Fundamentals of International Trade

This course covers the necessary procedures to start up an international trading business by providing a detailed introduction to the practices, procedures, and services used in the U.S. to export and import merchandise. Topics include organizations affecting international trade; sources of information for trading, monitoring, and evaluating commercial conditions in other countries; market research and planning by identifying potential suppliers, pricing merchandise, and resources to find buyers; sales channels, such as direct, agents, distributors, and representatives; merchandise regulations: control of exports and imports, the international classification system, responsibilities of U.S. Customs, rules, and related dues; financing: sources of funds for exports and imports, methods of payment, open account, direct, offsets, counter trade, barter, foreign currency exchanges, and contracts; and freighting: modes of transport, packaging, containerization, protection, and identification of merchandise and insurance.