International trade and business is becoming increasingly important to many businesses as the world becomes more connected. On this page you can access a range of articles, books and online resources providing quick links to guidance, statistics and news.
Online books, guides and publications
Briefings
Directors' Briefings and Start-Up Briefings are four-page guides written for the busy practitioner, director and entrepreneur providing concise, practical advice on core business issues.
Checklists
The How to do it guides from BHP Information Solutions are a collection of checklists providing a step by step approach to key business issues.
Disclaimer: These publications from BHP Information Solutions Limited are for general guidance only, for businesses in the United Kingdom governed by the laws of England. BHP Information Solutions Limited, expert contributors and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (as distributor) disclaim all liability for any errors or omissions.
Guides
International trade: An accountant’s guide (PDF 1mb/28 pages)
A guide produced by UK Trade & Investment and ICAEW to help businesses trade effectively overseas.
The guide is designed to help accountants in practice advise their clients better on international issues and to help finance directors, financial controllers and other accountants in business assess the financial risk and profitability of an international project or sale.
Surveys
UK enterprise survey 2011 - export report
The annual ICAEW UK Enterprise Survey aims to capture the views of members who work at the heart of business. In view of the government’s initiative to encourage increased exports ICAEW has published the findings on exporting in this separate publication.
Online articles
The library provides access to a range of articles in full text from leading business, finance and management journals.
Selected articles
For the national good
Sancto, Juliana
Accountancy, November 2011
Trade and investment minister Lord Green sees opportunity for accountancy firms to drive the export economy.
Trading nation
Heaney, Vince
Accountancy, June 2011
SME's could help Britain's recovery by exporting goods and services. What's stopping them? The article includes a summary of the expanded government support for exporters.
Find more articles
You will need to be logged-in to the website to gain full access to the range of articles available online.
Small Business Update
Small Business Update is a monthly magazine for SMEs with articles covering the latest regulatory developments, practical advice and hot topics.
Useful links
Doing business in...
The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides a comprehensive collection of links pages on doing business in over 100 countries.
Organisations
British Exporters Association (BExA)
Independent national trade association representing the interests of the export community. BExA produces a series of guides to assist UK exporters which are available through their export info section.
Export Control Organisation
Information from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on export licences, including links to SPIRE, the website for the online export licence applications.
Import and export (HM Revenue and Customs)
A dedicated section of the HMRC website focused on import and export, which includes the starter pack for importers/exporters Guide to importing and exporting: Breaking down the barriers.
Institute of Export
Membership body established in 1935 to support the interests of everyone involved in importing, exporting and international trade.
UK Export Finance (formerly known as the Export Credits Guarantee Department)
The UK's export credit agency provides a range of services to support exporters. The website includes details of the Bond Support Scheme, Letter of credit guarantee scheme and other initiatives to support exporters. The publication Quick guide to the Export Credits Guarantee Department is also available which explains the services, products and support available from the department.
UK Trade and Investment
Government organisation that sets out services to support UK exporters and overseas enterprises investigating locating in the UK. The site provides news, reports, information on industry sectors and countries, contacts and listings of events. The website includes details of the Export Marketing Research Scheme (EMRS) and provides a guide to help first time exporters called Exporting for growth: Your guide to getting started.
UK Trade Info
A website managed by the HMRC Trade Statistics unit which offers comprehensive data on UK imports and exports, EU trade statistics, code and guides, bulletins and factsheets. A selection of useful tables and tools are available through the website, including:
World Trade Organisation
The website offers a large trade topics gateway, information on tariffs and statistics and publications.
International trade surveys
Trading places: The emergence of new patterns of international trade
A report produced by Ernst & Young in association with Oxford Economics which attempts to 'model the future patterns of international trade for the next 10 years.' Published in November 2011.
Other resources
International trade
Business Link guide covering export and import basics and practicalities, licences, regulations, payments and reliefs.
Entering overseas markets
Information from Business Link on the key steps to research target countries, customers and competition.
Articles and books in the Library collection
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post, fax or email through our document delivery service.
Can't find what you're looking for?
If you have any difficulty in finding the material you are looking for please contact the enquiry team by phone on +44 (0)20 7920 8620, by fax on +44 (0)20 7920 8621 or by email at library@icaew.com.
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