Abstract:

The research was based on the data of these three developed countries - the USA, Germany, France and four developing countries - China, India, Russia and Brazil. At the initial stage, the indicators of GDP, exports, imports and trade balance were studied, that allowed to define the importance of the foreign trade activity for the specified countries. The next step was to determine the weighted means of the import tariff, and the countries were ranked according to its size. This has made it possible to determine the direction of foreign trade policy. Further work was based on the assessment of the weighted average import tariff dynamic changes in the context of commodity groups. The received results became the basis for conclusions about the prospects of foreign trade policy. At the final stage of the study the tariff lines of commodity items were considered. The results were grouped by rate interval that allowed to determine the degree of their differentiation, minimum and maximum upper values also the number of duty-free positions. Finally, the study concluded that the U.S., Germany, France and Russia are countries implementing a free-trade policy. China and India have implemented a policy of weak protectionism, while Brazil has implemented a policy of moderate protectionism. Russia and Brazil are vivid examples of developing countries with symptoms of "Dutch disease". India has chosen to close the economy and reduce its dependence on foreign trade. China moves towards liberalization of foreign trade and satisfaction of domestic needs instead of export-oriented development. The United States have been continuing to pursue foreign trade liberalization, and Germany and France have made weak attempts to protect domestic markets with tariffs.