

Activation of the activities of transnational corporations in the world market;

Liberalization of international trade on a bilateral and multilateral basis, is the abolition or reduction of tariff and non-tariff restrictions, the formation of free economic zones, the introduction of joint ventures;

Development of trade and economic integration through the creation of free trade zones, the introduction of a single tariff for countries that do not participate in economic associations, the formation common markets and monetary and economic unions;

Gaining political independence by territories that used to belong to colonial empires, and the emergence of new industrial states.

International trade consists of two counter flows of goods - exports and imports, is characterized by foreign trade turnover, commodity and geographical structure, and is based on certain economic views.

Modern international trade is characterized by a variety of its types, which can be systematized according to the specifics of the object, the peculiarities of the interaction of subjects and the specifics of regulation.

A foreign economic transaction is a set of actions of counterparties from different countries aimed at preparing, concluding and executing a trade, research and production, investment or other transaction of an economic nature.

International economic transactions, depending on the functions performed, are divided into main ones - carried out between direct participants in the process, and security (auxiliary, usually related to the promotion of goods on the market) - associated with the movement of goods to the buyer.

Foreign trade operations are characterized by exchange (trade) in material form and constitute the vast majority of all international economic transactions.

A method of trade is a means of carrying out a trade exchange (a trade operation or a trade transaction). Distinguish: the direct method of trade, which provides for the establishment of direct links between the producer (supplier) and the consumer; indirect, that is, the sale and purchase of goods through a trade and intermediary link.

The development of international trade is under the significant influence of factors of an economic, scientific, technical, political nature, gradually transforming its structure, both geographical and commodity.

test questions

1. Describe international trade as a socio-economic category.

2. Expand the essence of theoretical views and concepts of international trade.

2. What periods are usually distinguished in the development of international trade?

3. Name the classification criteria and describe the types of international trade.

4. What is the essence of the main foreign economic operations?

5. What features can characterize foreign trade operations?

6. What are the specific features of trade in services compared to traditional international trade in goods?

7. What is the meaning and expediency of applying the main methods of foreign trade?

8. Describe the types and benefits of involving intermediaries in foreign trade activities.

9. What forms of organizational mediation do you know?

10. Analyze structural shifts in directions, volumes, geography of the modern movement of goods and services.

World trade is the most common form of international economic relations. The concept of "world trade" means the exchange of a country with other countries through paid exports and imports of goods or services.

In the modern world community, international trade is becoming more and more importance for the economic development of countries and their regions. Since the second half of the last century, the value of world trade has been steadily growing, and its average annual growth rate, according to many economists, is almost 1.5 times higher than the growth rate of world production. Thus, at the moment, world trade is becoming an important indicator of economic growth, and in this regard, the dependence of countries on international trade is constantly increasing.

According to modern data, world trade is carried out according to product specialization as an exchange finished products, machinery and equipment, raw materials, services and represents the total trade turnover between the countries participating in the process. Moreover, the trade balance here is the ratio between exports and imports.

At present, international trade is on a grand scale. According to the latest data, about 4/5 of the total volume of international economic relations falls on world trade. It is noticeable that modern world trade is developing at a very high pace.

According to Western economists, recent years can be called the period of the most effective development of world trade, since, since the end of the last century, there has been an annual increase in the value of world exports, which is 7-10%. According to Russian economists, this is due to the influence of factors such as:

1) development and improvement of the system of international division of labor and internationalization of production;

2) scientific and technological revolution, which pushes the renewal of fixed capital, the creation of new sectors of the economy and increases the rate of improvement of old ones;

3) an increase in the activity of transnational corporations in international relations;

4) liberalization of world trade through the creation of the World trade organization(WTO);

5) the formation of free economic zones and the regulation of world trade in terms of the abolition of quantitative restrictions on imports in most countries and a significant reduction customs duties, i.e., the development of trade and economic integration processes: the elimination of regional barriers and, as a result, the formation of common markets;

6) the emergence of new industrial countries oriented to the external market, as a result of the independence of the colonized countries.

So, in recent years, world trade has been the most dynamically developing sector of the economy. The reason for this may be, in addition to the above factors, the ever-increasing scale of activity and the degree of involvement of all more countries and regions in the processes of international relations.

However, over the past decades, there have been noticeable differences in the growth rates and directions of foreign trade activities of the countries of the world community, which has led to significant shifts in the geographical and commodity structure of modern world trade. From the point of view of geography, the structure of world exchange is a system of distribution of commodity flows between individual countries or groups of countries, which are formed according to a territorial or organizational principle.

In addition, the development of world trade is due to the receipt of some advantages of the country's active participation in world trade, for example, it makes it possible to use available resources more efficiently, to join the world's achievements in science and technology, in short time carry out structural restructuring of its own economy and fully meet the needs of the country's population.

In conclusion, we can conclude that world trade is the main link in a complex system of international relations and affects all types of international division of labor, linking all countries of the world community into an international economic system, which is defined as the totality of foreign trade of all countries of the world, and its volume is expressed as the sum of export volumes. The activation of world trade determines the movement of all international commodity flows and has higher growth rates than production. Thus, according to the latest data, for every 10% increase in world production, there is a 15% increase in world trade. Moreover, if there are disruptions in trade, the development of production is also slowed down. Therefore, countries tend to participate in world trade, and thus favorable conditions are created for the development of international relations.

The main trends in the development of world trade

International economic relations characterize the forms of communication and methods of influence of all countries of the world in the field of economic cooperation in the system of the world economy. The structure of international economic relations, reflecting international relations, includes the following real processes˸

International trade in goods and services;

International movement of capital, technology and foreign investment;

International migration work force;

international trade financial instruments(currency, securities, loans) and international settlements;

International relations in the field of information, R&D, etc.

Economic policy of the state;

Let's start studying the course with world trade. World trade is the sphere of international commodity-money relations, a specific form of exchange of goods and services between the buyer and seller of different countries. The main trends in the development of world trade˸

Rapid renewal of the product range associated with the emergence of knowledge-intensive industries and areas on the markets high technology;

The deepening of the international division of labor and specialization increases the exchange of parts and assemblies that are manufactured at enterprises in different countries. The final product is the result of specialization, cooperation and foreign trade;

A special place in modern world trade is occupied by trade in the results of intellectual property˸ patents, know-how, licenses;

Significantly increased the volume of trade between developed countries and with approximately the same scientific and technical potential;

The role of transnational corporations (TNCs) has increased. They account for more than 60% of foreign trade.

world trade characterize three indicators˸

Foreign trade turnover

Commodity structure

Geographic structure

Foreign trade turnover is the sum of the value of exports and imports of a country. The value volume is calculated for a certain period of time at current prices using current rates. The physical volume of foreign trade is calculated at constant prices and makes it possible to make the necessary comparisons and determine the real dynamics.

Commodity structure of world trade by the beginning of the XXI century. has undergone significant changes

The share of food, raw materials and fuel decreased from 2/3 of the world trade turnover (the first half of the 20th century) to ¼ of the trade turnover.

The share of manufacturing products increased from 1/3 to ¾ of the turnover.

More than 1/3 of all world trade is currently trade in machinery and equipment.

The exchange of scientific, technical, commercial, financial and credit services, etc. has increased significantly.

New types of services appeared: engineering, leasing, consulting, information and computing services.

Geographic structure of world trade.

AT international practice all countries of the world are divided into three main groups˸ developed countries with market economy, countries in transition and developing countries.

According to the classification of the research service of the IMF, 29 countries are classified as developed, the same number are in transition, and 125 are developing countries.

The main trends in the development of world trade - the concept and types. Classification and features of the category "Main trends in the development of world trade" 2015, 2017-2018.

The essence of foreign trade policy and the main directions of foreign trade

Foreign trade policy is an element of the national economic policy of the country. Its object is the exchange of products of production activity (goods and services) between individual states.

Identify two competing directions of foreign trade policy- the policy of free trade and the policy of protectionism. International practice shows that both trends - liberalization (free trade) and protectionism - are inherent characteristics of international trade. And the main problem in resolving the contradiction between these trends is finding their rational combination. When the balance of interests is disturbed, the rational combination turns into its opposite, contradictions arise. Consider the main directions of foreign trade.

1. Free trade policy (free tradering) is the refusal or abstention of the state from direct influence on foreign trade, but at the same time the state concludes agreements with other countries in order to create favorable conditions abroad for the national economy

Positive sides:

Gives maximum freedom for the action of market forces in an effort to obtain maximum benefits from the international division of labor and international commodity exchange; - countries become more interconnected and politically developed; - Gives an advantage to economically stronger countries or stronger industries.

2. Protectionist policy (protection) is a government policy aimed at protecting the national economy from foreign competition. Politics excludes the free operation of market forces, preferred by weak countries.

Positive sides:

Facilitates the development of young industries that are better developed in other countries; - is a necessary condition for industrialization in developing countries; - reduces unemployment.

Negative sides:

In the long term, it leads to the formation of an inefficient sectoral structure of the national economy; - autarky - an extreme form, the country's desire to limit imports only to export volumes, the foreign trade balance tends to zero.

3. Selective protectionism - protecting not the entire economy, but individual industries.

4. Collective protectionism - protectionism carried out by integration groups in relation to third countries.

Foreign trade activity is a whole complex of different directions, forms, methods and means of moving material, financial and intellectual resources between countries. This is one of the most difficult areas of the economy of any country. Therefore, the management and regulation of this activity in Russia is determined by its state foreign economic policy, which largely depends on the state of the country's balance of payments. The most important areas of state regulation of foreign economic relations are currency regulation, export-import regulation, as well as legal forms implementation of foreign economic operations.

Foreign economic policy - these are purposeful actions of the state and its bodies to determine the regime for regulating foreign economic relations, optimizing the country's participation in the international division of labor. The main components are foreign trade policy (including export and import policy), policy in the field of attracting foreign investment and regulating national investment abroad, and monetary policy.

Foreign trade policy It is the state regulation of export and import operations.

The classical instrument of foreign trade policy is tariff regulation, and above all customs tariffs, which by their nature (taxes) are economic regulators. The customs tariff is a systematized list of customs duties levied when goods cross the customs border of the state.

However, most of the modern measures to regulate foreign trade refer to the so-called non-tariff instruments, the role of which in terms of influencing the structure, volume and geographical direction of imports and exports is much higher than that of customs tariffs. Non-tariff regulation includes a wide range of instruments of modern trade and economic policy, which can be divided into two groups.

The first includes foreign trade measures aimed at directly restricting imports in order to protect certain sectors of national production: licensing and contingent imports, anti-dumping and countervailing duties, so-called voluntary export restrictions, countervailing fees, systems of minimum import prices, etc.

The second group includes measures that are not directly aimed at restricting foreign trade and are more related to administrative formalities, the effect of which, nevertheless, restricts trade: customs formalities, technical standards and norms, sanitary and veterinary norms, packaging and labeling requirements, etc. P.

International (world) trade- is the process of buying and selling goods and services, carried out between buyers, sellers and intermediaries in different countries.

At the present stage, MT plays an important role in the economic development of countries:

1. foreign trade has become a powerful factor in economic growth;

2. the dependence of countries on international trade has increased significantly.

Factors affecting the development of MT:

1. development and improvement of the MRI system and internationalization of production;

2. Scientific and technological revolution, which pushes the renewal of fixed capital, the creation of new sectors of the economy and increases the rate of improvement of old ones;

3. increase in the activity of transnational corporations in international relations;

4. liberalization of world trade through the creation of the WTO;

5. the formation of free economic zones and the regulation of world trade in terms of the abolition of quantitative restrictions on imports in most countries and a significant reduction in customs duties, i.e. the development of trade and economic integration processes: the elimination of regional barriers and, as a result, the formation of common markets;

6. the emergence of new industrial countries focused on the external market, as a result of gaining independence by the colonized countries.

Among the main trends in MT at the present stage, the following can be distinguished:

1.Globalization and internationalization of international trade.

The main features of the globalization of international trade are:

Integration (interstate regulation of economic interdependence, formation of a regional economic complex with a structure and proportions addressed to the needs of the region as a whole);

Growth in international trade and international movement capital;

Transnationalization and corporatism of world exports;

Further unification of the rules and norms of international trade.

2. Increasing role of scientific and technical progress and electronic technologies. AT modern conditions in the commodity structure of international trade, the share of finished industrial goods, especially machinery and equipment, has increased significantly.

3. The dominant role of the information product. The formation of an information society is taking place, when the possession of information determines the ability of a company to respond to rapid changes in the internal and especially external environment.

4. increasing role of the Asia-Pacific region;

5. reducing the dominant role of the United States in international trade;

6. the growing role of environmental aspects of world trade products;

7. rapid growth of trade between developing countries (export expansion of NIS);

8. growth in the volume of the services market, especially in the exports of industrialized countries;

9. increase in the volume of intra-industry trade between developed countries, etc.