国 际 贸 易International Trade1Chapter 1 An Introduction to International TradeThe exchange of goods and services arises simply because countries differ in their demand for goods and services and in their ability to supply them. There are some special problems in international trade including cultural problems, monetary conversion, etc. International trade has played an important role in the world history as well as in sustaining and modernizing the Chinese economy. 1.1 The Need for International Trade国际贸易的产生国际贸易的产生I . Why does international trade take place? 国际贸易进国际贸易进 行的原因行的原因Definition:International trade refers to the exchange of goods and services between nations. It is also known as foreign trade or overseas trade. Why does international trade take place? There are many reasons.1. Resources reasons 资源匮乏资源匮乏No nation has all of the commodities that it needs. 没有一个国家拥有没有一个国家拥有 需要的全部产品。需要的全部产品。 Some countries are abundant in certain resources, while other nations may be lack of them. For example, Colombia and Brazil have the ideal climate for growing coffee beans. The United States is a major consumer of coffee, yet it doesnt have the climate to grow any of its own. Consequently, this has made 国 际 贸 易International Trade2Colombia and Brazil big coffee exporters, and the United States big coffee importer. Raw materials are scattered around the world. Large deposits of copper are mined in Peru and Zaire, diamonds are mined in South Africa, and petroleum is recovered in the Middle East. Countries that do not have these resources within their own boundaries must buy from countries that export them. In short, the uneven distribution of resources around the world is one of the most basic reasons why nations trade with each other.2. Economic reasons 经济原因经济原因 With the development of manufacturing and technology, there arose another incentive for nations to trade, i.e. economic benefits. In addition to getting the products they need, countries also wish to gain economically by trading with each other. China has been able to export large quantities of radios and television sets because it can produce them more efficiently than other countries. It is cheaper for countries like the United States and European countries to buy these than to produce them domestically. According to economic theory, China should produce and export those items from which it derives a comparative advantage. It should also buy and import what it needs from those countries that have a comparative advantage in the desired items. 3. Other reasons 其他原因其他原因A country often does not have enough of a particular item to meet its needs. Although China is a producer of oil, it consumes more than it can produce internally and thus must import oil. Even though a country can produce enough of an item at reasonable costs to meet its own demand, it may still import some from other countries for innovation or a variety of style. For example, the United States produces more automobiles than any other country, it still imports large quantities of autos from Germany, Japan, and Sweden, primarily because there is a market for them in the United States.Sometimes, political objectives can outweigh economic considerations between countries. One country might trade with another to support the latters government which upholds the same political doctrine.All in all, in todays complex economic world, neither individuals nor 国 际 贸 易International Trade3nations are self-sufficient. Nations have utilized different economic resources; people have developed different skills. This is the foundation of international trade and economic activities.II. The differences between international trade and domestic trade 国际贸易国际贸易与国内贸易的区别与国内贸易的区别The fundamental characteristic that makes international trade different from domestic trade is that international trade involves activities that take place across national borders. Special problems which are not normally experienced when trading at home may arise in international trade in particular: 1. Deals might have to be transacted in foreign languages and under foreign laws, customs and regulations. 在国际贸易中，有许多环节需要参与贸易的双方或多方，进行各 自意见传达给对方的交流：当面谈判，书信来往。由于各方语言不同， 给这种交流带来诸多困难。只得借助于商业通用语言-英语。但英语 并非在世界各地都通行无阻，它在很多国家和地区使用还很不普遍。 因此，除通晓英语外，国际贸易人员还要掌握一些国家或地区的语言。 各国法律制度和贸易规章的差异，使国际贸易往往受到诸多限制，不 像国内贸易那样自由。所以，一个称职的国际贸易人员，在实施每一 项国际贸易业务时，必须先行了解对方国家的贸易法规，对通用的国 际贸易法规和国际商业惯例也须从早学习和掌握。 2. Information on foreign countries needed by a particular firm may be difficult to obtain.3Foreign currency transactions will be necessary. Exchange rate variations can be very wide and create many problems for international trade. 由于各国货币制度不同，国际贸易中的支付一般都必须在外汇市 场上兑换国际货币之后再进行，这就迫使国际贸易商不得不承担汇兑 风险。20世纪70年代以来浮动汇率制的实行，要求国际贸易商要善于 把握汇率变动的趋势，以便在国际市场上成功地进行营销，尽可能减 少汇率风险。 举例：我方向美国一公司出口价值100000美元的货物，当时汇率 为1美元=8.27人民币，三个月后付款，三个月后汇率变为1美元=8.15国 际 贸 易International Trade4人民币（美元贬值） ，这时我方将承受汇率变动的损失。4. Numerous culture differences have to b