Growth in International Trade
Events That Increased Trade Volume
• Removal of the Berlin Wall: Led to reductions in trade barriers in Eastern Europe.
• Single European Act of 1987: Improved access to supplies from firms in other European countries.
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): Allowed U.S. firms to penetrate product and
labor markets that previously had not been accessible.
• General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT): Called for the reduction or elimination of trade
restrictions on specified imported goods over a 10- year period across 117 countries.
• The European Union: Free movement of products, services, and capital among member countries.
• Inception of Euro: Avoid exposure to exchange rate risk.
• Other Trade Agreements: The United States has established trade agreements with many other
countries.
Impact of Outsourcing on Trade
• Definition of Outsourcing: The process of subcontracting to a third party in another country to
provide supplies or services that were previously produced internally.
• Impact of outsourcing: Increased international trade activity because MNCs now purchase
products or services from another country. Lower cost of operations and job creation in countries
with low wages.
• Criticism of outsourcing: Outsourcing may reduce jobs in the United States.
• Managerial decisions about outsourcing: Managers of a U.S.-based MNC may argue that they
create jobs for U.S. workers. Shareholders may suggest that the managers are not maximizing the
MNC’s value as a result of their commitment to creating U.S. jobs. Managers should consider the
potential savings that could occur as a result of outsourcing. Managers must also consider the
possible bad publicity or bad morale that could occur among the U.S. workers.
Trade Volume Among Countries
The annual international trade volume of the United States is between 10 and 20% of its annual GDP.
Trade volume between the United States and Other Countries:
• About 20% of all U.S. exports are to Canada, while 13% are to Mexico.
• Canada, China, Mexico, and Japan are the key exporters to the United States. Together, they are
responsible for more than half of the value of all U.S. imports.
Events That Increased Trade Volume
• Removal of the Berlin Wall: Led to reductions in trade barriers in Eastern Europe.
• Single European Act of 1987: Improved access to supplies from firms in other European countries.
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): Allowed U.S. firms to penetrate product and
labor markets that previously had not been accessible.
• General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT): Called for the reduction or elimination of trade
restrictions on specified imported goods over a 10- year period across 117 countries.
• The European Union: Free movement of products, services, and capital among member countries.
• Inception of Euro: Avoid exposure to exchange rate risk.
• Other Trade Agreements: The United States has established trade agreements with many other
countries.
Impact of Outsourcing on Trade
• Definition of Outsourcing: The process of subcontracting to a third party in another country to
provide supplies or services that were previously produced internally.
• Impact of outsourcing: Increased international trade activity because MNCs now purchase
products or services from another country. Lower cost of operations and job creation in countries
with low wages.
• Criticism of outsourcing: Outsourcing may reduce jobs in the United States.
• Managerial decisions about outsourcing: Managers of a U.S.-based MNC may argue that they
create jobs for U.S. workers. Shareholders may suggest that the managers are not maximizing the
MNC’s value as a result of their commitment to creating U.S. jobs. Managers should consider the
potential savings that could occur as a result of outsourcing. Managers must also consider the
possible bad publicity or bad morale that could occur among the U.S. workers.
Trade Volume Among Countries
The annual international trade volume of the United States is between 10 and 20% of its annual GDP.
Trade volume between the United States and Other Countries:
• About 20% of all U.S. exports are to Canada, while 13% are to Mexico.
• Canada, China, Mexico, and Japan are the key exporters to the United States. Together, they are
responsible for more than half of the value of all U.S. imports.
