International trade involves the exchange of goods and services between countries. It impacts jobs, consumption, poverty reduction, natural resources, and fashion. Key terms include exports (goods sold abroad), imports (goods purchased from other countries), trade deficit (when imports exceed exports), and trade surplus (when exports exceed imports). International trade is important but faces political, war-related, and regulatory risks. For India specifically, trade has been important to its economy since exporting textiles and spices after independence, though it imports more (crude oil, machinery, etc.) than it exports (engineering, textiles, precious stones, etc.).