Tradeproduct

Tradeproduct is a generic term used to denote a product that is bought and sold across borders in international trade. It can refer to consumer goods, industrial inputs, or raw materials. The term is not a formal classification in most trade data systems but is used in policy and business discourse to emphasize the traded nature of goods.

In statistical terms, traded products are typically captured in export and import data by commodity codes such as the Harmonized System (HS) or the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). The term encompasses both finished goods and intermediate goods used in production.

Key characteristics of trade products include tradability across borders, a degree of standardization or common specifications (often reflected in HS codes), transportability at reasonable cost, and a price that responds to global demand conditions. These factors influence how easily a product can be traded and how competitive it is in international markets.

Classification for trade products is often thematic or sector-based, such as agriculture, energy, and manufacturing, and is aligned with HS coding for data consistency. Prices for trade products are determined by global supply and demand, exchange rates, tariffs, logistics costs, and regulatory environments. Trade products may be subject to tariffs, quotas, non-tariff measures, and regulatory standards that affect their competitiveness and market access.

Role in policy and business includes monitoring trade product performance to assess export competitiveness, diversification opportunities, and market access under trade agreements. For businesses, trade products inform decisions on supply chain resilience, financing, currency risk, and logistics planning.

Examples of trade products include crude oil, soybeans, automobiles, smartphones, and chemical intermediates.