International trade is defined as
trade between two or more partners from different countries (an exporter and an importer). Early international trade consisted mostly of
barter transactions.
International trade is also a branch of economics. Traditionally, international trade is justified in economics by comparative advantage theory. New developments include in patterns of international trade: the integration of countries into trade blocks (eg. European Union, NAFTA, EFTA, CEFTA[?]) and globalisation.
The risks that exist in international trade can be divided into two major groups:
- Risk of insolvency of the buyer
- Risk of protracted default - the failure of the buyer to pay the amount due within six months after the due date
- Risk of non-acceptance
- Risk of cancellation or non-renewal of export or import licences
- War risks
- Risk of expropriation or confiscation of the importer's company
- Risk of the imposition of an import ban after the shipment of the goods
- Transfer risk - imposition of exchange controls by the importer's country or foreign currency shortages
See also: OPEC, World Trade Organisation, Business, Economics