Abstract

International trade and firms are closely related with each other; exporting and importing firms participate directly in trade, while other firms like suppliers or customers of the trading firms are involved indirectly. International trade in the case of open economies shapes the market competition within the country and has a major impact on the technology as well in the form of importing new technologies and creating capacities to meet foreign demand. The collapse of the former politico-economic system and its associated system of regional integration has led to fundamental changes in both international trade and corporate structures in the post-communist countries.