现在,一种新的商务形式——“电子商务”正在兴起,在国际贸易方面,它是指通过计算机和通讯网络(主要是Internet)进行的商务活动。电子商务与传统的贸易形式相比,具有交易周期短、交易费用低等优点,有非常大的发展潜力。从国内情况来看,由于在国家法律、通讯网络基础设施、贸易习惯以及企业管理模式等方面还没有完全满足电子商务的要求,实行电子商务还为时尚早。但如果国内的外贸企业对此不重视、漠不关心,肯定会在国际市场的竞争中处于不利的地位。所以,从现在开始,外贸企业就应该根据自身的条件,逐步地在Internet上开展一些商务活动。如通过电子邮件与客户进行联系、通过Internet发国际传真打国际长途、在网上查询发布商品供求信息、建 Now, a new form of commerce - “e-commerce” - is emerging. In international trade, it refers to business activities carried out through the computer and communications networks (mainly the Internet). Compared with the traditional forms of trade, e-commerce has the advantages of short transaction cycle and low transaction costs, and has great potential for development. Judging from the domestic situation, it is still too early to implement e-commerce due to the fact that the requirements of e-commerce have not yet been fully met in the fields of national laws, infrastructure of communication networks, trade practices and business management models. However, if the domestic foreign trade enterprises do not attach importance to this, indifferent and will certainly be in a disadvantageous position in the competition in the international market. Therefore, from now on, foreign trade enterprises should gradually carry out some business activities on the Internet according to their own conditions. Such as contact with customers via e-mail, send international fax through the Internet to make international long-distance calls, query online supply and demand information, build