发布时间 : 星期日 文章国际贸易形式forms of international trade更新完毕开始阅读32504653f68a6529647d27284b73f242326c3152
1 Types of International Business
(国际贸易的形式)
Companies must choose among different operational forms. In making these choices, the companies’ own objectives and resources as well as the environments in which the firms operate should be considered. The following discussion introduces the major operating forms, which also correspond closely to the categories in which countries keep records of aggregate international transactions. These transactions are summarized as part of balance of payments accounts.
1.1 Merchandise Exports and Imports (商品进出口)
Merchandise exports are goods sent out of a country, whereas merchandise imports are goods brought in. Since these are tangible goods that visibly leave and enter countries, they are sometimes referred to as visible exports and imports. The terms exports or imports are used frequently yet in reality the reference is only to the merchandise exports or imports. Exporting and importing of goods are the major sources of international revenue and expenditure for most countries. Among companies engaged in some form of international
business, more are involved in importing and exporting than in any other type of transaction.
Importing and or exporting is usually, but not always, the first type of foreign operations in which a firm gets involved. This is because at an early stage of international involvement these operations usually take the least commitment and least risk of a firm’s resources. For example, firm may be able to export by using excess capacity thus limiting the need to invest more capital. Firms may be able to use the services of trade intermediaries who, for a fee, will take on the export-import functions, thus eliminating the need to have trained personnel and a department to carry out foreign sales or purchases. Exporting or importing are not typically abandoned when firms adopt other international business forms. Although this may sometimes occur, exporting and importing usually continue, either by business with other markets or to complement the new types of business activities.
1.2 Service Exports and Imports (服务进出口)
Service exports and imports refer to international earnings other than those from goods sent to another country. Receipt of these earnings is considered a service export, whereas payment is
considered a service import. Services are also referred to as invisible. International business comprises many different types of services.
1.2.1. Travel, Tourism, and Transportation (旅游业、交通运输业)
Earnings from transportation and from foreign travel can be an important source of revenue for international airlines, shipping companies, reservations agencies, and hotels. On a national level, such countries as Greece and Norway depend heavily on revenue collected from carrying foreign cargo on their ships. The Bahamas earns much more from foreign tourists than it earns from exporting merchandise. 1.2.2. Performance of Activities Abroad (国外商务活动)
Fees are payments for the performance of certain activities abroad, such services as banking, insurance, rentals (e. g. the Star Wars film), engineering, and management. Engineering services are often handled through turn-key operations, contracts for the construction of operating facilities that are transferred to the owner when the facilities are ready to begin operations. Fees for management services are often the result of management
contracts, arrangements through which one firm provides management personnel to perform general or specialized management functions for another firm. 1.2.3. Use of Assets From Abroad (国外资产的运用)
Royalties are the payment for use of assets from abroad, such as for trademarks, patents, copyrights, or other expertise under contracts known as licensing agreements. Royalties are also paid for franchising, a way of doing business in which one party (the franchisor) sells an independent party (the franchisee) the use of a trademark that is an essential asset for the franchisees business. In addition, the franchisor assists on a continuing basis in the operation of the business, such as by providing components, managerial services, or technology.
Firms often move to foreign licensing or franchising after successfully building exports to a market. This move usually involves a greater international commitment than in the early stages of exporting. The greater involvement occurs because the firm commonly has to send technicians to the foreign country to assist the licensee or franchisee in establishing and adapting its production facilities for the new product.