The fifth edition of ICC’s seminal Guide to Export/Import comes at an especially relevant moment in time. Trade is today at a decisive crossroads. Having finally overcome the deleterious impact of the global financial crisis, trade growth is again rising faster than the projected global gross domestic product. Moreover, the trend that saw many trade barriers implemented in times of economic crisis is now being reversed. Fewer trade-restrictive measures were applied in 2016 by countries than at any point since 2011.

However, while the international trading system may have managed to regain its footing, its direction remains all too uncertain. There are several reasons for this. One is the undeniable influence of protectionist forces coming chiefly from the very advanced economies that built the rules-based regime in the first place. Another is that today’s trade rules largely reflect 20th century patterns of trade—large (containerised) shipments made by relatively large companies on a business-to-business basis—and fall short of setting a framework that would support the fastest-growing trade trends, such as e-commerce and trade in services.

More than anything, trade needs to become more inclusive. While small- and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) represent the bulk of employment, these players make up an all-too-small minority of firms trading internationally. Part of the solution will necessarily take place at the multilateral level—implementing the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, for example—but some of the most vital work involves making information on how to successfully trade more accessible.

This last objective has driven ICC’s Guide to Import/Export since its inception. This widely-acclaimed book provides basic guidance for first-time traders as well as a more detailed overview of international trade practice for more experienced practitioners seeking to further improve their operational capacity. This fifth edition has been fully updated—including the latest research and statistics—and features a revamped presentation to increase accessibility for readers of all stripes.

As the largest and most representative business organisation—and, now, the first and only private sector Observer of United Nations General Assembly—ICC has always championed the role of trade as an essential driver of global growth and sustainable development. It is our firm hope that this guide will further extend the benefits of cross-border business to an even wider selection of entrepreneurs, SMEs and large companies around the world.

- Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)