The outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war had a great impact on the global economy, especially foreign trades. Trade between Sino-Ukrainian and Sino-Russian has been affected. The war directly affected the number of orders and the development of new customers. The number of orders from Ukraine and other regions has plummeted, and it is difficult to find new Ukrainian buyers. At the same time, due to exchange rate, raw material costs and other reasons, Russian buyers delayed payment or refused to pay after submiting orders, which could cause that the buyer defaults on the loan.

Lots of shipping companies like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have announced that they will no longer berth at Ukrainian ports and will no longer receive new orders from Ukraine. Russia has also blocked air transport in the Ukrainian border area. However, many companies still have orders with Russian and Ukrainian customers. Due to the impact of shipping, it is difficult to deliver goods to Russia and Ukraine, and transportation costs are also rising.

In addition, the war also had a psychological impact on customers in Russia, Ukraine and other regions. When customers choose trading partners, they are likely to be affected by political, religious and other factors.

In this context, how foreign trade enterprises cope with those difficulties? Here are three tips.

First, pay attention to government policies on foreign trade and adjust the trade direction in a timely manner.

In terms of foreign policies, the United States has resumed tariff reductions and exemptions for 352 products from China. Brazil has reduced import tariffs on ethanol, coffee, and some electronic products, and Thailand has increased the tax-free period to prevent the import of epidemics. In terms of domestic policies, from April 1, 2022, China reduces the logistics costs of freight companies and transportation companies, and optimizes the business environment of ports.

Second, pay attention to the war situation and seek new foreign trade opportunities.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has lasted for nearly two months. After the war, residents in Russia and Ukraine need to return to normal life, and there is a greater demand for furniture, mechanical materials, household supplies, etc. This is also a new opportunity for foreign trade.

Third, pay attention to customer needs and remain committed to the win-win cooperation.

Especially after the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, some clients may refuse to trade due to different political stances and some prejudices. As a foreign trader, the main purpose is to find suitable customers for transactions. When talking with customers, choose appropriate words and negotiation skills.