Special trade system
The special trade system is in use when the statistical territory comprises only a particular part of the economic territory, so that certain flows of goods which are in IMTS2010 scope are not included in either import or export statistics of the compiling country. Countries may apply various definitions of special trade. Traditionally the strict and the relaxed definitions of the special trade are differentiated.

The strict definition of the special trade system is in use when the statistical territory comprises only the free circulation area, that is, the part within which goods "may be disposed of without customs restriction" (see Annex B). Consequently, in such a case, imports include only goods entering the free circulation area of a compiling country and exports include only goods leaving the free circulation area of a compiling country. Under the strict definition, goods imported for inward processing and goods which enter or leave an industrial or commercial free zone or customs warehouses would not be recorded since they would not have been cleared
through customs for home use. The compensating products after inward processing also would not be included in exports.

The relaxed definition of the special trade system is in use when (a) goods that enter a country for or leave it after inward processing and (b) goods that enter or leave an industrial free zone are also recorded and included in international merchandise trade statistics.

GENERAL TRADE SYSTEM


  

  
    Glossary Home
    About
    Contact Us
    Downloadable Version
    Advanced Filter
    Web Service







      
Definition:
The general trade system is in use when the statistical territory of a country coincides with its economic territory. Consequently, under the general trade system, imports include all goods entering the economic territory of a compiling country and exports all goods leaving the economic territory of a compiling country.  

Source Publication:
International Merchandise Trade Statistics, Concepts and Definitions, United Nations, New York, 1998, Studies in Methods, Series M, No. 52, Rev. 2, page 9, para. 66.  

SPECIAL TRADE � UN


  

  
    Glossary Home
    About
    Contact Us
    Downloadable Version
    Advanced Filter
    Web Service      
Definition:
The special trade system is in use when the statistical territory comprises only a particular part of the economic territory.  

Source Publication:
International Merchandise Trade Statistics, Concepts and Definitions, United Nations, New York, 1998, Studies in Methods, Series M, No. 52, Rev. 2, page 9, para. 67.  

ECONOMIC TERRITORY (OF A COUNTRY) � SNA


  

  
    Glossary Home
    About
    Contact Us
    Downloadable Version
    Advanced Filter
    Web Service







      
French Equivalent: Territoire 閏onomique (d抲n pays) � SCN/NU

Definition:
The economic territory of a country consists of the geographic territory administered by a government within which persons, goods, and capital circulate freely.

It includes: (a) the airspace, territorial waters, and continental shelf lying in international waters over which the country enjoys exclusive rights or over which it has, or claims to have, jurisdiction in respect of the right to fish or to exploit fuels or minerals below the sea bed; (b) territorial enclaves in the rest of the world; and (c) any free zones, or bonded warehouses or factories operated by offshore enterprises under customs control (these form part of the economic territory of the country in which they are physically located).  
Source Publication:
SNA 14.9 and International Merchandise Trade Statistics, Concepts and Definitions, United Nations, New York, 1998, Studies in Methods, Series M, No. 52, Rev. 2, page 27, para. 3.  

STATISTICAL TERRITORY � UN
      
Definition:
In international merchandise trade statistics, the objective is to record goods entering and leaving the economic territory of a country. In practice, what is recorded is goods that enter or leave the statistical territory, which is the territory with respect to which data are being collected. The statistical territory may coincide with the economic territory of a country or with some part of it.

It follows that when the statistical territory of a country and its economic territory differ, international merchandise trade statistics do not provide a complete record of inward and outward flows of goods.  

Source Publication:
International Merchandise Trade Statistics, Concepts and Definitions, United Nations, New York, 1998, Studies in Methods, Series M, No. 52, Rev. 2, page 9, para. 64.  

TRADE SYSTEMS


  

  
    Glossary Home
    About
    Contact Us
    Downloadable Version
    Advanced Filter
    Web Service







      
Definition:
There are two trade systems in common use by which international merchandise trade statistics are compiled the:

- general trade system, and the
- special trade system.  

2.17 There are two recognised systems for compiling international merchandise trade statistics: the general trade system and the special trade system. The difference between them lies mainly in the way goods passing through customs-bonded warehouses are treated. The alternative systems give rise to differences in the timing of recording trade flows. Australia uses the general trade system.

The General Trade System

2.18 The general trade system records the movement of goods as they enter or leave the country. Under this system, imports comprise goods entered directly for home consumption, together with goods imported into bonded warehouses. Exports include all goods moving out of Australia's territory and comprise both domestic produce and re-exports of foreign goods.

The Special Trade System

2.19 The special trade system records the clearance of goods by Customs. Imports are recorded at the point when the goods are cleared for home consumption. Under this system, imports comprise goods entered directly for home consumption, together with goods cleared from bonded warehouses. Exports include all goods exported and comprise both domestic produce and re-exports of foreign goods.

2.20 The special trade system is used by the European Union and Indonesia. An Australian export to a warehouse in the European Union is not declared as an import until the imported goods are released for free circulation or consumption. Goods sent to Indonesia's Batam Island bonded processing zone are not recorded as Indonesian imports unless the goods are released for use in the rest of Indonesia. A number of other countries have established similar processing zones.

UN Standards and Australian Practice

2.21 The UN standards recommend that countries use the general trade system for the compilation of their international merchandise trade statistics and for international reporting. It considers that the general trade system provides a more comprehensive recording of international trade flows and the broader coverage provides a better approximation of the change of ownership criterion used in the compilation of balance of payments statistics.

2.22 Australia's international merchandise trade statistics are recorded on a general trade basis. Imports on a special trade basis are also available, if statistics are required on imports entering the domestic territory for home consumption. These are called import clearances.