International trade is the exchange of goods and services across borders and different geographical regions. It constitutes a large share of the gross domestic products of the world’s various countries.

The international community has expressed interest in international trade and its incorporation into national development plans - since the 40s of the twentieth century - through signing of the GATT agreement in October 1947 and the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in April 1994. This organization is concerned with developing specific rules and controls to regulate international trade.
 
Parallel to that, there was a need to conclude preferential trade agreements among trading partners so as to enhance commercial exchange, investment flows and movement of people. These agreements have passed different stages of evolution. In the 50s & 60s, these agreements were confined only to trade of goods; after that they expanded to included trade in services, investments, intellectual property reaching to government procurement in the current stage.

Undoubtedly, agreements signed by different countries regarding economic, technical, cultural and scientific cooperation, with a view to facilitating trade exchange and investment flows, fall under the concept of International Trade.
 
Given the importance of international trade to support the Country’s developmental initiatives, the UAE has joined the WTO (World Trade Organization) in April 1996 to manifest following the free economy policy, the application of which has even started earlier than this date in the Country.

In continuation and support of this liberal approach, UAE has entered into negotiations for the conclusion of free trade agreements, the main aim of which is to broaden and deepen the scope of the Country’s business dealings with the various main players in the international trading system.

UAE has also taken the initiative to conclude cooperation agreements in the economic, technical, scientific and cultural fields to strengthen relations with its main economic partners.