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Balance of trade  (BOT) - Financial definition

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Translations:      FR  balance commerciale (n.f.)     ES  balanza comercial (n.f.)     DE  Handelsbilanz (n.f.) 
Synonym:  trade balance

Concise definition of the term balance of trade

A country’s balance of trade is the difference between the value of all the goods and services it imports and the total value of the goods and services it exports, for a given period.

Comprehensive definition of the term balance of trade

If the value of the imports is higher than the value of the exports, the country is said to have a trade deficit. If, on the other hand, the value of the exports exceeds the value of the imports, it is said to have a trade surplus.

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