What is meant by trade ? What are different types of trade ? Explain.

Trade is confined to buying and selling of goods and is a part of commerce, which is wider term that includes trade and aids to trade. 

Trade may be classified in two categories :

1. Internal Trade

2. External Trade.

Internal Trade :
Internal trade is done within the geographical boundaries of a country. As an example, trade done amongst the traders of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kanpur and Amritsar etc. is called Internal Trade.

Types of Internal Trade :

(i) Wholesale Trade : It involves purchase and sale of goods in wholesale quantities. Large quantities of goods purchased from manufacturer are sold in small quantities to various retailers.

(ii) Retail : It involves the sale of goods to consumers by the retailers. A retailer buys the goods from a wholesaler and sells them to customers in their required quantities. It is a link between a wholesaler and consumer. Different types of goods are available at a retailer shop so that a customer could buy the goods of his own choice.

Internal trade can also be classified as : (a) Local Trade, (b) State Trade, (c) Inter-State Trade.

External Trade : 
Whenever trade occurs between two countries, it is known as external trade. In foreign trade, both buyer and seller live in different countries. If Reliance Ltd. sells Polyester Yarn to a French firm or L&T Ltd. purchases a heavy machine from a Swiss firm, these would classified as external trade.

Types of External Trade :

1. Import Trade : When the trader of one country buys the goods from foreign countries, it is known as import trade for the trader who buys the goods.
2. Export Trade : When the trader of a country sells goods to a foreign country, it is known as export trade for the trade who sells the goods e.g., if a tea firm of Darjeeling sells tea to U.K., it is export trade.

3. Entrepot Trade : The goods imported from one country for export to another country, is known as entrepot trade. It is also known as Re-export. It is done when a country does not have her own seaport or not having good political relations with other countries or no direct access to those countries from where goods are to be imported.