# Cargo & Currency

> Cargo & Currency is an independent educational publication about international trade and the global economy. It explains tariffs, customs, supply chains, currencies, inflation, output, and external accounts for readers who want the mechanics without a market pitch.

Cargo & Currency publishes original, long-form guides about international trade, tariffs & money explainers. Every article opens with a concise direct answer, is structured with clear headings and FAQs, and reflects mainstream expert consensus. Health-related content is educational and encourages professional consultation where appropriate.

## Trade Mechanics

- [Anti-Dumping Duties Explained: Process Before Labels](https://ictsd.org/anti-dumping-duties-explained/): An anti-dumping duty is a trade remedy that may be imposed on specified imports after a formal investigation.
- [Comparative Advantage Explained Without the Fog](https://ictsd.org/comparative-advantage-explained/): Comparative advantage is the ability to produce something at a lower opportunity cost than another producer.
- [Customs Valuation Basics: More Than an Invoice Total](https://ictsd.org/customs-valuation-basics/): Customs valuation determines the value used for border purposes, especially when duty is charged as a percentage.
- [Free Trade Agreement Basics: What the Text Changes](https://ictsd.org/free-trade-agreement-basics/): A free trade agreement reduces selected barriers and establishes rules for covered trade among participating economies.
- [Harmonized System Codes: A Classification Primer](https://ictsd.org/harmonized-system-codes/): Harmonized System codes classify traded goods through an international hierarchy of chapters, headings, and six-digit subheadings developed by the World…
- [Import Quota vs Tariff: The Practical Difference](https://ictsd.org/import-quota-vs-tariff/): A tariff charges imported goods, while an import quota limits the quantity that may enter during a stated period.
- [Incoterms Explained: Delivery, Cost, and Risk](https://ictsd.org/incoterms-explained/): Incoterms® rules are eleven standardized ICC trade terms that allocate specified delivery responsibilities, costs, and risk between seller and buyer in…
- [Rules of Origin Explained: Why Source Is Complicated](https://ictsd.org/rules-of-origin-explained/): Rules of origin determine a product's country of origin for a stated legal purpose.
- [Tariffs Explained: Who Pays and What Changes](https://ictsd.org/tariffs-explained/): A tariff is a customs duty on imported goods. The importer of record normally pays the customs authority, but the economic burden can spread through…
- [Trade Deficit Meaning: What the Number Does Not Say](https://ictsd.org/trade-deficit-meaning/): A trade deficit means the measured value of imports exceeds exports during a defined period.

## Global Economy

- [Balance of Payments Explained: The Full Ledger](https://ictsd.org/balance-of-payments-explained/): The balance of payments is a statistical statement of transactions between an economy's residents and nonresidents during a period.
- [Bullwhip Effect in Supply Chains: A Clear Example](https://ictsd.org/bullwhip-effect-supply-chains/): The bullwhip effect is the amplification of demand variation as orders travel upstream.
- [Commodity Prices and Inflation: Trace the Pass-Through](https://ictsd.org/commodity-prices-and-inflation/): Commodity prices can affect inflation directly through food and fuel and indirectly through energy, transport, packaging, metals, fertilizer, and other…
- [Current Account vs Financial Account: Follow the Flow](https://ictsd.org/current-account-vs-financial-account/): The current account records goods, services, primary income, and secondary income between residents and nonresidents.
- [Exchange Rates for Importers and Exporters](https://ictsd.org/exchange-rates-importers-exporters/): Exchange rates affect importers and exporters by changing the home-currency value of foreign-currency invoices, costs, revenue, assets, and liabilities.
- [How Central Bank Rates Can Affect Trade](https://ictsd.org/how-central-bank-rates-affect-trade/): Central-bank rates can affect trade through borrowing costs, domestic demand, investment, working capital, inventory, credit supply, exchange rates,…
- [Inflation vs Currency Depreciation: Two Moving Prices](https://ictsd.org/inflation-vs-currency-depreciation/): Inflation is a broad rise in domestic prices over time; currency depreciation is a decline in a currency's value against another currency under a stated…
- [Nominal vs Real GDP: Remove the Price Effect](https://ictsd.org/nominal-vs-real-gdp/): Nominal GDP values final domestic production at current prices, so it can rise because output, prices, or both increased.
- [Safety Stock vs Buffer Stock: Terms and Trade-Offs](https://ictsd.org/safety-stock-vs-buffer-stock/): Safety stock and buffer stock often both mean inventory held above expected demand to absorb uncertainty.
- [Supply Chain Lead Time: Map the Wait, Not Just Transit](https://ictsd.org/supply-chain-lead-time/): Supply chain lead time is the elapsed time between a clearly defined start and finish, such as accepted order to inventory available.

## Full text for LLMs

- [llms-full.txt](https://ictsd.org/llms-full.txt): every article as plain markdown in one file
- Each article is also available as markdown at https://ictsd.org/<slug>.md

## Site

- [About](https://ictsd.org/about/): editorial approach and standards
- [All articles](https://ictsd.org/all/)
- [Contact](https://ictsd.org/contact/)