Guide in PDF format
Logo

Foreign Trade

Code: 102324
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Business Administration and Management OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Rosella Nicolini
Email :
rosella.nicolini@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Rosella Nicolini

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

No specific background is required to course this programme. Of course, students are expected to have a basic knowledge of the core courses in economics as principle of international economics, principle of macroeconomics and principles of microeconomics. Some basic notions in marketing could be also a useful plus.

Objectives

This is an elective course. It aims at providing a general overview of the most common international practices in trade. The focus will be on the practical managing of the import-export operations at firm level under a competitive perspective. The course is introducing students to the knowledge and managing of the most salient tools to meet the requests of firms involved in the international transaction processes. Students will learn basic information about the importance of the international trade for the competitive consolidation process in Catalunya and Spain. They also will be able to deal with the most proper instruments to solve simple practical exercises simulating real case studies. Finally, they will be also able to search for the most relevant information to plan feasible internationalization strategies still at firm level.

 

Learning outcomes

  1. Capacity to adapt to changing environments.
  2. Capacity to continue future learning independently, acquiring further knowledge and exploring new areas of knowledge.
  3. Select and generate the information needed for each problem, analyse it and make decisions based on this information.
  4. A capacity of oral and written communication in Catalan, Spanish and English, which allows them to summarise and present the work conducted both orally and in writing.
  5. Organise work, in terms of good time management and organisation and planning.
  6. Demonstrate initiative and work independently when required.
  7. Work as part of a team and be able to argue own proposals and validate or refuse the arguments of others in a reasonable manner.
  8. Describe the main economic agents making up the Spanish and Catalan economy.
  9. Identify the role of the public sector in the Spanish economy.
  10. List the main characteristics of the labour market in Spain.
  11. Examine the influence and the role of Spanish public institutions in the economy.
  12. Interpret the economic globalisation process and its consequences for the Spanish economy.
  13. Perform an economic analysis of integration processes, in general, and of the European integration process, in particular.
  14. Assess the functioning and current situation of the Spanish economy.
  15. Analyse the role of international institutions in the economy.
  16. Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within the area of your own knowledge.
  17. Analyse the indicators of sustainability of academic and professional activities in the areas of knowledge, integrating social, economic and environmental dimensions.
  18. Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.

Contents


  1. Definition of trade. Theoretical setting. Benefits from trade. Trade policies. Evaluation of the trade agreements.

  2. Introduction to the international organization dealing with trade issues (IMF, WB, WTO, UNCTAD) and the experience of the European Union (from the Treaty of Rome onward),

  3. Basic definitions of the practical concepts of external trade. Trade accounting. Trade balance. Exchange rate limitations.

  4. Trade practices in the EU: TARIC codes, international transport practices, fiscal issues. Imports: tariff, custom value of imports, TVA in the international trade. Exports: export procedures and fiscal policies fostering exports.

  5. Basic description of the INCOTERMS (2020). The international payment system.

  6. The Spanish and Catalan current trade-flow directions and composition. Elements for a quantitative analysis. National and local public policies endorsing the firm internationalization process


 

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Practical classes 17 0.68 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 18
Study and reading material 60 2.4 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Collection and processing of information by practical exercises 20 0.8 3, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 18
Lectures 32.5 1.3 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Tutoring and monitoring practices and readings 20.5 0.82 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

 

  • Recitation classes
  • Practical classes
  • Tutoring and monitoring practices and readings
  • Study and reading material
  • Collection and processing of information by practical exercises

 

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Group project 15% 0 0 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 18
Final exam 45% of the final grade 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Mid term exam 20% 0 0 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15
Individual project 20% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

1. Continuous assessment

The assessment of the learning (final mark) will be the weighted average of the following activities:

  • 20% Miderm exam
  • 45 % Final exam
  • 20 % Individual project,
  • 15% Group project (including presentation).

PLEASE REMARK:

All students are required to perform the evaluation activities.

The two exams (midterm and final) require a minimum score of 3.5 each. When this threshold is not reached (that is, when the mark is below 3.5) the score of the correspondent exam that will be considered for the final mark will be zero. The marks of the other activities to complete the final evaluation do not require a minimum threshold.

The subject is approved with a final mark of 5. In the case of a final mark less than 3.5, the student will have to take to the subject in the following year.

Students who have obtained a final mark that is equal to or greater than 3.5 and less than 5 are eligible for a retake exam. The lecturers will decide the type of retake exam. When the mark of the retake exam is greater than 5, the final mark will be PASS with a maximum numerical score of 5. When the mark of the retake exam is less than 5, the final mark will be a FAIL with a numerical score equal to the mark previously achieved (not the mark of the retake exam).

A student who does not perform any evaluative task is considered “not evaluable”, therefore, a student who performs a continuous assessment component can no longer be qualified with a \"not evaluable

Calendar of evaluation activities

The dates of the evaluation activities (midterm exams, exercises in the classroom, assignments, ...) will be announced well in advance during the semester.

The date of the final exam is scheduled in the assessment calendar of the Faculty.

\"The dates of evaluation activities cannot be modified, unless there is an exceptional and duly justified reasonwhy an evaluation activity cannot be carried out. In this case, the degree coordinator will contact both the teaching staff and the affected student, and a new date will be scheduled within the same academic period to make up for the missed evaluation activity.\" Section 1 of Article 115. Calendar of evaluation activities (Academic Regulations UAB). Students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, who in accordance with the previous paragraph need to change an evaluation activity date must process the request by filling out an Application for exams' reschedule

https://eformularis.uab.cat/group/deganat_feie/nou-reprogramacio-de-proves

Grade revision process

After all grading activities have ended, students will be informed of the date and way in which the course grades will be published. Students will be also be informed of the procedure, place, date and time of grade revision following University regulations.

Retake Process

\"To be eligible to participate in the retake process, it is required for students to have been previously been evaluated for at least two thirds of the total evaluation activities of the subject.\" Section 3 of Article 112 ter. The recovery (UAB Academic Regulations). Additionally, it is required that the student to have achieved an average grade of the subject between 3.5 and 4.9.

The date of the retake exam will be posted in the calendarof evaluation activities of theFaculty. Students who take this exam and pass, will get a grade of 5 for thesubject. If the student does not pass the retake, the grade will remain unchanged, and hence, student will fail the course.

2. Comprehensive evaluation(Art. 265 of the UAB Academic Regulations)

By requesting the comprehensive evaluation, the student waives the option of continuous evaluation.

The comprehensive evaluation must be requested at the Academic Management (Gestió acadèmica) of the Campus where the degree/master's degree is taught. The request must be filed according to the procedure and the deadline established by the administrative calendar of the Faculty of Economics and Business.

Attendance :

  • Student attendance is mandatory on the day of the comprehensive assessment. The date will be the same as that of the final exam of the semester as per the evaluation calendar published by the Faculty of Economics and Business and approved by the Faculty's Teaching and Academic Affairs Committee. The duration of the comprehensive assessment must be specified in the characteristics of such activity.
  • 100% of the evaluation evidences must be handed in by the student on the day of the comprhensive assessment.
  • The evaluation evidences carried out in person by the student on the same day of the comprehensive assessment must have a minimum weight of 70%.

Evidence Type(1) Weight in the final assessment (%) (2) Duration of the activity Is the activity that corresponds to this evaluation evidence to be carried out in person on the date scheduled for the comprehensive evaluation? (YES/NO) (3)
Exam first part of the course 25% 2 hours YES
Exam second part of the course 45% 2 hours YES
Delivery individual report on incoterms 15% // NO
Delivery individual report on the analysis of export data 15% // NO
TOTAL 100% 4 hours

(1) Descriptive title of each piece of evidence (exam, problem sets solving, case analysis, activity carried out using specific software that the student is expected to know,...)

(2) Weight of the evidence in the final mark of the subject (specify the percentages of each evaluation evidence that the student must undertake)

(3) For each piece of evidence: Is the activity that corresponds to this evaluation evidence to be carried out in person on the date scheduled for the comprehensive evaluation? (YES/NO)

2.2 Retake procedure

For the retake procedure, no distinction is made between students who have followed the continuous evaluation and those who have opted for the comprehensive evaluation. All will be re-assessed using the same test or evaluation evidence.

2.3 Review of the final qualification

The review of the final qualification will follow the same procedure as for the continuous evaluation.

Irregularities in evaluation activities

In spite of other disciplinary measures deemed appropriate, and in accordance with current academic regulations, \"in the case that thestudent makes any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an evaluation activity, it will begraded with a 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that can be instructed. In case of various irregularities occur in the evaluation of the same subject, the final grade of this subject will be0\". Section 10 of Article 116. Results of the evaluation. (UAB Academic Regulations).


The completion of assessment activities is subject to the provisions set out in this course guide and in the "Policy of the School of Economics and Business on the Detection of Irregularities during Assessment Activities", which regulates the conditions under which assessment tasks are conducted and the procedures applicable in cases where indications of irregularities are detected. Students are encouraged to consult the policy.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks, such as search for references or other information, text correction, or translations. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. If the student fails to disclose the use of AI in any of the activity subject to evaluation will be considered a lack of academic integrity with a partial or total penalization for the grade of the activity.

Bibliography

Basic textbooks

 K.B. Chikwava (2012): Sustaining contractual business: An Exploration of the New Revised International Commercial Terms. Incoterms2010, Xlibris (last edition)

 R. Nicolini (2019): Tools in applied economics (https://ddd.uab.cat/record/203608)

 B. Seyoum (2009): Export-Import Theory, Practices, and Procedures, Routledge (2nd Edition) - available online - 

 Vijesh J. (2024) International Logistics Management & INCOTERMS 2020 Rules: All basic concepts of moving goods (all modes) internationally along with rules of latest INCOTERMS 2020, (available paperbook at the UAB Library)

INCOTERMS 2020: https://iccwbo.org/resources-for-business/incoterms-rules/incoterms-2020/

 

 Additional textbooks:

 Th. Pugel (any edition): “International Economics”, Mc Graw Hill. (last edition)

 

 Other documents

 -              Papers on external trade: ICEX (http://www.icex.es).

-              Papers on external trade: Cambra de Comerç de Barcelona

-              (http://www.cambrabcn.org/web/cambra/inicio).

-              Acc1ó-CIDEM-COPCA (http://www.acc10.cat/ACC1O/cat/internacionalitzacio/).

-              TARIC data (www.taric.es) and other statistical sources (OCDE, Banco Mundial, Eurostat…).

-              “Doing business” (http://www.doingbusiness.org/).

-              “Doing business in Catalonia” (http://www.acc10.cat/catalonia/en/doingbusiness/index.jsp).

Software

In this course, data analysis will be performed by using Excel (or any other worksheet software) and data will be downloaded by the official web of Spanish customs

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 4 English first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 4 English first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 4 English first semester morning-mixed