State regulation of foreign economic activity and foreign exchange policy. Topic: Regulation of foreign economic activity. History of world civilizations

Examination on the discipline

"State regulation of the economy"

Option 19

Topic: “State regulation of foreign economic

activities"

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………..…….3

1. The need for foreign economic activity and its forms…..….4

2. The need and methods of state regulation of foreign economic activity……………………………………………………….….10

Problem………………………………………………………………………………………...18

Conclusion…………………………………………………………….…….….…19

List of sources used……………………………………………………20

Introduction

Foreign economic activity is an important and integral sphere of economic activity of enterprises, firms, and all participants in market relations. The reassessment of the principles and model characteristics of economic development that has occurred in modern society has changed ideas about international cooperation.

Russia's foreign economic activity is a set of directions, forms and methods of trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, as well as monetary, credit and financial relations with foreign countries. Foreign economic activity plays one of the main roles in the economic activity of any state. The share of the state in the world community, as well as its authority and position on the world stage, depends on the place it occupies in world trade. It is these factors that cause the state to strive to create appropriate conditions for participation in foreign economic activities of its enterprises and firms. The most effective way to achieve this goal is to actively participate in global events to create the most favorable legal regime in international economic turnover.

An essential specific feature of foreign economic relations is the unification into a single system of various relations that determine the use of various methods and means of legal regulation. There are two levels of relations: relations between states and other subjects of international law (in particular between the state and international organizations) of a universal, regional, local nature; relations between individuals and legal entities of different states (this also includes diagonal relationships - between the state and foreign individuals and legal entities). It is the relations between individuals and legal entities that play a decisive role in the implementation of foreign economic activity.

1. The need for foreign economic activity and its forms

The ever-increasing complexity of the structure of needs, the rarity and remoteness of resources require increasingly effective means of exchange not only between regions within a single state, but also between the states themselves and world regions.

Economic development and population growth in different regions of the world occur unevenly, which also creates the need to expand international exchanges that promote the development of new markets (goods, services, labor, information, financial, etc.), import of raw materials, technological and information exchange, scientific, scientific, technical, industrial, cultural and other foreign economic relations.

Foreign economic relations are a complex system of various forms of international cooperation between states and their entities in all sectors of the economy. Subjects of the state include bearers of the rights and obligations assigned to them by the state. These are self-governing regions, economic entities (business partnerships and societies, unitary enterprises, etc.) and individual entrepreneurs.

Subjects of foreign economic activity (FEA) include specialized foreign economic organizations, production and service enterprises, exchanges, etc., as well as organizations serving foreign economic activity and promoting its development (banks, chambers of commerce and industry, etc.).

Foreign economic relations are a historical and economic category. As a historical category, foreign economic relations are a product of civilization; they arise with the emergence of states and develop with them. The transition from a subsistence economy to commodity-money relations caused a sharp leap in the development of national markets of individual states and in the exchange of goods of these national markets, which led to the expansion and deepening of international exchange in the economic sphere of state relations.

As an economic category, foreign economic relations represent a system of economic relations that arise during the movement of resources of all types between states and economic entities of different states. These bilateral relations cover all spheres of the economic life of the state and, above all, its production, trade, investment and financial activities.

The essence of foreign economic relations as an economic category is manifested in their functions. These functions are:

1. Organization and maintenance of international exchange of natural resources and results of labor in their material and value form.

2. International recognition of the use value of products of the international division of labor;

3. Organization of international monetary circulation.

In the modern world economy, foreign economic relations act as factors in the growth of the state’s national income, the economy of national economic costs and the acceleration of scientific and technological progress.

The implementation of these connections makes it possible to transfer interstate cooperation from the usual exchange of goods to trade in services, joint solution of technical and economic problems, development of scientific and industrial cooperation and other forms of joint economic activities, including the creation of joint ventures.

Through the mechanism of foreign economic relations, the demand for goods and services of the world market is transferred to the domestic market of a particular state. This creates a need for the development of productive forces, which, in turn, contributes to the development of industry, agriculture, trade, services and financial institutions.

Forms of foreign economic activity: international investment cooperation, cooperation, etc. The main types of foreign economic activity are (Article 12 of the Federal Law “On State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activities”):

International trade;

International investment cooperation;

International scientific and technical cooperation;

Monetary and financial transactions;

Credit transactions.

Foreign trade mediates almost all forms of foreign economic activity. For example, within the framework of international scientific and technical cooperation, joint research is carried out, the result of which is patented; the patent is subsequently sold and represents an export of the service.

The forms and methods of international trade are varied, but their main goal is the exchange of goods on mutually beneficial terms. The oldest form of international trade is countertrade. Countertrade refers to such foreign trade transactions, during which a single contract fixes firm obligations of counterparties to carry out a full or partially balanced exchange of goods. In the second case, the difference in cost is covered by cash payments.

Thus, the essence of countertrade is to fully or partially pay for imports with counterexports. One of the features of such trade is the expansion of the practice of counter-purchases by exporters of those goods that are not used for their own country, but are intended in advance for sale in other countries. The practice of entrusting the sale of counter goods purchased by exporters to special trading companies has become widespread.

1. Barter transactions are the most traditional type of countertrade. This is a non-currency, but valued, balanced exchange of goods. A guarantee of equivalence can be world prices calculated on the basis of evidence-based competitive materials.

A barter contract is two sales contracts. The terms of both contracts must be completely identical. In barter transactions, mutual claims are satisfied by additional deliveries or retention of goods. For example, if the main exporter is late with delivery, then he must supply an additional quantity of goods for the amount of the fine, but the contract must indicate what kind of goods the additional supply will be made, since the goods differ in both cost and scarcity.

2. Counter-purchases are a special case of barter transactions, when one of the parties, taking advantage of the scarcity of the goods offered, imposes a partially different product on its counterparty.

3. Transactions with customer-supplied raw materials have signs of countertrade, being balanced, non-currency and pre-assessed. According to concluded contracts, one of the parties exports raw materials and imports processed products or finished products, the other processes these raw materials (called tolling) with its own means. Exporters of raw materials provide additional supplies for processing.

4. Buying back obsolete products is one of the effective ways to increase sales in conditions of fierce competition in sales markets. When delivering new goods, the exporter buys out outdated models, and their residual value is included in the cost of new goods. This method of trading is most widely used in the sale of cars, agricultural machinery, computer equipment, etc.

Foreign trade is not limited only to forms of operations related to the movement of goods, works and services, although they occupy a major place. International economic cooperation, both industrial and scientific and technical, represents special forms of foreign trade operations.

Such cooperation between states and enterprises of different states is an objective necessity, the result of the international division of labor and scientific progress, in the process of which more and more new forms are created that go beyond ordinary trade. The legislation of Russia and foreign countries does not provide a general concept of international industrial and scientific-technical cooperation, since the diversity and difference of its forms developed by international practice does not allow us to give a single and precise definition of it.

A transaction between residents is recognized as a currency transaction if the subject of such transaction is currency values ​​(foreign currency and external securities). A transaction between a resident and a non-resident, as well as between non-residents, is recognized as a currency transaction if the subject of such transaction is currency values, the currency of the Russian Federation and domestic securities.

A special type of currency transactions includes transactions with one participant: import into the customs territory of the Russian Federation and export from the customs territory of the Russian Federation of currency valuables, Russian currency and domestic securities; transfer of foreign currency, currency of the Russian Federation, domestic and foreign securities from an account opened outside the territory of the Russian Federation to the account of the same person opened in the territory of the Russian Federation, and from an account opened in the territory of the Russian Federation to the account of the same person opened outside territory of the Russian Federation.

In international trade practice, along with traditional foreign trade transactions (purchase and sale of goods, performance of work, provision of services), new contractual forms of foreign economic activity have appeared in recent decades, reflecting modern trends in the development of the world economy. In particular, international financial leasing and international factoring have become widespread. These types of entrepreneurial activities, different in content, have a common property - they are associated with attracting additional sources of financing in the production and trade sphere, being a kind of commercial lending, i.e. lending, in which credit funds are provided not under an independent loan obligation, but in fulfillment of transactions for the sale of goods, performance of work or provision of services.

Leasing appeared in the early 50s. XX century in the USA, and in the 60s. - in Western European countries. By the beginning of the 80s. In this century, leasing began to be widely used in modern sectors of the economy, the need for investment in the conditions of scientific and technological progress could not be satisfied at the expense of enterprises’ own funds and bank loans.

2. The need and methods of state regulation of foreign economic activity

The strategy for the development of foreign economic relations is aimed at improving Russia’s position in the system of international division of labor, expanding markets for products, and achieving sustainable economic and social growth. To this end, the state provides measures to develop export potential, rationalize imports, increase the competitiveness of domestic enterprises’ products on the world market, attract foreign investment for technological modernization of production, and ensure the economic security of the country.

The main principles of state regulation of foreign economic activity in the Russian Federation are:

· foreign trade policy is an integral part of the foreign policy of the Russian Federation;

· unity of the system of state regulation of foreign trade activities and control over its implementation;

· unity of the export control policy carried out in order to implement state tasks of ensuring national security, political, economic and military interests, as well as fulfillment of the international obligations of the Russian Federation to prevent the export of weapons of mass destruction and other most dangerous types of weapons;

· unity of the customs territory of the Russian Federation;

· priority of economic measures of state regulation of foreign trade activities and their non-discrimination;

· protection by the state of the rights and legitimate interests of participants in foreign trade activities;

· exclusion of unjustified interference by the state and its bodies in foreign trade activities, causing damage to its participants and the economy of the Russian Federation as a whole.

State foreign trade policy is carried out through the use of economic and administrative methods of regulating foreign trade activities.

These include methods :

Customs and tariff regulation, i.e. application of import and export tariffs;

Non-tariff regulation, i.e. use of quotas, licensing, etc.

customs tariff- this is a systematic list of customs duties levied when goods cross the customs border of a state. One type of customs tariff is export duties.

There are two main methods for setting duty levels in the world. According to the first, the amount of duty is determined as a fixed amount per unit of measurement of the product (weight, volume, area). Such duties are called specific. Export duties, as a rule, are specific, which are levied mainly on raw materials (standard, large in volume of commodity mass).

The second method is based on the following: the duty is set as a percentage of the value of the goods declared by the seller. As a result, such a duty is called ad valorem. This type of duty applies to goods that are characterized by differentiation of manufactured products (mechanical products).

Along with the two mentioned methods for establishing the level of customs duties, there is a third (intermediate) one, the meaning of which is that the customs authority, which directly applies customs duty rates in the form of their imposition on goods, has the right to independently choose between specific and ad valorem duties depending on which one is higher. As a result, this type of duty was called combined (alternative).

These duties, taking into account the methods establishing them, are reflected in Article 4 of the Law of the Russian Federation “On Customs Tariffs”. At the same time, the law proclaims that the rates of customs duties are uniform and are not subject to change depending on the persons moving goods across the customs border of the Russian Federation.

The rates of export customs duties and the list of goods to which they apply are established by the Government of the Russian Federation and are exclusively measures for the operational regulation of foreign economic activity on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The purpose of the export duty is to provide or increase additional amounts of foreign currency to replenish the state treasury. The specificity of the export duty is to increase the cost of goods on the world market, where competition can be significant. On the other hand, the use of export duties is caused by restricting the supply of raw materials to the world market, for which the state has a monopoly natural advantage, or in cases where the state seeks to limit the export of such goods, which entails an increase in prices for such goods and an increase in revenues in the state budget and profits of national producers.

In accordance with Section I of the Law, the main objectives of the customs tariff are:

Optimization of the commodity structure of import supplies to the Russian Federation;

Maintaining an economically justified relationship (cost and physical) between exports and imports, foreign exchange earnings and expenses on the territory of the Russian Federation;

Creating conditions for progressive changes in the structure of production and consumption of goods and services in the Russian Federation;

Protecting the Russian economy from the negative impact of foreign competition;

Promoting the creation of conditions for the effective integration of the Russian Federation into the world economic system

Non-tariff measures are a tool for administrative regulation of foreign economic activity. They are normatively fixed. Non-tariff regulation measures include:

Licensing;

Quotas;

Certification;

Permit system;

Export control system;

Other restrictions on the import and export from the Russian Federation of goods and vehicles.

Licensing is a permit for the import, export or transit of goods, the free movement of which across the customs border of the Russian Federation is not allowed. Licenses are issued by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation. Certification is an activity to confirm product compliance with established requirements.

Quotas are the introduction of quantitative and cost restrictions on the import and export of goods for a certain period of time for certain types of goods, countries or groups of countries. In the Russian Federation, the export and import of goods is carried out, as a rule, without quantitative restrictions. Import quotas are used as a protective measure in cases where there is a threat of damage to producers of similar competing goods on the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as as a response to discriminatory actions of foreign trading partners. Licenses are issued on the basis of quotas for a certain quantity of goods and are valid for the periods specified in them.

The permitting system is the submission to customs authorities during customs clearance and control of permits from various government bodies. A restriction on the import (export) of goods is the establishment of special requirements for the import or export of certain goods. Restrictions on the import and/or export of goods can be established in the form of quantitative restrictions or in the form of a special procedure for their registration during import/export.

Some experts also refer to the concepts of customs blockade and embargo as non-tariff measures. A customs blockade means the suspension of customs clearance, delays of goods in customs warehouses, etc. The goal is to disrupt the foreign economic relations of the blockaded state. Embargo is a prohibition or restriction of the import into one’s country or export to other countries of goods, works, and services. It is used as a form of repression, as a means of economic or financial pressure.

These methods are established by the law of the Russian Federation “On State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activities”. Other methods of state regulation of foreign trade activities through intervention and the establishment of various restrictions by state authorities of the Russian Federation and its constituent entities are not allowed.

There are also regulatory methods that can be partially used in Russia.

A special form of quantitative restriction on imports has become widespread - voluntary export restrictions, when the importing country sets a quota, and the exporting countries themselves undertake obligations to limit exports to a given country. Of course, in reality, such export restrictions are not voluntary, but forced: they are introduced either as a result of political pressure from the importing country, or under the influence of threats to apply more stringent protectionist measures (for example, initiating an anti-dumping investigation).

A special group of measures that the state uses to regulate the country’s relationship with the world economy includes so-called active protectionism or various forms of export promotion.

To protect national producers, the state can not only limit imports, but also encourage exports. One of the forms of stimulation of domestic export industries is export subsidies, i.e. financial benefits provided by the state to exporters to expand the export of goods abroad. As a result of such subsidies, exporters are able to sell goods on the foreign market at a lower price than on the domestic market.

Export subsidies can be direct (payment of subsidies to a manufacturer when it enters a foreign market) and indirect (through preferential taxation, lending, insurance, etc.).

Among them are: preferential state export lending (reducing rates and extending loan terms), state insurance of export loans, direct subsidies for exports and various tax benefits for exporters. They also use various forms of information and organizational assistance for the export of products of national enterprises, provision of trade and economic information, development of transport and information infrastructure, organization of fairs and exhibitions, etc.

In accordance with the rules of the WTO (World Trade Organization), the use of export subsidies is prohibited. If they are used, importing countries are allowed to retaliate by levying countervailing import duties.

A common form of competition in the world market is dumping, when an exporter sells its goods on a foreign market at a price lower than normal. Usually we are talking about selling at a price lower than the price of a similar product in the domestic market of the exporting country. Dumping can be, firstly, a consequence of state foreign policy, when the exporter receives a subsidy; secondly, dumping can result from a typically monopolistic practice of price discrimination, when an exporting firm that occupies a monopoly position in the domestic market with inelastic demand maximizes income by raising prices, while in a competitive foreign market with sufficiently elastic demand it seeks to maximize income by reducing prices and expanding sales volume. This kind of price discrimination is possible if the market is segmented, i.e. It is difficult to equalize prices on the domestic and foreign markets through the resale of goods due to high transport costs or government-imposed trade restrictions.

In accordance with WTO rules, in order to protect against dumping, the importing state can impose anti-dumping duties, which must be preceded by a special investigation in order to establish the fact of dumping and the damage caused by it.

Another form of foreign trade policy associated with market monopolization is international cartels - monopolistic associations of exporters, which, by ensuring control over production volumes, limit competition between sellers in order to establish favorable prices. Cartels of this kind have been created repeatedly in markets for raw materials and agricultural goods, characterized by low price elasticity of demand and a limited number of sellers.

The Federal Law “On State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activities” declares the priority of economic measures to regulate foreign trade activities. The main forms of economic regulation of export and import transactions in a market economy include customs and tariff regulation, internal taxation, as well as regulation of the exchange rate of the national currency. However, the decisive role in organizing the regulation of this type of activity still belongs to customs tariffs.

The transition mainly to economic methods of regulating foreign economic activity required a thorough study of the customs legislation of the Russian Federation. The first and main law is the Law of the Russian Federation “On Customs Tariffs”, adopted on May 21, 1993. Since this law is not a direct act, its practical implementation is regulated by additional regulatory documents of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation. The law establishes the procedure for the formation and application of the customs tariff of the Russian Federation - an important instrument of the country’s foreign economic policy and state regulation of the relevant sectors of the domestic market of the Russian Federation in its interaction with the world market, as well as the rules for imposing duties on goods crossing the customs border of the Russian Federation.

Task

Determine the balance of payments in the Capital Movement account if:

Capital exports amount to $37 billion;

Import of capital – 63 billion dollars;

Receipt of income from investments abroad – 3 billion dollars;

Outflow of income from foreign investments – 6 billion dollars.

Solution.

The balance of payments is an indicator that allows us to determine the degree of a country’s possible participation in international trade, determine its solvency and regulate foreign economic activity. The task of the state is to bring the balance of payments into balance.

Balance of payments = export of capital - import of capital + income from investment - outflow of income;

Balance of payments = 37 – 63 + 3 – 6 = - 29 (billion dollars).

Answer: the balance of payments is -29 billion dollars (negative, fixed/repaid)

Conclusion

The emergence and development of economic relations between states is the result of the social division of labor on an international scale. International economic relations are an important factor influencing the level and direction of economic development of the country and its regions. The division of labor promotes the widespread use of highly productive tools of production and the introduction of the latest achievements of science and technology into production. The world economy is developing, the trend of global integration and the need to expand the participation of countries in international relations are becoming stronger and stronger. To implement this, it is required: further improvement of tariff policy; developing a system of government support measures for exports, as well as carrying out active stabilizing actions in the field of monetary policy and exchange rate. We are talking about comprehensive state regulation of foreign economic activity, and this concept primarily includes a targeted mechanism for a system of measures to increase the economic well-being of the state by supporting competitive national industries in foreign markets and attracting capital to organize new effective enterprises within the country.

State regulation of foreign economic activity has its own specifics compared to the regulation of other areas of the national economy. This specificity is due to the need for each state to take into account international norms and principles of world trade. Any state, when regulating foreign economic activity in order to develop itself, improve economic efficiency, and realize its national interests, should not infringe on the interests of other countries and must act within the framework of the rules developed by international organizations (WTO, UNCTAD, World Customs Organization, etc.).

List of sources used

1. Customs Code of the Russian Federation (as amended on June 30, 2002) (approved by the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation on June 18, 1993 n 5221-1).

2. Federal Law of October 13, 1995 N 157-FZ (as amended on February 10, 1999) On state regulation of foreign trade activities (adopted by the State Duma on July 7, 1995).

3. Federal Law of the Russian Federation dated July 18, 1999 N 183-FZ (as amended on December 30, 2001) On Export Control (adopted by the State Duma on June 22, 1999) (approved by the Federation Council on July 2, 1999).

4. Law of the Russian Federation of May 21, 1993 N 5003-1 (as amended on July 25, 2002) On the customs tariff.

5. Avdokushin E.F. "International Economic Relations". Textbook. - M.: Yurist, 2006.

6. Elova M.V., Muravyova E.K., Panferova S.M. and others. "World Economy: Introduction to Foreign Economic Activity." Textbook for universities. - M.: Logos, 2007.

7. "Course of economic theory." Under the general editorship: prof. Chepurina M.N., prof. Kiseleva E.A. Publishing house "ASA".

8. Popov S.G. "Foreign trade activities of a company. Features of management and marketing" - M., 2005.

9. www.consultant.ru

10. www.realib.ru

Federal Law "On State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activities"

Methods of government regulation. The functions of the state in the mechanism of state regulation are implemented through various forms and methods, mainly of an economic nature.

In modern practice, the most applicable methods of government regulation are:

1) long-term forecasting and medium-term planning;

2) measures of a credit and fiscal nature;

3) administrative and organizational and legal forms;

4) demonopolization of market competition.

Interstate regulation of foreign trade is ensured by bilateral and multilateral agreements and issues:

• development of unified elements of the functioning of markets (commodity, currency);
• credit systems for export-import operations;
• currency risk insurance systems;
• standard terms of Incoterms.

The set of tools and tools for regulating foreign trade includes:

1) non-tariff elements;

2) tariff preferences;

3) currency and credit funds;

4) stimulation of export production;

5) technical norms, standards, requirements for imported goods.

Interstate forms of regulation are reflected in GATT (WTO) documents, decisions of integration groups, and bilateral agreements.

Intranational methods of regulation are usually specified for export, import, and barter. The main goals of foreign trade regulation are as follows:

• the use of foreign economic relations to accelerate the creation of a market economy in Russia;
• protection of national interests, protection of the domestic market;
• improving the quality of national products by acquiring licenses and patents, purchasing new technologies, raw materials and supplies, including Russian enterprises in global competition;
• creating conditions for Russian entrepreneurs to access world markets through the provision of government, organizational, financial, and information assistance;
• creation and maintenance of a favorable international regime in relations with various states and international organizations.

Regulation of foreign trade activities in Russia should be carried out in accordance with the following basic principles:

unity of foreign economic policy and domestic economic policy;

unity of systems of state and non-state regulation and control;

priority of economic methods over administrative ones;

ensuring equality of all participants in foreign trade activities.

Since the formation of the USSR, a state monopoly on foreign trade and other types of foreign economic activity was established. Foreign trade was nationalized, and trade transactions with foreign states and enterprises were carried out on behalf of the state by the People's Commissariat.

The monopoly was maintained throughout the years and was recorded in special articles of the USSR Constitution.

Reform of foreign economic activity began in the period 1985–1986. The first stage was granting the right to enter the foreign market to 20 ministries and 70 largest enterprises. Then, since 1989, the right to enter the foreign market was given to lower economic levels, i.e. direct producers of goods and services.

Export-import operations were based on the principle of currency self-sufficiency. The system of state regulation of foreign trade activities provided for:

1) registration of wind farm participants;

3) development of rules for the export and import of certain goods (specific, dual-use, licensed);

4) operational regulation of wind farms.

The most applicable mechanism in this system was export and import licensing.

The licensing procedure was introduced for the purpose of:

1) optimization of the division of all funds between the country’s domestic market and exports;

2) streamlining competition between exporters.

The massive desire of many enterprises to enter the foreign market has led to a shortage of essential resources (petroleum products, metal, wood, etc.) in the domestic market. The Government of the Russian Federation approved a list of licensed goods, which covered 90% of exports and 8% of imports. The state retained the right to export and import nuclear materials, precious metals and stones, weapons and ammunition, works of art and antiquities, narcotic and psychotropic substances.

These measures strengthened the administrative methods of managing wind farms, but they were forced.

The basis for the process of liberalization of foreign economic activity was laid in the decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 15, 1991 “On the liberalization of foreign economic activity.” The main provisions of the Decree are:

1. Allow all enterprises to carry out foreign economic activity without special registration.

2. The government must submit for approval a shortened list of licensed and quota-bound goods.

3. Allow authorized banks to open foreign currency accounts to all legal entities and individuals.

4. Establish, from January 1, 1992, the mandatory sale of a portion of foreign exchange earnings by enterprises to the Central Bank to form a republican foreign exchange reserve. Proceeds from the sale are used to service external debt and centralized import purchases.

5. Prohibit settlements and payments between legal entities, legal entities and individuals in foreign currency on the territory of the country.

Liberalization of foreign trade activities was gradual.

Stage 1 (end of 1991 – first half of 1992) included measures:

a) lifting restrictions on the export of finished products (while maintaining strict quantitative and tariff restrictions on the export of raw materials);

b) partial liberalization of the exchange rate;

c) the abolition of any restrictions on imports.

Import liberalization was necessary to create a competitive environment in the domestic market and to compensate for the sharp decline in production.

The need to regulate exports is caused by the desire to prevent the devastation of the domestic market.

Stage 2 (second half of 1992). Basic provisions of the second stage:

a) the introduction of an import tariff as a protective measure for domestic producers from competition from imported goods;

b) tightening control over the export of CFTS;

c) complete liberalization of the exchange rate;

d) creation of a foreign exchange market. One of the conditions for this is the establishment of mandatory sale by exporters of 50% of foreign exchange earnings.

Stage 3 (covers 1993–1994). In this period:

a) the transition to tariff methods of regulation has been completed. Accordingly, the role of quantitative restrictions has been reduced;

b) the enterprise is singled out as the main subject of foreign trade activities.

An important stage was the adoption in 1995 of the Federal Law “On State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activities”. These stages have basically completed the formation of a transition period mechanism based on:

1) limited use of non-tariff methods of export regulation, mainly in relation to CFTS, military and dual-use products;

2) mandatory sale of 50% of foreign currency earnings;

3) use of customs tariffs to protect the domestic market.

Progress towards an open economy is a long period covering a number of areas:

• convergence of world and domestic prices;
• accumulation of significant foreign exchange reserves;
• achieving a positive balance of payments;
• stabilization of the national currency exchange rate;
• development of wholesale trade.

The foreign economic activity reform took place in conditions close to extreme. The priority tasks have largely been resolved. Business entities received the right to enter the foreign market. A tariff regulation mechanism has been created and is being implemented. Internal convertibility of the ruble has been achieved. Systems of incentives, crediting, and export insurance have been created.

Controls and their main functions. The foreign economic activity management system is in the stage of further development. In accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the state reserved the right to establish VEO only at the state level. Subjects of the federation and enterprises have the right to independently install wind farms within the powers stipulated by law. The independence of lower economic levels is not unlimited, but is regulated and coordinated by the state and its governing bodies.

The system of government bodies of the Russian Federation includes: legislative; executive; judicial branch of government. The legislative branch is responsible for the adoption of laws, including those on foreign economic activity. Laws can be of a general economic nature (taxes, VAT, excise tax), or specifically on foreign trade activities (TC; Law on Customs Tariffs, etc.). Along with the Laws, Presidential Decrees and Decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation are issued.

The judicial system (in relation to foreign economic activity) must ensure the protection of the rights and interests of participants in foreign economic activity, not only domestic, but also foreign. The court is independent and obeys only the law. The executive branch includes the President of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Russian Federation, including ministries. Thus, foreign economic activity is managed by a whole system of government bodies. The most diverse bodies are within the executive branch. The most important are: Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT); Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Transport and Communications; Central Bank of Russia; Federal Customs Service.

The main tasks of the Ministries are:

1) development and implementation of foreign economic policy of the Russian Federation;

2) coordination and regulation of foreign economic activity in accordance with decisions of the highest authorities;

3) development of a mechanism for regulating currency and credit relations;

4) development of a forecast of foreign trade and balance of payments;

5) determination of the volume of export supplies and analysis of the state and forecasting of rates, proportions, efficiency of exports and imports, etc.

The Federal Customs Service occupies an important place in the executive branch. As the central law enforcement agency in the field of foreign economic activity, the Federal Customs Service participates in the development and implementation of the country’s customs policy.

The structure of customs authorities is three-level: Federal Customs Service; regional customs departments; customs and customs posts. There are border and internal customs. Internal customs offices carry out the bulk of work on customs control - inspection, verification of customs declarations, shipping and payment documents, collection of payments. Border customs offices direct vehicles to the appropriate customs offices under the internal customs transit procedure and carry out the actual release of goods abroad.

Non-tariff regulation of foreign trade activities

Principles and methods of regulating foreign trade. The successes and results of any state’s activities in the foreign market are determined by many factors. One of them is: the composition and effectiveness of established government procedures to which goods crossing the customs border are subject.

The import and export of goods, like other types of foreign economic activity, are the object of state policy. In the process of development of world trade, certain instruments of this policy have been developed, used by all states of the world.

The national territory is declared the customs territory of the state and is surrounded by a customs border. Goods transported across the customs border must be cleared at customs.

The import or export of goods into the customs territory may be prohibited or limited. All participants in foreign trade transactions need knowledge of the import (export) rules in force in the country.

The world is in the process of forming uniform norms and rules on the global market, as well as systems of interstate agreements. The regulatory mechanism is equipped with a developed information and technical base.

An important feature of the regulation mechanism is an integrated approach to the use of various methods and elements of influence on foreign trade.

The modern practice of regulating foreign trade is represented by a set of means and instruments of a national and interstate nature, tariff and non-tariff stimulation of exports and curbing imports. Interstate regulation of foreign trade is ensured by:

1) bilateral and multilateral agreements and treaties (GATT, WTO, etc.);

2) elements of regulation of foreign exchange markets;

3) standard terms of “Incoterms”;

4) insurance of currency risks, etc.

• mandatory application of most favored nation treatment in mutual trade;
• non-discrimination;
• reduction of customs duties;
• conducting foreign trade on a private law basis.

The basis of the national system for regulating foreign trade is a set of acceptable:

Methods of restricting exports and imports using non-tariff elements and tariff preferences;

Monetary funds;

Ways to stimulate export production;

Technical norms, standards and requirements for imported goods.

The methods of non-tariff restrictions on exports and imports differ in the greatest variety of elements. In world practice, their number is approximately 100 positions.

Non-tariff restrictions are a set of restrictive and prohibitive measures that prevent:

a) penetration of foreign goods into the domestic market;

b) export of goods.

Non-tariff restrictions are: quantitative (quota) and non-quantitative (technical standards). The entire complex of non-tariff restrictions is implemented through the use of administrative regulation tools. Administrative instruments are used when economic levers are insufficiently effective.

The state foreign trade policy of the Russian Federation was carried out in accordance with the Law of the Russian Federation “On State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activities” (1995), currently in accordance with the Federal Law “On the Fundamentals of State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activities” (2003).

In accordance with these laws, the methods of state regulation of foreign trade activities are: customs tariff and non-tariff regulation. According to the law, exports and imports to the Russian Federation are carried out without quantitative restrictions. Quantitative restrictions are introduced in exceptional cases by the Government of the Russian Federation.

Government decisions on the introduction of quantitative restrictions on exports or imports are officially published no later than three months before the introduction of restrictions. The main forms of non-tariff regulation of foreign trade activities. Prohibitions and restrictions on export and import are established for:

1) compliance with public morality and law and order;

2) protection of human life and health, protection of flora and fauna, and the environment;

3) preservation of the cultural heritage of the people;

4) protection of cultural values;

5) preventing the depletion of irreplaceable natural resources;

6) ensuring the national security of the country;

7) protecting the external financial situation and maintaining the country’s balance of payments;

8) fulfillment of the international obligations of the Russian Federation.

The most applicable forms of non-tariff regulation of foreign trade are quotas and licensing. A quota is a tool for regulating exports and imports in foreign trade by establishing quantitative restrictions on the volumes of imported and exported goods for a certain period.

Quotas are introduced for a certain period in relation to certain goods and services. Acts as a regulator of supply and demand in the domestic market and as a response to discriminatory actions of foreign trading partners.

The basic documents of the quota and licensing system in the Russian Federation are the Decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 31, 1996 “On licensing and quotas for the export and import of goods, works, services on the territory of the Russian Federation since 1992.” and dated 10.31.1996 “On the procedure for holding competitions and auctions for the sale of quotas for the introduction of quantitative restrictions and licensing of the export and import of goods.”

According to the documents, the Government of the Russian Federation decides:

1. Introduce a unified procedure for licensing and quotas for the export and import of goods on the territory of the Russian Federation.

2. Approve:

a) a list of goods exported within quotas;

b) a list of goods, export and import of which is carried out under licenses;

c) a list of specific goods, the export and import of which is carried out under licenses;

d) regulations on the procedure for licensing and quotas of goods.

Licensing is a system of state control over export and import transactions through strict accounting of certain commodity flows, and, if necessary, their temporary restrictions.

A license is a permission to import or export the goods specified in it within a specified period.

When establishing quantitative restrictions on the export or import of goods, the following scheme is put into effect:

• the exporter (importer) can export (import) goods only if he has a license, which he must obtain and submit to the customs authority;
• the basis for obtaining a license is a certificate of receipt of a quota;
• obtaining a quota is possible only on a paid basis due to victory in a competition or auction;
• The organization of a competition or auction for the sale of quotas is carried out by a specially created Interdepartmental Commission.

The main task of the commission is the optimal allocation of quotas through competitions and auctions while observing the principles of transparency, objectivity, unity of requirements and the creation of equal competitive conditions. Competitions are open and closed. Any VTD participants can take part in the open competition. The commission may conduct a preliminary selection of applicants.

Only Russian VTD participants who have received an official invitation from the commission can take part in the closed competition. The winner of the competition receives a certificate, i.e. a document that subsequently gives him the right to obtain a license to export or import goods within the quota.

The license can be one-time or general. A one-time license is issued for carrying out foreign trade operations under one contract for a period of up to 12 months. A general license is issued for each type of exported or imported product, indicating its quantity and value. Unlike a one-time license, a license is issued without specifying a specific buyer or seller.

The issued license is issued in one copy and is not transferable to other applicants.

The licensing system is usually used for the purpose of operational control over compliance with quotas. Many countries use it as an independent means of non-tariff protectionism.

Another form of non-tariff regulation is special export controls. A number of goods fall under control:

1) nuclear materials, equipment, special non-nuclear materials. Control is carried out in accordance with the obligation of the Russian Federation arising from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the principles of nuclear export.

2) dual-use equipment and materials and related technologies (lasers, explosives and blasting agents, CNC units, enriched isotopes, etc.).

3) ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

A limit is introduced on the number of customs clearance places, namely 66 points in seaports and 26 railway points. One form of non-tariff regulation is measures related to customs or administrative formalities. Non-tariff customs barriers are not perfect, but their removal causes significant damage to the state.

Certification of imported products. Certification of goods in the Russian Federation was introduced in accordance with the laws:

1. On the protection of consumer rights.

2. About product certification.

3. About standardization.

Certification is an activity to confirm product compliance with established requirements. The development of standards, monitoring their compliance, and issuing certificates are entrusted to the Russian Federation Committee for Standardization, Certification Metrology (Gosstandart of the Russian Federation).

Certification can be mandatory or voluntary. Mandatory certification covers goods on the quality of which human life and health and the state of the environment depend. The list of these goods includes: food, household appliances, clothing, a number of machinery and equipment, etc. The safety of these goods must be confirmed upon import. The rest of the products undergo voluntary certification based on the requirements established by agreement between the seller and the buyer.

The document confirming the compliance of goods with the established requirements are certificates issued in accordance with the GOST R certification rules and issued in Russian. The specified certificate can also be a certificate of recognition of a foreign certificate and replaces it on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Thus, confirmation of compliance of goods with established requirements can be carried out in two ways:

1) based on certification of imported products according to the rules of the Russian certification system;

2) on the basis of a certificate presented by the exporter, which he received abroad and which is recognized in the Russian Federation in accordance with international, regional and bilateral agreements.

The validity period of the certificate of conformity is established by the certification body, taking into account the validity period of regulatory documents for the product.

Most products of plant and animal origin are subject to increased safety requirements. Their certification is carried out not only within the framework of the GOST R system, but also from the point of view of compliance with hygienic, veterinary and phytosanitary requirements. Quality certificates for flour, bread and pasta are issued by federal government health institutions, hygiene and epidemiology centers of Rospotrebnadzor and certified by the signature of the chief physician and the seal of the Center. Certificates of conformity for food products and medicines are issued on the basis of the conclusion of the Department of Sanitation and Epidemiological Surveillance of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, the Department of Veterinary Control of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Thus, the certificate of conformity confirms the compliance of the actual characteristics of the imported products with the technical and quality parameters declared by the supplier. The certificate is presented by the importer to the customs authorities when registering the goods.

Source - Foreign economic activity: course of lectures / V.M. Without a corner. - Tambov: Tamb Publishing House. state tech. University, 2008. - 80 p.

State regulation of foreign economic activity (FEA) is a set of economic, legal and administrative and managerial measures on the part of the state represented by its bodies, pursuing the goal of creating a framework of favorable business conditions for foreign economic activity entities, ensuring their economic support and legal protection in the domestic and foreign markets, aimed at qualitatively improving export potential and implementing a strategy of export expansion into international markets for goods, services and intellectual property rights.

The goals of state regulation of foreign trade activities are:

Formation of a favorable legal climate for the correct, within the framework of current legislation and international agreements, activities of national economic entities in the field of foreign economic activity both within the country and abroad;

Creating conditions for economic stimulation of foreign trade operations, primarily as a source of foreign exchange earnings and the formation of the state’s national income, in priority areas, according to the economic concept of the country’s economic development;

Providing conditions for effective foreign economic activity of each economic entity, using for this purpose various levers of influence, such as: various forms of economic and administrative control (we have set the priority of control functions in connection with the specifics of forming a mechanism for transforming the Russian economy along the path of transition to the market);

Coordinating the country’s participation in the globalization of the world economy in the international division and cooperation of labor and its entry into new markets, primarily with competitive high-tech products, which should be the basis of the country’s export potential;

Improving the structure of foreign economic activity by increasing the share of services in export operations (tourism, customer service, technical assistance on a commercial basis).

Regulating trade relations at the intercountry and regional levels, assisting domestic exporters abroad, providing them with various types of information, consulting, legal and other assistance when conducting transactions with foreign counterparties, monitoring the maintenance of a stable positive balance in foreign trade;

Regulation of the country's balance of payments in terms of transactions related to foreign economic activity, and timely repayment of external debt with strict control over maintaining the potential of national independent economic development, independent of foreign creditors, i.e. when controlling the point of the maximum amount of external borrowing for the country;

Forming the image of the country and its individual regions in foreign economic activity as a conscientious state, acting within the framework of legal norms and international agreements, national and foreign partners on its territory and other international norms and rules of foreign states on their territory, suppressing any kind of smuggling or money laundering "dirty" money operations.

Ensuring compliance with the priority of national economic interests in the process of deeper participation of the country in the globalizing world economy and interstate regulation of its development;

Promoting the formation of a multipolar geo-economic model of the world economic system based on the consistent implementation of a strategy of cooperation with various regions, international organizations and groups, unions and individual corporations, including taking into account their regional orientation.

In 2004, the new Federal Law “On the Fundamentals of State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activities” (dated December 8, 2003 No. 164-FZ) came into force. This Law, in its essence, consolidates a large number of acts at various levels regulating foreign trade activities in the Russian Federation or aspects related to it.

Foreign economic activity includes purely foreign trade operations related to the movement of goods, services, intellectual property rights, as well as a number of services that are not formalized by foreign trade contracts (the main feature is the transfer of ownership from the seller to the buyer), for example, medical services, tourism, educational services etc. In modern conditions, foreign economic activity also includes the so-called virtual trade, the regulation of which at the state level is just coming into force in a number of countries where this type of trade is developing progressively (Japan, USA, etc.)

For the first time, systemic provisions on trade in services have been introduced in Russian law, which is clear evidence of the adaptation of the Russian legal system to international WTO law. Restrictions on foreign trade (FT) in services can only be implemented in the form of prohibitions and restrictions on the method of their provision. Foreign performers are given national treatment. The state may also apply a number of restrictions and prohibitions in order to ensure national interests.

"Government regulation

foreign economic activity".

Main directions, forms and methods of state regulation of foreign economic activity. One of the most important trends in the development of world economic relations is the diversification of forms of cooperation. Traditional forms of FEO usually include foreign trade and investment cooperation associated with the movement of financial flows in the form of exports and imports of capital. Scientific and technical cooperation and industrial cooperation are distinguished either within the latter direction or as independent forms. Another form of VEO that is of interest from the point of view of government regulation is monetary and financial relations. Thus, speaking about the system of foreign economic relations as a whole, we can highlight the following main directions of their state regulation: foreign trade, investment, related to export-import capital flows (including scientific and technical cooperation and industrial cooperation) and monetary and financial.

Depending on the method of government influence on foreign economic relations, administrative and economic forms of regulation can be distinguished.

The first include methods of immediate, direct influence, which are mainly restrictive in nature. For example, setting quotas, using licenses, applying various reservations and restrictions, etc.

Economic regulation is associated with the impact on the economic interests of participants in foreign economic activity through the use of economic measures - taxes, customs duties and fees, bank interest rates, exchange rates, etc.

The relationship between economic and administrative forms of influence determines the nature of the state’s foreign economic policy.

There are protectionist, moderate and open economy policies, sometimes called free trade or free trade policies (which, in our opinion, is not entirely accurate, since in addition to trade, the system of relations with the world economy in the investment and monetary and financial spheres is also important). Each of these concepts is very relative in modern conditions.

It should be noted that pure extreme cases (protectionism or an open economy) do not occur. Although, at different periods of development, individual states came very close to either a complete cessation of foreign economic relations (North Korea, Albania) or complete liberalization (Iceland, Hong Kong).

The presence of administrative forms of influence on participants in foreign economic relations is usually associated with the implementation of protectionist or moderate foreign economic policies, which are typical for many developing and transition countries that are forced to protect their own national industry.

At the same time, certain elements of protectionism (based primarily on economic forms of influence) are also characteristic of industrialized countries, especially in the field of agricultural protection.

A moderate foreign economic policy involves a combination in some proportions of elements of an open economy and protectionism.

Specific methods and instruments of state regulation are associated with the implementation of certain areas of foreign economic activity.

State regulation of foreign trade. Foreign trade is considered the main form of foreign economic relations (in terms of dynamics and value indicators). State regulation of foreign trade relations is associated with the implementation of tariff and non-tariff methods (barriers).

Tariff methods are aimed at regulating foreign trade relations using a system of customs duties.

Customs duty is a type of excise tax levied by customs authorities when moving goods across the state border. There, the duty performs three main functions:

fiscal - replenishment of the state budget;

protectionist - protection of domestic producers;

regulatory, related to the regulation of commodity flows into and out of the country.

Customs duties are based on customs tariffs, which are a list of customs duty rates applied to goods imported into the customs territory of a country (import customs tariff) or exported from it (export customs tariff). The customs tariff of the Russian Federation is systematized in accordance with the Commodity Nomenclature of Foreign Economic Activity (TN FEA), based on the Harmonized System of Description and Coding of Goods (HS), operating on the basis of the international Convention since 1988.

The customs tariff is an important instrument of trade policy and government regulation of the country’s domestic market in its interaction with the foreign market.

There are different types of classification of customs duties. The most common are by object of taxation - import, export, transit are distinguished; by the method of collection - ad valorem (charged as a percentage of the customs value of the goods), specific (charged in monetary units from a certain quantity of goods), combined (in this case, the duty is calculated at an ad valorem and specific rate, and the one of the two rates that gives the largest amount of duty.

Non-tariff barriers are restrictions on foreign trade that are not related to the application of customs duties. There are different approaches to the classification of non-tariff barriers. Among international organizations, the UNCTAD and UN classifications stand out.

In the most general form, the following groups can be distinguished among non-tariff methods:

direct restriction measures related to quantitative control, including the following instruments: quotas, allocations, licensing, agreements on voluntary export restrictions, anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties and fees;

measures of indirect restriction that are non-quantitative in nature, among which two methods (directions) of influence can be distinguished:

a set of measures not directly aimed at any restrictions

foreign trade relations, but their very existence and action actually leads to this:

a) the presence of certain standards (technical, including quality standards, sanitary and veterinary standards, requirements for packaging, labeling, delivery);

b) introduction of additional customs or other administrative formalities; lack of possibility of applying the national regime to foreign firms and entrepreneurs (different tariffs for paying for freight and passenger flows, permission for the movement of goods by foreigners only through certain ports and railway stations, etc.)

a set of financial measures regulating import-export flows:

a) special rules for import payments

b) multiple exchange rates

c) restrictions on the accumulation of foreign currency

d) import deposits

e) deferment of import payments

f) subsidies and export credits.

Paratariff barriers occupy a special place among non-tariff methods. Paratariff barriers are a type of non-tariff barriers that increase the cost of imported goods above the customs duty (by a certain percentage or by a certain amount per unit of goods). This category of trade barriers includes:

internal taxes and fees imposed on imported goods (in the Russian Federation, value added tax)

various customs fees that have no domestic equivalent (including fees for customs clearance, storage, customs escort, as well as registration fees for imported vehicles and other fees), special taxes, additional duties introduced in order to improve the financial situation of the state or protect national production

decreed customs valuation - establishment of the customs value of certain goods, used to calculate customs duties and fees, in an administrative manner.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) seeks to limit as much as possible the use of non-tariff barriers in global trade. In accordance with Article 111 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), taxation of imported goods must be carried out under the terms of the national regime. According to Art. XIII GATT, customs clearance rules should not impede foreign trade. By 2000, WTO member countries plan to abandon voluntary export restrictions, and by 2005 - to stop quotas on textile trade.

The remaining quantitative restrictions on trade (primarily agricultural goods) have been subject to tariffs, i.e. recalculation into tariff equivalent.

In developed countries, a number of types of quota-bound products are subject to relatively low duties, and products imported in excess of these quotas are subject to consolidated tariffs, which are the tariff rate plus tariff-based non-tariff restrictions.

If it is necessary to use GATT/WTO non-tariff barriers, it is recommended to give preference to financial measures.

Tariff and non-tariff methods of regulation form the basis of the state's protectionist policy.

State regulation of capital movements and monetary and financial relations. An important area of ​​foreign economic relations of the state is the regulation of foreign investments and the process of export of capital (foreign investments of residents).

A characteristic feature of the movement of capital at the present stage is the inclusion of an increasing number of countries in the process of exporting and importing capital. At the same time, most countries in the world market economy simultaneously act as both exporters and importers of capital investments.

However, if world trade has a steady trend towards annual growth, significant fluctuations may occur in the interstate movement of capital in their various forms (direct, portfolio, loan investments), depending on the world economic situation. At the same time, in most countries of the world, in modern conditions, a trend is emerging that is associated with an outpacing of the dynamics of growth in the volume of foreign capital investments compared to the dynamics of the development of the domestic economy.

From a regulatory point of view, two areas of government influence can be distinguished:

foreign investment in the national economy;

investments by residents in the economies of other countries (foreign investments).

The first direction is associated with the creation of a certain system aimed at attracting (in some cases limiting), stimulating and controlling foreign investment in the national economy.

The system for regulating foreign investment is associated with the creation of institutional structures and a set of measures implemented by them aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the ongoing state policy regarding capital investments from abroad.

Despite the general trend towards liberalization of the regime for accepting foreign investments, almost all countries regulate this process to one degree or another. Since, on the one hand, the import of capital means attracting additional financial and material resources into the national economy, which expands the possibilities of accumulation in the country and improves the conditions for its economic growth. On the other hand, an excessive, uncontrolled infusion of foreign investment may lead to a threat to national security associated with the transfer of a number of important economic objects into the hands of foreign owners, which limits the possibilities for the activities of national capital; in addition, the volume of profits exported by foreign companies may increase (including dividends, interest, royalties).

At the same time, most countries in the world market economy are pursuing policies aimed at attracting foreign capital. Therefore, in general, according to the method of influencing foreign investment, two groups of methods can be distinguished:

working to attract foreign investment;

working to limit foreign investment.

The first group includes the following measures:

tax and customs benefits;

guarantees against nationalization of foreign property;

possibility of profit repatriation;

granting concessions.

To the second:

limiting the share of foreigners in the authorized capital of companies;

determination of areas of economic activity available to foreign capital, including when creating joint ventures;

application of various reservations regarding the creation of enterprises with foreign investment; - application of restrictions regarding the repatriation of profits and capital;

establishing conditions stipulating the need to use local factors and components of production.

In the practical activities of the state, a combination of measures from both groups is usually used. Depending on the current tasks and goals of the national economy, the emphasis can be placed either on attracting foreign investment (most of the measures of the first group are used with individual inclusions of restrictive measures that make it possible to regulate certain aspects of the activities of foreign investors), or on limiting their influx. In the latter case, the emphasis is placed mainly on measures of the second group; in real practice, this is quite rare.

In order to create a favorable investment climate for foreign investments, not only a national, but also a more preferential regime can be introduced. At the same time, along with the measures of the first group aimed at attracting foreign investment, additional tools can be used to stimulate the functioning of foreign investment. There are three types of these tools:

Tax, including: tax breaks, accelerated depreciation, changes in tax rates for some enterprises, customs benefits for importing equipment, tax holidays (subject to the provision of "pioneer" status).

Financial - obtaining loans and credits provided depending on the fulfillment of certain conditions that allow solving certain socio-economic problems at the level of central or local governments, as well as the allocation of funds for training and retraining of personnel employed in enterprises with foreign investment (FDI).

Non-financial - making it possible to generally improve the investment climate and thereby create more favorable conditions for foreign and national investors: the creation of telecommunication networks, communications, information systems, the construction of roads, the organization of free economic zones (FEZs).

In general, the system of government regulation measures can be represented as follows:

The second direction of government influence is the regulation of the export of capital - the process of export of investments by residents abroad. Officially, capital can be exported abroad in the form of direct and portfolio investments, in loan form - in the form of loans, in the form of placing the capital of legal entities and individuals on bank deposits and various accounts. In developed countries, state regulation of the export of capital is a set of measures of state support for the export of capital, primarily direct investment: these are measures of information and technical support for investors - assistance in finding a foreign partner, in organizing a preliminary feasibility study of the project, analysis of a business plan, in the implementation of investment projects, in the financing of investments - participation in capital, provision of tax benefits, lending, and especially insurance.

Sometimes capital is exported abroad not so much for reasons of increasing profits, but for reasons of preserving it by placing it in more stable and reliable conditions. In the latter case, they talk about the “flight” or “flight” of capital abroad. The main reason for the “flight of capital” is the lack of a favorable investment climate. As world experience shows, this phenomenon occurs primarily in those countries where there is political instability, high taxes, inflation, and no guarantees for investors.

In addition to official channels, capital can be exported abroad unofficially. The latter form includes the export abroad of illegally obtained (criminal) capital.

Illegal methods of transferring capital abroad are associated with the peculiarities of national legislation and government regulation in this area. In Russia, for example, these include depositing export income in foreign bank accounts, understating export prices and overstating import prices, which is especially actively used in barter transactions, advance payments for import contracts without subsequent delivery of goods, crediting foreign currency to foreign accounts of Russian residents , it is also possible to export capital in the form of cash in foreign currency.

State regulation of the export of capital should be aimed at reducing the volume of illegal export of capital, for which it is necessary, first of all, to take measures to improve the investment climate in the country.

Currency regulation occupies a special place in the system of state regulation of foreign economic activity. Foreign exchange regulation may include foreign exchange restrictions. In terms of their final effect, they are close to quantitative restrictions, so they are sometimes considered as a type of non-tariff regulatory instruments. Currency restrictions may regulate transactions of residents and non-residents with currency or currency values. They are associated with the application of restrictions on the transfer of foreign currency funds abroad for capital and (or) current items of the balance of payments, with restrictions on the ability of residents to purchase foreign goods, services, and provide loans abroad. Currency restrictions may affect both foreign trade and capital movements. Foreign exchange restrictions are part of foreign exchange controls carried out by the government. Currency control is a system of government measures that control all transactions between the country and the rest of the world, which includes control over the legality of foreign exchange transactions, the timely return of currency for export transactions, the correctness of payments for import transactions, etc. In the context of a sharp deterioration in the foreign economic situation and an increase in the balance of payments deficit, even industrialized countries are taking measures to tighten foreign exchange restrictions, especially in relation to the export of capital. This is due to the desire to ensure current payments using available foreign currency. Similar measures are used by countries with economies in transition and developing countries that seek to use their foreign exchange earnings to cover priority economic needs.

Real wealth of the state

is to the highest degree

independence from other states

in your needs and

in greatest excess for export.

Forbonnais

Foreign economic activity (FEA) - system of state regulatory bodies for foreign economic activity - customs and tariff regulation - duty - protectionism - customs tariff - most favored nation treatment - tariff benefits - non-tariff restrictions (foreign trade quotas, licensing, technical procedures) - excise tax - direct and indirect subsidies exporters - lending, insurance and export guarantees - Federal Program for Integrated Export Development

The liberalization of foreign economic activity (FEA) in Russia has created conditions for a large number of business entities carrying out various foreign economic operations to enter foreign markets. Foreign economic activity is implemented in such basic forms as: foreign trade, industrial cooperation, scientific and technical cooperation, joint entrepreneurship in the country and abroad, attracting foreign labor and capital, participation in the work of international organizations and associations.

The intensity of foreign economic activity, its structure, and geographic focus largely depend on the methods of state regulation, including on national legal regimes in this area. The goals of state regulation of foreign trade activities in Russia are to protect its economic sovereignty, ensure economic security, stimulate the development of the national economy and ensure conditions for the country’s effective integration into the world economy.

In a market economy, the nature of the state’s influence on foreign economic activity is changing - there is a transition from direct management of it through centralized, rigid planning and directives from above to methods of indicative (not mandatory for performers) state regulation, the use of predominantly indirect levers of influence and the establishment of “rules of the game” for participants of foreign trade activities.

In Russia, a system of state regulatory bodies for foreign economic activity has developed, covering all hierarchical levels of management - federal, regional, local. On federal level The highest body regulating foreign economic activity is the Federal Assembly (Federation Council and State Duma), which has the right to adopt, amend, and repeal laws regulating foreign trade, joint entrepreneurship and other forms of foreign economic cooperation. Decrees of the President of Russia contribute to an energetic and rapid impact on the regulation of various forms of foreign economic activity.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (Ministry of Economic Development), the State Customs Committee (SCC), the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and other executive authorities take part in the regulation of foreign economic activity in Russia. Thus, the Ministry of Economics and Trade is entrusted with the following functions: developing a strategy for foreign economic policy and ensuring its implementation by all subjects of foreign economic activity on the basis of coordinating their actions in accordance with international treaties of Russia; development of a unified currency, credit, and pricing policy; monitoring compliance by all participants in foreign economic activity with laws and terms of international treaties; cooperation with various international and intergovernmental commissions on the development and regulation of foreign trade activities; preparation and conclusion of foreign trade contracts and agreements with different countries; coordination and agreement of foreign trade activities with the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance, etc.; implementation of non-tariff regulation of foreign trade activities.

State bodies carry out and operational regulation Foreign trade activities. For example, the Government of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Economics and Trade, the State Customs Committee can suspend the operations of participants in foreign economic activity in the event of the supply of low-quality products and goods; failure to fulfill mandatory export deliveries while simultaneously exporting similar goods in other forms; exports at unreasonably low prices or imports at inflated prices; reporting false information in advertising, customs, financial and registration documentation. The suspension of foreign economic transactions applies to both domestic foreign economic entities and foreign ones that have committed violations of the law.

An important role in regulating foreign economic activity belongs to the Central Bank of Russia, which concludes interbank agreements and represents the interests of the country in relations with the central banks of other countries, international banks and other financial and credit institutions. The Central Bank carries out all types of foreign exchange transactions, develops the conditions and rules for the circulation of foreign currency and securities in the country, regulates the exchange rate of the ruble in relation to the currencies of other countries, issues regulations, and issues licenses to banks to carry out foreign exchange transactions.

IN industry-wise State regulation of foreign economic activity is carried out by the relevant federal ministries, which determine the economic interests of the state in a particular area, deal with issues of development of the world market by Russian companies, as well as issues of intergovernmental cooperation. Special units within the ministries are focused on attracting investment to Russia and “supporting” investment projects.

Under the conditions of economic reform, the center of gravity of foreign trade regulation is shifted to regional level. Within the powers determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and other legislative acts (for example, the Federal Law “On State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activities” of October 13, 1995), each of the branches of regional government (legislative, executive, judicial) exercises control and management of the activities of participants in foreign economic connections located in the region. The greatest importance in the operational management of foreign economic activity at the regional level is played by the regional administration and its structural divisions created for this purpose. The department (or department) of foreign economic relations under the regional administration is designed to promote the integration of the production, financial, and intellectual potential of the territory, as well as the resources and capabilities of enterprises into the sphere of international cooperation, to ensure the protection of interests and the efficiency of foreign investment in the region.

All the variety of means of state regulation of foreign economic activity can be grouped into three main blocks (or directions). The first of them is general measures aimed at strengthening the national economy and its position in the world economic system, ultimately leading to increasing the competitiveness of the country's industry and its products. Regulation of foreign economic activity is the regulation of the entire national economy, its market conditions and qualitative and structural development. These are measures of antimonopoly policy, suppression of unfair competition, development and implementation of state economic programs, stimulation of scientific and technological development, creation of the necessary regulatory framework and institutional structure. Measures of this kind create a general economic basis for foreign trade activities.

The second block consists of special tools and mechanisms that stimulate or restrain the corresponding types of foreign economic activity. Let us consider in more detail the mechanism of foreign trade regulation, which includes several main elements: customs and tariff regulation, non-tariff regulation (quotas and licensing), a currency convertibility mechanism and exchange rate policy.

Customs and tariff regulation (establishment of export and import duties) is the main instrument of foreign trade policy, designed to protect certain industries from foreign competition and neutralize the advantages of foreign firms.

The main instrument of customs tariff regulation is customs duties. Duty is a mandatory fee collected by customs authorities when importing/exporting goods. Designing an effective customs duty structure is a complex task as it involves achieving several conflicting objectives. A potential conflict arises from the need to open the domestic economy to foreign competition and at the same time ensure the protection of “sensitive” sectors of the national economy (protectionism - the protection of domestic producers - has traditionally been the main function of duties). In this case, it may be necessary to implement the fiscal function if there is a large budget deficit.

Depending on the direction of movement of goods, the duty may be import (import), export (export) and transit, which is charged for moving goods through the customs territory. Developed countries mainly use import tariffs. Export duties are currently found in the practice of some developing countries and are considered as a temporary measure aimed at preventing domestic shortages and depletion of resources, as well as replenishing the treasury. In Russia, export duties are a temporary measure and are levied on the export of some leading Russian export goods (such as oil, ores of a number of metals, carbohydrates, wheat, fish, cellulose, fertilizers, etc.).

A customs tariff is a set of rates of customs duties applied to goods moved across the customs border. To ensure that differences in national regulatory systems do not impede international trade, countries around the world are gradually unifying their systems on common principles. For this purpose, the Customs Cooperation Council (World Customs Organization) was created, of which Russia has been a member since 1992. Goods in the customs tariff of the Russian Federation are classified in accordance with the Commodity Nomenclature of Foreign Economic Activity, developed on the basis of the so-called Harmonized System of Description and Coding of Goods (HS), recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce for use in world trade, and the Combined Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature of the European Community (EC CN) .

Depending on the method of calculating duty rates, there are ad valorem duties calculated as a percentage of the customs value of goods; specific, accrued in the established monetary amount for a physical unit of taxable goods (for 1 kg, for 1 liter or 1 piece); and combined combining both of these types of customs taxation.

Import duty rates are determined by the Government of the Russian Federation within the limits established by the Law of the Russian Federation “On Customs Tariffs” (dated May 21, 1993). The same product is subject to several different tariffs: high, medium and low duty rates. Maximum rates of customs duties (50% of the base rate) apply to goods originating from countries with which Russia uses (on the basis of reciprocity) the most favored nation treatment (most favored nation treatment) established by legislative bodies in trade and political relations. Under this regime, economic entities of the agreed countries enjoy customs, tax and other privileges in the partner country. For goods from countries whose trade and political relations do not provide for most favored nation treatment, as well as for goods whose country of origin is not established, the rates of import customs duties are doubled.

To stimulate the development of foreign trade with individual countries, various tariff benefits, so-called tariff preferences (refund of previously paid duties, exemption from their payment, rate reduction, etc.), are applied to them. For example, benefits are established for goods originating from developing countries that benefit from the Russian Federation’s system of preferences, which is reviewed at least once every five years by the Government of the Russian Federation. In order to exercise the right to receive tariff benefits, it is necessary to submit to the customs authorities a special document - a certificate of origin of the goods, confirming that the goods were entirely produced in the relevant country or have undergone significant processing at its enterprises.

Duty-free import is also possible. Thus, vehicles performing international humanitarian transport and property necessary for their operation are exempt from duties; goods imported or exported from the customs territory of the Russian Federation for official use by foreigners; currency of the Russian Federation, foreign currency, securities in accordance with the laws of Russia; goods transported across the customs border of the Russian Federation by individuals and not intended for production or commercial activities, etc. The export of goods for state needs is exempt from customs duties (including supplies of oil, gas condensate and their products carried out by enterprises in which the controlling stake belongs to the state).

In some cases, so-called special tariffs designed to protect domestic goods from competition with cheap imported goods. For example, anti-dumping duty applies to the import of foreign goods into Russia at prices lower than their cost in the country of export. Countervailing duties are introduced in the case of the import of goods in the production of which subsidies were used directly or indirectly.

In addition to customs duties, there are more than 50 ways of non-tariff restrictions on foreign trade in the world. Non-tariff barriers include various taxes and fees; regulation of foreign trade through its quantitative restrictions (quotas) or complete prohibition; licensing; sanitary requirements; national standards in terms of safety, compliance with environmental standards, special requirements regarding the quality, technical and consumer properties of imported goods; administrative and bureaucratic delays, etc. One of these measures is the establishment of excise taxes.

Excise tax is a type of indirect taxes included in the tariff or price of goods mainly for mass consumption and paid by the buyer. Excise tax amounts are contributed to the budget by organizations located on the territory of the Russian Federation, including enterprises with foreign investment and branches of enterprises that sell excisable goods produced by them. There are three types of excise tax rates on goods: 1) uniform - for goods whose varieties within the group differ little in quality and price (salt, matches, sugar); 2) differentiated - for goods classified according to quality characteristics: color, strength, etc. (wine, fabrics, etc.); 3) average - for homogeneous goods, the varieties of which have different price levels (tobacco products). According to the method of collection, excise taxes are divided into individual, established on certain types of goods and services and levied at fixed rates per unit of measurement of goods (services), and universal, levied on gross turnover. When goods subject to excise tax are imported into the territory of Russia, the procedure for their collection is established by the Federal Law “On Excise Taxes” as amended by the Federal Law of March 7, 1996, and other acts of customs legislation.

Foreign trade quotas - This is a quantitative or cost restriction on exports/imports, introduced for a certain period of time for individual goods and services, countries and groups of countries. Quotas make it possible to combat the balance of payments deficit more effectively than tariff protectionism. Unlike a customs tariff, the use of a quota makes it possible to clearly limit the volume of imports/exports. An increase, for example, in import duties can increase the total amount of payments and almost not affect the volume of imports, while the introduction of an import quota guarantees its reduction.

On the other hand, an import quota can be useful only if there is competition in the domestic market of the quota-bound product. Otherwise, an enterprise that monopolizes the domestic market will maintain high prices and artificially create a shortage of these products. This is one of the reasons why import quotas are practically not used in Russia.

Export quotas are used in cases where the prices of a product on the domestic market are lower than on the world market. With unlimited exports, there may be a shortage of this product in the domestic market. In Russia, export quotas are determined by the country's international obligations. Global trade in certain types of goods (for example, textiles) is regulated by special international agreements. These agreements provide for restrictions on the export of certain goods by exporting countries, which allows the relevant industry to remain in importing countries. In order to fulfill Russia's international obligations, quotas are imposed on the export of silicon carbide, ammonium nitrate, threads and yarn, fabrics, clothing, blankets, rugs, kitchen and bed linen, other finished textile products, and raw aluminum.

Foreign trade operations with certain types of goods (for example, the export of quota goods, dual-use goods - peaceful and military, nuclear materials, precious metals and stones, narcotic and psychotropic drugs, poisons) are carried out on the basis licensing - written permission to export (import) the specified goods within the prescribed period. Since trade transactions with these goods affect not only economic, but also other national interests (such as security, environmental protection, preservation of cultural heritage, etc.), the trade transaction requires the approval of the relevant government authorities. A license is issued for a certain period of time and is issued only for one type of goods.

Non-tariff import restrictions include technical procedures. They are established by law by government organizations and represent a set of measures to verify the compliance of imported products with the requirements of international and national standards (for sanitary, radiation and other indicators), industry standards and technical requirements. Such procedures can seriously complicate the marketing of a number of products.

Various mandatory requirements for marking and labeling of goods can become a barrier to the import of goods. Recently, one of the new requirements for imported goods has become the possibility of easier disposal of the latter, in particular, through recycling. In this regard, a special “eco-label” has emerged and is becoming widespread on the packaging of “environmentally friendly” goods in the form of certain symbols (“green dolphin”, “blue angel”, “white swan”, etc.), which also plays the role of advertising.

Convertibility of the national currency and exchange rate policy are important components of foreign trade regulation. Thus, a significant depreciation of the exchange rate stimulates the expansion of the export sector, limits imports and can avoid balance of payments difficulties.

The third block is direct assistance to manufacturing companies in their implementation of foreign economic activity. For example, support for export production was an integral part of the overall economic strategy of states that achieved socio-economic success in the second half of the 20th century. By actively stimulating exports, the state solves several problems. First, export promotion helps expand demand for nationally produced products. Secondly, exports provide foreign exchange to import needed goods, new technologies and information that are not produced in a given country. Thirdly, an increase in foreign exchange earnings ensures the repayment of the national debt and stabilization of the national currency.

The measures taken by government bodies to stimulate exports and national producers are of a very diverse nature. Let's look at some of them.

Direct subsidies for exports are the simplest and traditionally used way of materially stimulating external supplies by national producers and increasing the price competitiveness of their goods. It is carried out in the form of additional payments to firms and companies, subsidies from the budget to eliminate the difference between the cost of production and export prices in order to make profits. Nowadays it is used mainly for the export of agricultural products. At the same time, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) calls on member countries to limit export subsidies so as not to cause destabilization of international trade and the adoption of countermeasures by other countries. The agreement allows the importing country to impose a countervailing duty on the import of goods whose exports are subsidized if its economy suffers from this.

In addition to direct subsidies from the budget, means of indirect export stimulation are used. Indirect subsidies to exporters are carried out through a network of commercial banks, to which the state issues special subsidies to reduce lending rates to exporters. Indirect subsidies are considered to be tax breaks for exporters, exemption from duties on the import of raw materials and materials (or refund of duties already paid), reduction of tariffs by state companies (transport, energy and others), as well as the transfer of government, including military, , orders at stable and, as a rule, high prices. Tax benefits are often provided to intermediary organizations.

Another type of support for exporters is also very effective - their direct lending. Lending to exporters can be internal and external. Domestic lending carried out through a state bank by providing medium-term (up to five years) and long-term (up to 20-30 years) loans for the development of export production in national and freely convertible currency. The loan is provided on favorable terms at stable rates.

External lending aims to provide loans to importers in the form of financial and commodity loans. The state subsidizes from the budget both corporate and bank loans, which are targeted and should be used by foreign recipients only for the purchase of goods from a company that supplies export products.

The traditional means of government support for exports is insurance and guarantees of export loans to ensure the protection of exporters from various types of risks. Export insurance has two directions: internal and external. Domestic insurance carried out by the state at the expense of budgetary funds with large investments in export production in order to reduce losses from production risks. Carrying out external insurance, The state, at the expense of the budget, assumes part of the political and commercial risks of exports. Political risks include wars, government coups, sudden changes in the political situation, and strikes. All these factors make it difficult or even disrupt the execution of contracts. Commercial risks include exchange rate fluctuations, bankruptcies, changes in customs and tax systems.

Insurance of export operations is carried out by government organizations or firms and corporations that receive subsidies from the budget. State insurance organizations, as a rule, provide 80-90% of the transaction amount at rates significantly lower than private insurance companies. For example, in the USA they make up 1-2% of the contract amount, in Japan - 0.3%.

In order to expand foreign trade potential and increase exports, the Government of the Russian Federation was recommended to develop a Federal Program for Comprehensive Export Development. As a priority area, it highlights the expansion of production and export of finished industrial goods that are potentially competitive on the world market (heavy engineering, chemistry, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, etc.). The program should include measures to develop the institutional, financial and information infrastructure of exports. A set of measures is envisaged to stimulate the export of finished products, technologies and know-how, for example, the return of paid value added tax to domestic producers after the goods cross the border, as well as a 50% reduction in the tax on profits received from the sale of export products. The question is raised about preferential lending to export sectors, primarily engineering exports, and about providing centralized foreign currency loans to commercial banks involved in export financing. Of the funds allocated for government support for exports, one quarter is expected to be spent on direct subsidies and three quarters on insurance and government guarantees for the repayment of export loans.

One of the indispensable conditions for the competitiveness of manufacturers of industrial products is their awareness of the market, the capabilities and behavior of competitors, innovations and many other characteristics that allow them to have a complete understanding of the external environment, its development trends at the current moment and in the future. Only under this condition can a manufacturing company be guaranteed against unpleasant surprises and consciously form and implement its scientific, technical, production, and sales policy, and skillfully confront its competitors.

Simultaneously with the use of administrative and economic methods of state regulation of foreign economic activity, organizational, statistical, research and information work is carried out. Government agencies (as well as parastatals) provide significant assistance to exporters information and advisory services. State bodies collect statistical materials, analyze the state and assess the prospects of foreign economic activity, and publish reference books. With the help of embassies, trade missions and representative offices, government services receive commercial information and find foreign counterparties.

Government institutions also actively promote national goods to foreign markets by holding exhibitions, international symposiums, conferences and through other forms of familiarizing representatives of business circles of different countries with domestic achievements in economics, science, technology, as well as through the creation of trade and trade centers abroad. information centers. Foreign trips of businessmen are regularly organized under the patronage of government agencies. For example, the US Department of Commerce, with approximately 150 representative offices in more than 70 countries - the main trading partners of the United States - regularly organizes trips abroad for trade delegations and holds catalog shows of American companies.

Developed abroad and moral reward system exporters. It includes the organization of national competitions with the awarding of medals, prizes, diplomas, etc. to the winners. Possession of such awards increases the prestige of the company, strengthens its business reputation, and serves as an additional means of increasing the competitiveness of its products. Thus, the state in a market economy has a wide range of means of influencing foreign economic activity.

Control questions

1. What is the structure of state regulation of foreign trade activities and what is the mechanism of foreign trade regulation?

2. What issues of state regulation of foreign economic activity are within the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation, in the sphere of joint jurisdiction of the Russian Federation and the constituent entities of the Russian Federation? What are the powers of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the field of foreign economic activity?

3. What methods are used in state regulation of foreign trade activities?

4. What is the peculiarity of quantitative methods of restricting foreign trade?

5. What indirect measures are used to stimulate foreign economic activity?

Regulatory acts

Federal Law “On State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activities” of October 13, 1995 - Collection of legislation of the Russian Federation. 1995. No. 42. Art. 3923.

Law of the Russian Federation “On Excise Taxes” as amended. Federal Law “On Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation “On Excise Duties”” dated March 7, 1996 - SZ RF. 1996. No. 11. Art. 1016.

Law of the Russian Federation “On Customs Tariffs” of May 21, 1993 - Gazette of the Congress of People's Deputies and the Supreme Council of the RSFSR. 1993. No. 23. Art. 821; NW RF. 1995. No. 32. Art. 3204; No. 48. Art. 4567.

Literature

Foreign economic activity of an enterprise: basics: Textbook for universities / Ed. L.E. Strovsky. - M., 1996.

Foreign trade policy reform / Albegova I.M., Emtsov R.G., Kholopov A.V. State economic policy / Under the general editorship. prof. A.V. Sidorovich. - M., 1998.

Economics of Russia's External Relations / Ed. A.S. Bulatova. - M., 1995.