Opportunities and threats

There are a number of opportunities and threats associated with globalisation, international trade and logistics.

Opportunities include:

• Easier ways to communicate and collaborate through advanced internet and communication technologies
• Improved transportation methods and related equipment
• Further reduction and elimination of trade barriers through free trade zones and agreements

Threats include:

• Very serious competition among international companies
• Increased level of uncertainty for new markets, cultures and requirements
• Potential for developing a variety of products with reduced product life cycles

Your task

Find a free trade agreement and reflect on how this has increased the free trade volume of that area, using import and export data. Consider this website’s data relating to trading volumes.

Share your findings in the comments area.