International trade

International trade is the exchange of goods and services across national borders. In most countries, it represents a significant part of GDP. While international trade has been present throughout much of history, its economic, social, and political importance have increased in recent centuries. In fact, it is probably the increasing prevalence of international trade that is usually meant by the term “globalisation”. International trade is also a branch of economics, which, together with international finance, forms the largest branch of international economics.

Trade sanctions against a specific country are sometimes imposed, in order to punish one country for some action. An embargo, a severe form of externally imposed isolation, is a blockade of all trade by one country on another. For example, the United States has had an embargo against Cuba for over 40 years.Although there are usually few trade restrictions within countries, international trade is usually regulated by governmental quotas and restrictions, and often taxed by tariffs. Tariffs are usually on imports, but sometimes countries may impose export tariffs or subsidies. All of these are called trade barriers. If a government removes all trade barriers, a condition of free trade exists. A government that implements a protectionist policy establishes trade barriers.

Traditionally trade was regulated through bilateral treaties between two nations. For centuries under the belief in Mercantilism most nations had high tariffs and many restrictions on international trade. In the 19th century, especially in Britain, a belief in free trade became paramount and this view has dominated thinking among western nations for most of the time since then which led to the general decline of Great Britain. In the years since the Second World War, controversial multilateral treaties like the GATT and World Trade Organization have attempted to create a globally regulated trade structure. These trade agreements have often resulted in protest and discontent with claims of unfair trade that is not mutually beneficial.

Free trade is usually most strongly supported by the most economically powerful entities with nations that stand to benefit from exploitation of cheap labour, though they often engage in selective protectionism for those industries which are strategically important such as the protective tariffs applied to agriculture by the United States and Europe. Today the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan are its greatest proponents. However, many other countries (such as India, China and Russia) are increasingly becoming advocates of free trade as they become more economically powerful themselves.

Traditionally agricultural interests are usually in favour of free trade while manufacturing sectors often support protectionism. This has changed somewhat in recent years, however. In fact, agricultural lobbies are chiefly responsible for particular rules in the major international trade treaties which allow for more protectionist measures in agriculture than for most other goods and services. During recessions there is often strong domestic pressure to increase tariffs to protect domestic industries. This occurred around the world during the Great Depression leading to a collapse in world trade that many believe seriously deepened the depression.

Notes:

1. GDP (gross domestic product) – валовой внутренний продукт (ВВП) – совокупная стоимость товаров и услуг, созданных внутри страны за определенный период (обычно за год)

2. international economics – международная экономика (часть экономической науки, изучающая международные экономические отношения: торговлю, кредитование, миграцию ресурсов, интеграцию)

3. embargo [em'ba:gəu] – юридический запрет на осуществление торговой деятельности

4. Cuba ['kju: bə] – Республика Куба

5. tariff ['tærif] – тариф; налог, пошлина

6. trade barriers – торговые ограничения, помехи на пути развития торговли

7. free trade – беспошлинная торговля

8. Mercantilism – меркантилизм (первая школа политэкономии)

9. GATT –Генеральное соглашение по тарифам и торговле (ГАТТ)

10. World Trade Organization – Всемирная торговая организация (ВТО)

11. protectionism – протекционизм (экономическая политика государства, направленная на ограждение национальной экономики от иностранной конкуренции)

12. trade treaty – торговый договор, торговое соглашение

I. Прочитайте текст (без словаря).

II. Перепишите следующие предложения, определите в каждом из них видо-временную форму и залог глагола-сказуемого. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. The risks that exist in international trade may be divided into two major groups: economic risks and political risks.

2. Import tariffs and export tariffs or subsidies are called trade barriers.

3. Trade sanctions against a specific country are not imposed without serious reasons.

4. While international trade has been present throughout much of history, its economic, social, and political importance have increased in recent centuries.

5. Agricultural lobbies were considered to be responsible for protectionist measures in agriculture.

III. Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обращая внимание на разные значения слов that, it, one.

1. It is probably the increasing prevalence of international trade that is usually meant by the term “globalisation”.

2. Free trade is usually most strongly supported by the most economically powerful entities with nations that stand to benefit from exploitation of cheap labour.

3. Taking part in international trade, one must consider various essential factors such as capital investment, trade treaties, trade barriers, embargos and tariffs etc. in order to be successful.

4. An embargo, a severe form of externally imposed isolation, is a blockade of all trade by one country on another.

5. International commercial treaties are bilateral treaties between two nations that regulate international trade.

IV. Перепишите предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обращая внимание на разные значения глаголов to be, to have, to do.

1. The United States has had an embargo against Cuba for over 40 years.

2. The information on the trade between Russia and Third Countries is obtained from customs declarations, which have to be submitted on every import and export consignment.

3. Anticompetitive practices are events that may inhibit the ability of a company to do business with another business or within another nation.

4. South Korea has done much better by economic criteria than India over the past fifty years, though its success also has to do with effective state institutions.

5. The regulation of international trade is done through the World Trade Organization at the global level and through several other regional arrangements.

V. Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обращая внимание на бессоюзное подчинение.

1. The particular way the trade is regulated through will depend on tariffs and restrictions the nations have.

2. One area businesses sometimes have difficulty with is inability to bid on foreign contracts because of a variety of reasons.

3. Restrictions the government imposes on export when the corporation has started international trading are export tariffs.

4. Types of trade barriers you may face with include: embargos, tariffs and protectionist measures.

5. A medium of exchange modern traders generally negotiate through so they can start trading is called money.

VI. Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обращая внимание на функцию инфинитива в предложении.

1. During recessions there is often strong domestic pressure to increase tariffs to protect domestic industries.

2. To ensure smooth international transactions it is important to take a proactive rather than reactive approach.

3. Requests from a foreign country or business partner to use unethical business practices in order to do business with them, or bribery and corruption can also be problems.

4. In the years since the Second World War, controversial multilateral treaties like the GATT and World Trade Organization have attempted to create a globally regulated trade structure.

5. Trade sanctions against a specific country are sometimes imposed, in order to punish one country for some action.

VII. Прочитайте, перепишите и письменно переведите текст.

VIII. Ответьте письменно на следующие вопросы:

1. How is the exchange of goods and services across national borders called?

2. What is sometimes imposed in order to punish one country for some action?

3. What does government impose on import and export?

4. How is the regulation of international trade done?

5. When do countries become advocates of free trade?

Вариант 2

Дата добавления: 2017-01-14