Since Soviet times, the word “import” has firmly taken its place in the dictionary. Almost everyone knows that this term means the import of various goods, services, technologies, developments, works into the territory of the state from abroad without the obligation to export them back. But who is this “importer”? This is a fairly broad concept, which is worth considering in more detail.
Definition of a concept
From an economic point of view, an importer is an individual or legal entity engaged in the importation of any goods from another country. Various services received abroad can also serve as imports.
If we take a broader concept, the importer is a party to international economic cooperation, which is engaged in the procurement of goods, services, labor, capital, etc. abroad and their import into the territory of their country for use or consumption.
The exchange of goods between different partners has always been in the framework of international trade relations. Since ancient times, there was a natural exchange of food products, tissues, various household items. The principles of import and export operations have basically not changed, however, their scale has increased and payment, sales technologies have improved, customs and new tax instruments have appeared.
Who is the importer
Who has the right to bear the name "importer"? It can be an individual entrepreneur, firm, corporation, organization. This term is sometimes applied even to states that are actively importing certain goods from abroad.
Financiers consider two categories of signs by which an importer can be identified:
- the ability to cross the border and go through customs with all the necessary documents drawn up in accordance with international rules and certificates;
- import of products and goods into the customs territory of the state.
If all these signs are combined, then we conclude that the importer is a person who has the right to cross the border in accordance with international rules and import goods from abroad into his country's territory.
Imported Goods
In modern conditions, external economic relations are constantly being strengthened and receive different expressions. So, through the exchange of goods at the international level, the problem of a shortage of a product in those regions where it is not produced is solved.
A subject for the implementation of foreign trade activities can be a wide range of goods and services, as well as the results of intellectual activity (including innovation, new technological projects and developments). All this is mandatory regulated by modern laws. For example, importing countries that do not own mineral deposits purchase oil, coal, and iron ore from other states. At the same time, these same powers can produce products from iron ore and export finished products.
The situation in the domestic market
Today, the market of the Russian Federation supplies a wide variety of goods imported from countries near and far abroad:
- household and medical equipment;
- products of light and heavy industry;
- food products (baby food, dairy products, vegetables, fruits);
- production equipment;
- scientific and applied developments and technologies;
- trucks and cars, auto parts.
Over the past few years, the Russian Federation has concluded agreements on commodity exchange and foreign trade cooperation with many states. These include the CIS countries, the European Union, as well as China, Brazil, India and others. Importers of Russia supply automobiles, machinery, equipment, medicines, ferrous metals, clothes and shoes, petroleum products, synthetic rubber, chemicals (for care and plant protection), tea, coffee, agricultural products, food, fabrics, etc.