Introduction to International Trade / Importing and Exporting

International trade, importing and exporting are quickly becoming one of the hottest industries of today, even though this is not a new industry by any means. Trade across countries and across the globe has been an important part of life since the days of Marco Polo, or even the great caravans during the biblical age that carried cargoes full of spices and silks. Even prehistoric man contributed to importation and exportation by trading salt and shells with tribes from distant lands. Trade has always existed because every group and every country has some kind of merchandise or commodity in great supply that is in great demand someplace else.

As the world becomes increasingly technologically advanced, international trade is only becoming increasingly rewarding, not only in terms of personal satisfaction but also in terms of profiting as well.

Importing is not ideal for lonesome adventurer types, but rather it is big business for absolutely everyone who is willing to participate. For example, according to the United States Department of Commerce, there are approximately $1.2 trillion dollars in goods being imported annually around the world, and exportation is just as large as importation for obvious reasons. In a single year alone, companies in America have exported as much as $772 billion dollars worth of merchandise to as many as 150 different countries throughout the world.

Everything can be exported and imported from commodes to beverages, furniture, coffee and more. All of these pieces of merchandise are fair game for a savvy trader. As such, these products are being sold and bought, represented and distributed all over the world every single day. Importation and exportation are big business throughout the globe for obvious reasons, and the international marketplace is really only growing as time passes and more countries and consumers become aware of the benefits of the international marketplace.