对外贸易无论是出口还是进口，在经济建设中的作用都是十分明显的。我们不仅要看到对外贸易的静态比较利益，更要看到对外贸易的动态经济效益；不仅要研究国际贸易的普遍规律，还要研究对外贸易在支撑国际竞争力和影响力方面的突出作用；不仅要明白净出口的含义，还要清醒地认识到净出口同出口的区别，因为只有出口才是支撑国民经济增长“三驾马车”的重要引擎之一。

Foreign trade exports and imports,Role in the economic construction is very obvious.We should not only see the static comparative advantage in foreign trade,More want to see the dynamic economic benefit of foreign trade;Not only to study the general rule of the international trade,The foreign trade but also the prominent role in supporting international competitiveness and influence;Not only to understand the meaning of net exports,More clear understanding to the difference between net exports and export,Because only export is supporting the national economic growth"troika"One of the important engine.

　　党的十八大提出要全面提高开放型经济水平，对外贸易是我国开放型经济的重要组成内容。正确认识对外贸易在国民经济中的作用，关系到我国进一步扩大开放和贯彻落实提高开放型经济水平。

The party's 18 large proposed to comprehensively improve the level of an open economy,Foreign trade is an important content of China's open economy.Correct understanding of the role of foreign trade in national economy,Is related to our country to further expand opening up and implement the improve the level of the open economy.

　　出口贸易与经济增长的关系

Export trade and economic growth relations

　　作为对外贸易基础的出口贸易，与经济增长有着更为直接和密切的联系：一是出口贸易对经济增长的一般作用，即对发达国家和发展中国家都是普遍适用的作用；二是出口贸易对经济不发达国家或发展中国家的经济增长所起的特殊作用。

As a foundation for foreign trade export trade,With economic growth has a more direct and close contact:One is the export trade of general effect on economic growth,In developed and developing countries are universally applicable effect;Second, export trade on the economy is not developed or developing countries play a special role in economic growth.

　　出口贸易对经济增长的一般作用表现为：

Export trade for the general effect on economic growth:

　　对外贸易的发展，首先是出口的增长，可以带动一国国内生产规模和就业规模扩大，从而使该国在经济发展中获取“乘数效应”利益。具体说，当一国某类产品出口增加时，其带动的不仅是该产业部门的收入增加，同时还带动了其他相关产业部门生产和就业的增加，社会消费随之增加，而该产业部门的劳动者收入增多，如此循环往复，其最终结果将使一国收入增量达到出口增量的若干倍数。出口贸易的这种“乘数效应”规律，在实行以外向型经济战略为主的国家和地区的经济发展中表现得尤为明显。

The development of foreign trade,First is the growth of exports,Can lead to a country's domestic production scale and employment expansion,So that in the country's economic development"The multiplier effect"The interests of the.specifically,When a country is some sort of product export increase,The drive is not only the industry department's income increase,At the same time also led to other related sectors increased production and employment,The social consumption will increase,Increase in the number of workers income and the industry sector,Such a cycle,The end result will make a country's income increase of export increment number of multiple.The export trade"The multiplier effect"law,Mainly export-oriented economic strategy is implemented in the national and regional economic development is especially apparent.

　　发展出口贸易可以使一国根据本国的资源条件和资源优势，通过国际交换的途径获取比较优势或规模经济优势，节约本国社会劳动，实现资源的优化配置，使一国在经济增长的进程中不断提高劳动生产率，并使本国资源得以发挥最大的经济效益，从而促进经济增长。

Development of export trade to be able to make a country according to its own conditions and resources advantage,Through international exchange of way to obtain comparative advantage or economies of scale advantage,To save their own social labor,To achieve the optimal allocation of resources,The one country in the process of economic growth to improve labor productivity,And make their own resources to maximize economic benefits,So as to promote economic growth.

　　扩大出口可以使一国生产突破国内市场规模相对狭小的局限，不仅可以使本国生产和销售获取规模经济的利益，同时还可以通过对世界市场提供更多的商品和服务，扩大最终消费的规模，从而形成对经济增长的拉动效应。在当代经济全球化的过程中，世界经济、贸易和国际分工格局正在发生重大变化，在技术进步和产品生命周期加快的形势下，一国能否获取和保持市场份额，往往是决定该国经济能否持续、稳定增长的关键因素之一。

To expand exports can make a country's production to break through the confine of domestic market scale is relatively small,Not only can make their own production and sales for the interests of the economy of scale,At the same time can also through the market to provide more goods and services to the world,Increase the size of the final consumption,To form the pulling effect on economic growth.In the process of economic globalization in the contemporary era,The world economy/Trade and international division of labor pattern is undergoing major changes,In the technical progress and speed up the situation of the product life cycle,A country can gain and maintain market share,Is often decided to the country's economy can be sustained/One of the key factors of stable growth.

　　国际市场上的竞争机制将迫使一国的国内企业不断改进生产技术和设备，降低生产成本，提高劳动生产率，从而推动和促进一国生产力水平的全面提高。由对外贸易特别是出口贸易对一国经济发展所引入的外部竞争压力，对新兴工业化国家或发展中国家的经济发展，往往具有特别重要的意义。

In the international market competition will force of a country's domestic enterprises continuously improve production technology and equipment,Reduce the production cost,Increase in labor productivity,To promote and improve a country's productivity level of comprehensive.By foreign trade, especially exports to the external competitive pressure introduced by a country's economic development,For the emerging industrialized countries or developing countries in economic development,Often has the special vital significance.

　　出口贸易在解决就业问题中具备特殊作用，通过外贸出口可以增加城乡劳动就业，有利于繁荣经济和扩大消费规模。我国是人口大国，资源相对不足，结构性就业矛盾依然突出。发展对外贸易特别是发展出口贸易仍不失为增加我国劳动力就业的重要手段。通过发展出口贸易增加就业体现在出口产品的生产与加工过程中：出口越多，生产加工相对需要投入的劳动力就越多；体现在与出口产品生产加工相关产业的发展过程中：随着出口的扩大，出口生产的发展，与出口有关的服务，诸如金融、保险、运输、仓储、商务等均会得到相应的发展，这无疑也会创造更多的高端就业机会。

Export trade have a special role in solving the employment problem,Through foreign trade can increase the urban and rural labor employment,Beneficial to promoting economic prosperity and expand consumption.Our country is populous country,Relatively insufficient resource,Structural employment contradictions are still outstanding.Development of foreign trade, especially the development of export trade is an important means to increase the employment in our country.Increase employment through developing export trade is reflected in the production and processing of export products:The more export,Production and processing relative Labour, the more investment is needed;Reflected in the export products and production and processing process of the development of relevant industries:With the enlargement of the export,Development of export production,Services related to export,Such as financial/insurance/transport/warehousing/Business, etc all can get corresponding development,This will surely create more high-end employment opportunities.

　　进口贸易的主要作用

Import trade of main function

　　进口贸易在引进国外先进技术设备和经营管理经验、提高我国生产技术水平、缩短我国同工业发达国家的技术差距等方面起着非常重要的作用。

Import trade in the introduction of foreign advanced technology equipment and management experience/Raise the level of production technology in China/Shorten the technology gap with developed countries in China plays a very important role.

　　首先，通过进口先进的技术和设备来促进我国生产技术水平的提高，缩小技术差距，节省科技研发的时间，使我国在较高的起点上赶超世界先进技术水平，从而加快我国现代化建设进程。

First of all,By importing advanced technology and equipment to promote the improvement of production technology in our country,To narrow the gap in technology,Save technology research and development of the time,Made in China at a high starting point to catch up with the world advanced technology level,So as to speed up the process of our modernization construction.

　　其次，通过进口先进技术和关键设备，为产业升级和结构调整服务。我国产业结构的调整，不仅需要国家根据国内外市场变化趋势和科学技术的发展变化情况，对经济发展作出科学预测并制定正确的发展战略，对各产业部门之间的比例和各产业部门进行内部结构调整，更关键的是如何加快市场化改革，创造公平竞争的市场环境，通过市场竞争的有效性来实现。目前我国产业结构中比较大的问题，一是基础加工业同加工工业之间的结构不协调，大部分中间产品需要进口配置，自主研发和制造的产品比例较低；二是在积极扶持新兴产业加快发展的同时，需要加快用新兴技术改造传统产业，而完成这一任务必须加快部分先进技术设备的进口。

The second,By importing advanced technology and key equipment,Service for industrial upgrading and structural adjustment.The adjustment of industrial structure in our country,Need not only countries, according to market trends and the development of science and technology at home and abroad,Make scientific prediction on economic development and formulate the correct development strategy,On the ratio between the various sectors and industries department for internal structure adjustment,More to the point is how to speed up the marketization reform,Create a fair competition market environment,Finally, the effectiveness of competition in the market.Big problems in the industrial structure of our country at present,A is the foundation between industry and processing industry structure,Most of the intermediate goods need to import the configuration,Independent research and development and manufacturing of products proportion is low;2 it is in active support to speed up the development of emerging industries at the same time,Need to speed up with emerging technologies to transform traditional industries,And complete the task must be to speed up the part of the advanced technology and equipment imports.

　　再次，进口贸易具有增强出口后劲和带动出口的作用。进口贸易不直接为建立和发展面向出口的产业服务，但通过引进先进适用的技术、设备,我们可以大大提高生产技术水平，提高出口产品质量，从而提高制成品和附加价值高的深加工产品的出口比重，提高出口商品的国际竞争能力。

Once again,,With sustaining export import trade and exports.Don't directly import trade service for establishment and development of export-oriented industry,But through the introduction of advanced and applicable technology/equipment,We can greatly improve the level of production technology,Improve the quality of export products,To improve the export of manufactured goods and processing of high additional value products,Increase exports of international competition ability.

　　进口贸易在弥补国内资源不足、保持国民经济综合平衡发展等方面起着重要的作用。

Imports to make up for a lack of domestic resources/Development of national economy comprehensive balance plays an important role.

　　如前所述，由于我国人均资源占有量低，不少原材料和其他一些重要物资长期依赖进口。为了弥补国内资源和重要原材料的不足，我国必须通过参与国际贸易和综合利用两国市场、两种资源来调剂余缺，进口发展生产所必需而国内供应不足的原材料、短线产品和稀缺的资源性产品，缓解国内供需的矛盾。这对搞好我国国民经济的综合平衡、促进生产的发展起了重要作用。

As mentioned above,Due to low per capita resources in China,A lot of raw materials and other important material long-term dependence on imports.In order to make up for the inadequacy of domestic resources and important raw materials,Our country must go through participation in international trade and the comprehensive utilization of the two countries market/Two kinds of resources to adjust we adopted,Necessary to import the development production and domestic raw materials in short supply/Short term products and scarce resource products,Alleviate the contradiction between supply and demand in China.This improves the overall balance of the national economy/Has played an important role in promoting the development of production.

　　进口贸易对于弥补国内生产和供应的不足，调剂、繁荣和丰富国内市场，提高人民生活水平等方面起着积极作用。

Import trade to make up for the inadequacy of domestic production and supply,To adjust/Prosperity and rich domestic market,Improve people's living standard plays a positive role, etc.

　　发展经济的目的就是为了最大限度地满足人民群众日益增长的物质和文化生活的需要。我国国内市场需求潜力巨大，但在高端消费品方面，我国难以最大限度地满足人民群众日益增长的物质和文化生活的需要。一方面，我国通过进口生产资料和技术，扩大国内的商品生产，增加商品投放量；另一方面，随着人们生活水平的不断提高以及国际化的发展，对于那些国内生产难以满足的市场需求量较大的商品物资适当进口一些，直接繁荣活跃市场，不仅可以满足人民日益增长的物质文化生活需要，提高人民生活水平，同时也可以刺激国内生产的发展。

The purpose of economic development is to maximize meet people's growing material and cultural life need.China's domestic market demand great potential,But in the high-end consumer goods,Our country is difficult to maximize meet people's growing material and cultural life need.On the one hand,Through the import of production and technology in China,Expanding domestic production of goods,Increase supply goods;On the other hand,With the continuous improvement of people's living standard and the development of internationalization,For those domestic production to meet the market demand of larger supplies the appropriate import some goods,Prosperity and active market directly,Not only can satisfy people's increasing material and cultural life need,Improve people's living standard,At the same time also can stimulate the development of domestic production.

　　进口贸易在增加国家关税和增值税收入、支撑财政预算资金方面有着积极的作用。

Import trade in increasing the income of national duty and VAT/Support budget funds has a positive role.

　　我国进口贸易的不断发展，一方面使国家的进口关税收入不断增加；另一方面通过进口设备和物资投入生产，提高了技术水平和劳动生产率，促进了国民经济更快速地发展，从而创造了更大的产值，给国家增加了更多的税收和财政收入。这是进口贸易对整个国民经济产生的积极利用。近年来，随着贸易规模的扩大，这一作用不仅没有削弱，而且得到了进一步加强。

The continuous development of China's import trade,On the one hand, the country's import tariff income increasing;On the other hand through the import equipment and materials into production,Improve the technical level and labor productivity,Promote the development of the national economy more rapidly,So as to create more value,Added more to national tax revenue and fiscal revenue.This is the positive use of import trade on the economy as a whole.In recent years,With the expansion of trade,This function not only failed to weaken,And has been further strengthened.

　　对外贸作用战略地位的认识

Awareness of the role of strategic position of foreign trade

　　尽管当前国际经济矛盾日趋复杂，竞争日益激烈，但和平与发展仍是世界政治经济的主流；尽管在建立世界政治经济新秩序的过程中，发达国家与发展中国家仍然存在着尖锐的矛盾，但对话与合作也正在发挥着积极的作用。特别是在当前多边贸易体制发展受阻、区域贸易日趋活跃的情况下，在国际交往和国际关系中，对外贸易仍处于突出的位置；尽管对外贸易的内涵并没有发生质的变化，但其外延显然已变得更加丰富，被赋予了更多的内容。

Although the current international economic conflicts become increasingly complex,An increasingly competitive,But peace and development remain the mainstream of world political and economic;Although in the process of establishing a new world political and economic order,Developed and developing countries still there is a sharp contradiction,But the dialogue and cooperation is also plays a positive role.Especially in the current development of multilateral trade system/Under the condition of regional trade has become increasingly active,In the international communication and international relations,Foreign trade is still in the prominent position;Although the connotation of foreign trade and no qualitative change,But its denotation has clearly become more rich,Endowed with more content.

　　（一）贸易开放度已成为一国对外开放的基本标志

(a)Trade openness has become a basic symbol of a country opening to the outside world

　　在信息技术和互联网加快发展的今天，各国的经贸往来日益加深，全球化和区域化并存，技术和产能已逐步超越国界和主权的范围，世界日益成为一个联系紧密的整体，各国只有不断地通过扩大开放，才能确保本国经济跟上时代发展的步伐。任何一个国家都不可能在封闭的条件下通过发展贸易而实现对经济增长的支撑，更难以实现把对外贸易作为发展本国经济的推动力。

In information technology and accelerate the development of the Internet today,Economic and trade exchanges with China in deepening from country to country,Globalization and regionalization,Technology and production capacity has gradually beyond national borders and the scope of the sovereign,The world increasingly closely linked to become a whole,Only by expanding constantly open,Can ensure that their economies to keep up with the pace of The Times development.Any country can't be in the closed condition by developing trade and support for the economic growth,More difficult to achieve the goal of foreign trade as the impetus to develop national economy.

　　把对外贸易作为一国的对外开放的起点，为本国经济的全面开放打下一个良好的物质基础和周边环境，并通过发展对外贸易带动国内经济增长、产业升级，随着本国经济发展水平的提高，承受外部经济冲击能力的提升，再进一步扩大市场开放，不失为一种安全而有效的开放措施。

Foreign trade as a starting point of the country's opening to the outside world,For the domestic economy comprehensive open laid a good foundation and surrounding environment,And through the development of foreign trade promoting domestic economic growth/Industrial upgrading,With the improvement of its economic development level,Withstand ability of the external economic shocks,To further expand the market open,Can yet be regarded as a kind of safe and effective measures for opening.

　　同时，随着各国对外开放的广泛深入，人们也更加深刻地认识到开展国际贸易的目的不仅仅在于“互通有无”，也不仅仅着眼于通过交换获取静态的贸易利益、提高消费水平和增进国民福利，更重要的是通过贸易的发展，促进信息、技术、物质的交流，激发本国的创新体制和参与国际竞争、融入世界经济循环的意识，从而带动经济在更高的层面上发展，以获取国际贸易的动态利益。

At the same time,As countries in-depth of opening to the outside world,People are more profound understanding to carry out the purpose of the international trade is not just about"As well as exchange of needed goods",Not just focus on static trade interests obtained through exchange/Improve the level of consumption and improve the national welfare,More important is through the development of trade,To promote information/technology/Matter of communication,Inspire their innovative system and participate in international competition/The consciousness of integration into the world economic cycle,Thus promote the economic development at a higher level,In order to get the dynamics of international trade interests.

　　各国纷纷寻求加强在多边贸易体制下的合作，在统一公平的规则下，积极推动多边贸易体制自由化，制定单边贸易开放的时间表。对外贸易不仅被看作一种国家间加强经贸合作的重要手段，而且是当今各国融入世界经济大循环的一条最便捷的途径，成为对外开放发展经济的重要指标。

Countries have sought to promote cooperation under the multilateral trade system,In the unified under the rule of fairness,Actively promote the multilateral trading system liberalization,Timetable for the unilateral openness to trade.Foreign trade is regarded as not only an important means of strengthening trade and economic cooperation between countries,And it is the systemic circulation of the integration into the world economy all over the world a the most convenient way,Be open to the public important indicator of economic development.

　　（二）宏观经济的协调发展是扩大对外贸易的基础

((2))Coordinated development of macro economy is the foundation of expanding foreign trade

　　金融危机后，发达国家经济进入调整平衡新阶段，许多国家都在重新认识对外贸易在本国经济中的现实作用，相继采取了一系列的刺激和鼓励对外贸易的做法，同时也越来越重视对外贸易与本国经济发展在更大程度上的融合平衡。

After the financial crisis,The developed countries economy enters a new phase balance adjustment,Many countries are to recognize the real role of foreign trade in the domestic economy,Successively adopted a series of stimuli and to encourage the practice of foreign trade,At the same time also pay more and more attention to foreign trade and domestic economic development in greater degree of integration.

　　由于国家的大小和国内市场规模的差异、资源禀赋的不同、发展水平的差距，以及各国的贸易政策和发展战略的侧重点不同，对外贸易对经济增长所起的促进作用的大小是不同的。即便是同一个国家，不同时期由于贸易政策和发展阶段所面临的环境不同，也会使对外贸易对经济增长的促进作用发生变化。

Due to differences in the size of the country and the domestic market scale/Resources endowment is different/Level of development disparity,And trade policies and development strategies of different emphasis,Foreign trade played a promoting effect on economic growth is the size of the different.Even the same country,Due to the trade policies in different periods and stages of development faced in different environment,Can also make foreign trade promoting effect on economic growth.

　　因此，历史上曾将对外贸易视为经济增长的“发动机”的表述显然是不恰当的。但否定对外贸易的作用也是不科学的。关键是如何处理好出口、投资、消费三者的平衡关系。通过发展对外贸易，提高企业的国际竞争力，把外贸与制造业的竞争力提升及工业化水平的提高结合起来，通过提高出口的产品质量和效益，不断提高国民福利，最终又形成了新的消费潜能。

so,Will foreign trade as the economic growth period in the past"The engine"Expression is obviously inappropriate.But denying the role of foreign trade is not science.The key is how to deal with the export/investment/The balance of the three consumption.Through the development of foreign trade,Improve the international competitiveness of enterprises,To promote foreign trade and the competitiveness of manufacturing industry and raising the level of industrialization,By improving the quality of export products and benefits,Continuously improve the national welfare,And eventually formed the new consumption potential.

　　（三）贸易外交成为当代国际关系中的一个重要手段

(three)Foreign trade has become an important means in contemporary international relations

　　越来越多的国家把对外贸易在对外关系中的重要性提高到前所未有的高度，并通过贸易促进、贸易限制和贸易制裁等方式来调节对外关系。互利的贸易条件，可以为促进国家间的友好往来提供一个契机，也表达出一种双方相互谅解与接纳的信息。而关税及非关税壁垒及报复性贸易制裁，不仅阻隔了贸易国双方的经济互利，同时更体现出一种敌对情绪，而这种敌对又被限制在政治和平的基础上。

More and more countries increase the importance of foreign trade in foreign relations to unprecedented heights,And through the trade promotion/Trade restrictions and trade sanctions to regulate foreign relations.Mutually beneficial trade conditions,To promote the friendly exchanges between the countries provides an opportunity,Also expresses a kind of mutual understanding and acceptance of information.The tariff and non-tariff barriers and retaliatory trade sanctions,Not only block the trading countries economic mutual benefit of both parties,At the same time embody a kind of hostility,And this kind of hostile are limited on the basis of political peace again.

　　总体看，各国对外贸易政策中的单纯的关税保护和直接的非关税保护措施都在相对的和绝对地减少，其作用也在明显减弱。但是，各种间接的非关税措施却依然阻碍着贸易自由化发展，而且非关税措施层出不穷，并开始成为各国特别是发达国家采取以各种借口为由的非限制政策和壁垒措施的主体。当前，西方国家采用的新贸易保护措施达20多类，如市场开放、市场准入、产业政策、国企政策、金融政策、市场扰乱补贴政策、中性竞争政策、劳工标准、环保、知识产权、人权等，其中影响较大、运用较多的是绿色环保政策。上述新型的贸易规则和壁垒措施与外贸政策和外交政策交织在一起，相互影响、相互作用，致使国际经济贸易环境日趋复杂。贸易摩擦的发生会影响双边关系，双边关系的改善又会缓解贸易摩擦，而贸易摩擦的升级又常常会导致双边关系的恶化。

The overall look,Simple tariff protection in national foreign trade policy and non-tariff protection measures are directly on the relative and absolute to reduce,Its role is also weakened obviously.but,A variety of indirect non-tariff measures are still hinder the development of trade liberalization,And non-tariff measures emerge in endlessly,And start to become countries especially developed countries take the citing excuses not to limit the policy measures of the main body and barriers.The current,New trade protection measures adopted by western countries for more than 20 classes,As the market is open/Market access/Industrial policy/State policy/The financial policy/Market disruption subsidies/Neutral competition policy/Labour standards/Environmental protection/Intellectual property rights/Human rights, etc.,The influence is bigger/Use more green environmental protection policy.These new trade rules and barriers intertwined with the foreign trade policy and foreign policy,Interact with each other/Interact with each other,The international economic and trade environment has become increasingly complex.The happening of the trade friction will affect bilateral relations,The improvement of bilateral relations and ease trade frictions,And upgrading of trade friction and often leads to the deterioration of bilateral relations.

　　（四）贸易政策趋向于和其他经济政策甚至外交政策更大程度地融合

(four)Tend to trade policy and other economic policy and even its foreign policy more fusion

　　由于贸易与其他经济领域包括某些非经济领域联系日益增强，贸易政策的制定和实施越来越影响一国其他领域的政策制定和实施。

As trade with the rest of the economy including some non-economic areas is growing,Trade policy formulation and implementation of more and more influence policy formulation and implementation in the field of other country.

　　目前，许多国家的贸易政策带有明显的综合性发展的倾向。最典型的国家当属美国。美国历来强调经济政策是对外政策的中心。因此，美国的对外政策充分体现了美国的整体经济战略和政治意图。美国积极推动跨太平洋(601099,股吧)伙伴关系协议（TPP）谈判的目的是在该地区维持自己的势力范围和领导权；而美国启动与欧盟的自贸区谈判，其目的不仅是为了促进与欧洲的全面合作，更主要的是通过构建自贸区形成一套新的贸易规则和制度，从而引领并主导全球贸易的发展。

At present,The trade policy in many countries with obvious comprehensive development tendency.The most typical countries of the United States.America has traditionally been emphasized economic policy was the center of the foreign policy.so,American foreign policy embodies the American economy as a whole strategic and political intentions.The United States actively promote across the Pacific Ocean(601099,stocks)Partnership agreement(The TPP)Negotiations in the region is the purpose of maintaining their own sphere of influence and leadership;Launched fta negotiations with the European Union and the United States,Its purpose is not only in order to promote all-round cooperation with Europe,More major is by building a free trade area to form a set of new trade rules and institutions,To lead and dominate the development of global trade.

　　随着世界政治经济格局的改变，以经济竞争为主的国际竞争越来越激烈，一国的贸易政策往往体现了整个国家的经济战略和外交战略，各国越来越认识到依靠国际贸易来发展对外关系的作用。因此，贸易政策的制定更体现了一国整体的经济政策和发展规划。

With the change of the world political and economic pattern,Mainly economic competition in the international competition is more and more fierce,A country's trade policy is often reflected the country's economic strategy and diplomatic strategy,Countries become more and more realized that rely on the role of international trade to develop foreign relations.so,Trade policy making more reflects a country's overall economic policy and development plans.