*International trade is an exchange of goods ,capital,and services across international boundaries or
territories.
*NAFTA:North American File Trade Agreement signed in 1994 between the USA,Mexico and Canada.It is
the most comprehensive regional trade agreement ever negociated by the USA.
*MERCOSUR:Mercado comun del Sur signed between Argentina,Brazil,Uruguay,Paraguay(early 1990’s)
.June 2012:Paraguay is suspended and replaced by Venezuela.It is a counterbalance to North America
geopolitical influence.It has become the 3rd largest market in the world after NAFTA and the EU.
*Free trade is a market model in which trade in goods and services between or within countries flow
unhindered by government-imposed restrictions.restrictions to trade include taxes and other
legislation,such as tariff and no-tariff trade barriers.Free trade can be constrasted with
protectionism,which is the economic polic of restraining trade between nations;through methods such
as high tariffs on imported goods,restrictive quotas,a variety of restrictive government regulations
designed to discourage imports.
Fair trade is ‘trading partnership,based on dialogue,transparency and respect,that seeks greater equity
in international trade.It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions
to,and securing the rights of,marginalized producers and workers-especially in the South.’
*The Treaty of Lisbon was signed in December 2007 by the 27 European member states,it transforms
the institutional framework of the Union.It modifies the Treaty of Rome(1957) and the Treaty on the
EU(Maastricht,1992).The treaty came into force in 2009.It aims to :
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Modernise how the EU functions
Adapt the rules of the existing treaties so that the Union cn react to the new challenges of the
21st.
It reforms the architecture of the Union
It makes decision-making more flexible
It srenghthens the Union’s external representation
The Schengen area is a group of 26 Europe countries that have abolished passeport and immigration
controls at their common borders.It functions as a single country for international travel purposes with a
common visa policy.Joining Schengen entails eliminating internal border controls with the other
Schengen members while strengthening external border controls with non Schengen states.
*The Eurozone refers to a currency union among the EU member states that have adopted the euro as
their sole official currency.It has 17 member states the latest member being Estonia(jan 2011) and it is
the largest economy in the world.
*Agricultural subsidy: is a governmental subsidy(sum of money) paid to farmers or agrobusinesses to
supplement their income,manage the supply of agricultural commodities and influence the cost and
supply of such commodities (coton,mlik,rice,sugar,tabacco…)
A BLOC denotes a group of people or nations that have political aims or interests in common.
Intratrade=commerce intra-branche
Agreements governing trade=lea accords reagissant le commerce
Tariff duties=droits de douane
*Free-Trade areas:a group of countries that promote free trade between member nations,but permit
each nation to maintain its own,and perhaps different,trade restrictions vis-à-vis non-members.
*Customs Union is a group of countries that eliminates trade barriers amng members,but maintains a
common external tariff on trade with non-members.
Schedule of tariffs=bareme de tarifs douaniers
Set by negotiation=fixé par négotiation
A trade creating customs union=une union douaniere creatrice d’echanges
A trade diverting customs union=une union douaniere detournant les echanges
A trade-creating effect=un effet createur d’echanges
A trade-diverting effect=un effet de detournement d’echanges
To faster=promouvoir,encourager,stimuler
To divert something away from someone=detourner qqch de qqn
*Common Market is a customs union which also attempts to develop a common polic in matters other
than international trade.
Tax code/internal revenue code=code des impots,legislation fiscale
Areawide=qui couvre l’ensemble de la zone
Drift=derive
Balance of power=equilibre des forces
To cut a deal=passer un accord
Preferential trade deals=accords commerciaux preferentiels
To hold talks with=avoir/tenir/organiser des pourparlers/des negotiations avec
To encroach on something=empieter sur qqch
Trade agenda =ordre du jour/programme des negotiations commerciales
To tighten one’s allances=resserer ses alliances
Border restrictions=restrictions frontalieres
Tariff phase-outs=elimination progressive des tarifs douaniers
Trade as a vehicle for development=le commerce comme vecteur de developpement
Effective market=marché réel
To ease restrictions=diminuer/alleger des restrictions
Tariff breaks=reductions tarifaires
To qualify fot sth=avoir droit a qqch,remplir les conditions requises pour obtenir qqch
Impediments to trade=entraves au commerce
To encompass=englober,regrouper(des personnes,des territoires)
To enter into an agreement=passer un accord
To become effective=entrer en vigueur,prendre effet
To develop out of=etre le produit/le fruit de
Trade pattern=structure des echanges
Resource allocation=allocation/affectation des ressources
Duty-free zone=zone hors taxe
Free (economic)zone=zone franche
Large=wide
Opposants=opponents
Lever=to lift
La fuite=the flight
A peine=hardly
Peser=to weight up
Flux=flaw
Intensifier=to heighteen
The stability and growth fact agreement among the 28members states to facilitate and maintain the
stability of the economy and monetary union.It consist of fiscal monitoring and a yearly
recommandation for policy action to ensure a full compliance with the SGP.If a member bleaches the
limit for government deficit action will intensify through the declaration an excessive procedure.If no
corrective action is taken :economic sanction for the member state.
Doha Development Agenda: a round of negotiation which started in november 2001 in Doha, Qatar.
Objective:to lower trade barriers around the world permitting free trade between countries of varuing
prosperty.
+ Connaitre WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION