Theories of international trade in secondary materials

The importance of international trade in the world economy is steadily increasing. Since World War II, trade in materials, goods and services has grown rapidly in terms of both volume and diversity. Originally, trade involved predominantly agricultural products and primary commodities. It was in the 20th century that trade in intermediary and final goods really took off. In recent decades, also recyclable and non-recyclable waste materials have entered the world market. This evolution in international trade implies that the full range of economic activities, running right through from extraction, production and consumption to waste management are increasingly being allocated across nations.