Wednesday, 5 February 2014
What are the major international institutions to facilitate international trade?
| Rank | Country | International Trade of Goods (Billions of USD) | Date of information |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | World | 36,688.0 | 2012 est. |
| - |  European Union | 4,469.3 | 2012 est. |
| 1 |  United States | 3,882.7 | 2012 est. |
| 2 |  China | 3,867.1 | 2012 est. |
| 3 |  Germany | 2,575.5 | 2012 est. |
| 4 |  Japan | 1,684.7 | 2012 est. |
| 5 |  Netherlands | 1,247.8 | 2012 est. |
| 6 |  France | 1,243.8 | 2012 est. |
| 7 |  United Kingdom | 1,164.9 | 2012 est. |
| 8 |  South Korea | 1,067.5 | 2012 est. |
| 9 |  Italy | 988.1 | 2012 est. |
| 10 |  Hong Kong | 952.0 | 2012 est. |
| 11 |  Canada | 917.3 | 2012 est. |
| 12 |  Belgium | 884.6 | 2012 est. |
| 13 |  Russia | 864.7 | 2012 est. |
| 14 |  Singapore | 788.1 | 2012 est. |
| 15 |  Pakistan | 782.6 | 2012 est. |
| 16 |  Mexico | 751.2 | 2012 est. |
| 17 |  Spain | 629.3 | 2012 est. |
| 18 |  Taiwan | 571.7 | 2012 est. |
| 19 |  Saudi Arabia | 543.5 | 2012 est. |
| 20 |  Australia | 517.7 | 2012 est. |
| Rank | Country | International Trade of Services (Billions of USD) | Date of information |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | World | 8,452.6 | 2012 est. |
| - | European Union | 1,465.8 | 2012 est. |
| 1 | United States | 1,019.7 | 2012 est. |
| 2 | Germany | 539.7 | 2012 est. |
| 3 | China | 471.0 | 2012 est. |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 453.9 | 2012 est. |
| 5 | France | 379.2 | 2012 est. |
| 6 | Japan | 313.4 | 2012 est. |
| 7 | Pakistan | 272.8 | 2012 est. |
| 8 | Singapore | 250.1 | 2012 est. |
| 9 | Spain | 229.3 | 2012 est. |
| 10 | South Korea | 214.2 | 2012 est. |
Free Trade?
Free trade is a policy by which governments do not discriminate against imports or exports. Free trade is exemplified by the European Union / European Economic Area and the North American Free Trade Agreement, which have established open markets with very few restrictions to trade. Most nations are today members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) multilateral trade agreements. However, most governments still impose some protectionist policies that are intended to support local employment, such as applying tariffs to imports or subsidies to exports. Governments may also restrict free trade to limit exports of natural resources. Other barriers that may hinder trade include import quotas, taxes, and non-tariff barriers, such as regulatory legislation.
What is the goal of trade?
Countries trade with each other when, on their own, they do not have the resources, or capacity to satisfy their own needs and wants. By developing and exploiting their domestic scarce resources, countries can produce a surplus, and trade this for the resources they need.
Clear evidence of trading over long distances dates back at least 9,000 years, though long distance trade probably goes back much further to the domestication of pack animals and the invention of ships. Today, international trade is at the heart of the global economy and is responsible for much of the development and prosperity of the modern industrialised world.
Goods and services are likely to be imported from abroad for several reasons. Imports may be cheaper, or of better quality. They may also be more easily available or simply more appealing than locally produced goods. In many instances, no local alternatives exist, and importing is essential. This is highlighted today in the case of Japan, which has no oil reserves of its own, yet it is the world’s fourth largest consumer of oil, and must import all it requires.
Links
The OCR homepage for Media Studies, with
links to the new specification, plus guides to
successfully completing the A2 level,
along with a link to the very important G324 Advanced
Production Guidance Document.
24/1143083953256.html
Online article from Sydney Morning
Herald (24 March 2006) in which George Lucas attacks
American cultural imperialism
Online article from LA Times (24 January 2009)
in which Mark Magnier explains why Indians don’t
feel good about Slumdog
Millionaire
Free access to data produced by the Office
for National Statistics (OFNS) and some data from
government departments and devolved
administrations
Informative website based at Emory
University, offering debates, glossary, data sources and further
information on globalisation
As part of the BBC News School Report
project, Huw Edwards presents the first of a series of
videos following six steps involved in
putting together a news programme. The link takes you to a
video that attempts to answer the question
‘what is news?’ and goes on to explain how news is
found and selected.
Homepage for the BBC’s UK online service.
An international news and current affairs
television channel funded by the French government and
based in Paris, giving a French
perspective on world news
English-language news and current affairs
TV channel, Al-Jazeera, based in the Middle East
A leading participatory media newsroom for
voices from the developing world. Offers basic
coverage on the words, images, and videos
of ordinary people across the globe who use the internet
to communicate and broadcast their thoughts,
analysis, and observations.
A fun site that explores the connections
between media and identity in popular culture
A global television network, Current
Media, which gives you the opportunity to create and influence
what airs on TV
Online site for the New York Times, offering a wide
range of cultural and political stories from
around the world
Online periodical that reports on how
technology affects culture, the economy and politics
Click on the company icons to view details
of who owns what in media
Chris Anderson’s own website with access
to an updated version of his original article and FAQs
intcid=inform_relatedcontent
An online article challenging Chris
Anderson’s theory of Long Tail
Online version of Tony Blair’s speech at
Reuters Headquarters (12 June 2007) in which he
discusses media and public life
xml&page=1
Online version of MacTaggart Lecture by
Jeremy Paxman on the point of TV post-scandal (given at
the Edinburgh Television Festival on 25
August 2007)
The BBC’s own look at questions and
controversies regarding BBC News
Online article from the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) in support of globalisation
Online article from the Guardian in which Naomi
Klein argues against globalisation
Online article from The Observer that looks at the
effects of globalisation on poorer workers
Task: Momnay 3rd February
I would like to know the impact on both our society as well
as different societies around the world so you are aiming for 500-800 word to
e-mail me before the end of the lesson.
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)