The Victorian era was also known as the Railway Age. The railroad can be considered the child of the British coal mines because carts on tracks were used to haul coal. These precursors of the railroad were then combined with steam engines, which led to further technological innovations. An added advantage in the development of railroads in Britain was that the most populated parts of the country, where this mode of transportation was needed, were relatively flat.

The world's first public railway was the Stockton and Darlington, which opened in 1825. A period of hectic railway building followed for the next quarter century as different companies competed to lay track. It was a massive undertaking that employed vast armies of laborers and altered the British landscape by digging through hills and constructing bridges and tunnels. In a short time the basic grid of Britain's railways was in place.[11]

Over the ensuing century smaller railway companies were absorbed or merged into a few large companies. In 1948 the government nationalized the four remaining companies, and in the 1960s they became the British Railways Board. In 1955 a modernization program began to replace steam trains with diesel and electric ones. The last steam locomotive was withdrawn in 1968. Around this time intense competition from road transport made it necessary to cut costs, and many unprofitable branch railway lines closed.[12]

Railroads were part of the wave of privatization that took place in the early 1990s. The complicated procedure was based on the Railway Act of 1993. The infrastructure, including tracks and train operations, was put into the hands of Rail track, a government-owned company that was privatized by selling stock to private investors. Passenger operations were split into 25 operating units, each franchised to a private firm given the right to provide passenger service to a particular region of Britain.[13] In 1995 freight operations in Britain were divided among private companies based in different parts of the country. The government appoints a rail regulator and a franchising director to ensure that rail arrangements are fair to companies and passengers. The moves to fully privatize BR were highly contentious and generated considerable criticism within Britain.

The fractured nature of rail organization was forcefully brought home in the late 1990s and early 2000s with a series of high-profile rail accidents. The accidents were blamed in part on the separation of ownership of rail and rolling stock and on the needs of privatized companies to provide shareholder income at the perceived expense of passenger safety. After a crash in 2000 in Hertfordshire caused by faulty rails, the entire railway network was examined and track replaced, leading to severe delays to rail journeys for months. Rail track was replaced in 2003 by Network Rail, a not-for-profit company.[14]

A railway tunnel beneath the English Channel was completed in 1993, connecting England and the European continent. The main Channel Tunnel, which is 50.4 km (32 mi) long, runs from Folkston, England, to Calais, France. Trains carry both passengers and freight through the tunnel. Motorists can drive their cars on and off the train. The trip through the tunnel takes about 35 minutes.[15]

2. Foreign trade

2.1. The foreign trade turnover, exports, imports

In 2007, Britain's foreign trade turnover decreased in comparison with 2006 by 2.5% and amounted to 521.1 mlrd.f.st. In 2007, there has been a significant increase in absolute value of the negative balance of trade of Great Britain (at 31.6 mlrd.f.st.) to 89.8 mlrd.f.st.[16]

The value of exports fell by 10.2% and amounted to 218.9 mlrd.f.st., with its volume decreased by 1.0%. Reduced average export prices were 9.3% and had a decisive influence on the dynamics of British exports in general. In 2007, the UK largest share of exports accounted for by machinery and equipment (24.3%), vehicles (13.8%), mineral products (10.9%), products of chemical industry (16.0%).[17]

There was an increase in export shipments for broad product groups such as animal and vegetable fats and oils (12.6%), miscellaneous manufactured goods (9.9%), products of vegetable origin (9.6%), base metals and articles of them (9.1%), transport (8.2%), live animals, animal products (6,5%), precious metals and stones (6.2%), prepared foodstuffs (6.1%) , paper pulp (5.8%), chemicals (3.2%). In 2007 he dropped the British exports of machinery, equipment and machinery (at 36.9%), instruments and apparatus (by 5.5%), wood (at 3.2%), mineral products (by 3,2%).[18]

The value of imports increased by 2.2% and reached 308.9 mlrd.f.st., while its volume increased by 1.2%, while average import prices - by 1.1%. The basis of British imports was machinery and equipment (23.4%), vehicles (15.0%), mineral products (10.4%), chemicals (9.9%).[19]

There was an increase in imports of timber (at 14.3%), precious metals and products thereof (13.1%), various industrial products (12.6%), animal and vegetable oils and fats (11.5%), products chemical industry (9.5%), finished food products (73%), transport (7.2%), products of vegetable origin (6.7%), plastics and products thereof (5.3%) textiles and textile products (1.8%), mineral products (1.1%). At the same time reduced the import of instruments and apparatus (by 8.7%), machinery, equipment and machinery (7.1%), precious metals and stones (5.1%).[20]

2.2. The geography of foreign trade in the UK.

In 2007, major trading partners, Britain has remained the European Union countries (55.9% of British foreign trade turnover in 2006 - 57.4%), including Germany (13,0%), France (7.5%), Netherlands (7.2%). The main partners from other regions were the U.S. (11.1%), Norway (3.3%) and Japan (2.3%). United Kingdom is also actively carried out foreign trade in goods with the countries of BRIC (7.8% of British trade).

In the list of the top 20 trade partners of Great Britain there is Russia, which in 2007 took 16 place (for 2006 - 17) with the weights in the UK turnover of 1.6% (in 2006 – 1.5%).[21]

Among the States - the trading partners of Great Britain received the most dynamic development of trade with China, the growth of trade turnover which amounted to 19.8%, India - 14.4% Ireland - 3.9% Brazil - 9.6%, Russia - 4,8 %, Hungary - 10,8%, the Czech Republic - 12.3%, Germany - 0,9%.

In 2007, significantly reduced the volume of trade with France (by 21.9%), Spain (13.0%), Denmark (34.8%), Portugal (43.7%), Luxembourg (70.1%), Cyprus (75.1%), South Africa (13.9%), Belgium (3.7%) and Sweden (at 8.5%).

In 2007 British geographical diversification of foreign trade was narrowed a bit. At the 20 major trading partners, the UK had 80.2% of its turnover (in 2006 79.6%). Among the most important UK export markets were: Russia (the growth of exports - 35.8%), Norway (30.1%), China (15.3%), Ireland (1.6%), India (9.6 %), Brazil (17.1%o). Significantly reduced the export of British products in Canada (15.2%), Switzerland (10.2%), Turkey (6.0%), Japan (6.3%) and Hong Kong (7.7%). Britain's rapidly growing imports from EU countries (at 1.9%), China (20.8%), Canada (16.4%), India (18.4%), Turkey (17.8%), Switzerland (9.0%), Singapore (7.2%). In turn, reduced imports from Portugal (by 49.0%), Denmark (at 27.2%), Cyprus (at 86.2%), South Africa (at 20.8%), Luxembourg (55.3% at) Hong Kong (at 6.8%), Russia (at 6.2%).

The surplus in merchandise trade in the UK in 2007 had to Ireland (6.3 mlrd.f.st.), United States (6.0 mlrd.f.st.), Greece (0.7 mlrd.f.st.), Ukraine (0.3 mlrd.f.st.), Australia (0.3 mlrd.f.st.), Cyprus (0.2 mlrd.f.st.).

Geography of distribution of British foreign trade in 2007[22]

export import

Trade turnover between Britain and the states - members of CIS in 2007 increased compared with 2006 by 0.9% to 10,7 mlrd.f.st. The proportion of the Russian Federation in this figure - 77.6% (period 2006 - 74,8%).

UK Imports from the States - the CIS amounted to 6.7 mlrd.f.st. decreased by 8.3%. In total volume of British imports and the low proportion of CIS is 2,2% with 81,7% of its value consists of Russian deliveries (in 2006 - 2.4% and 79.9% respectively).

A British export to the States - Members of the CIS in 2007 was equal to 4.0 mlrd.f.st. (an increase of 21.4%), of which 70.8% was accounted for by deliveries to the Russian Federation (2006 - 63,3%). This is equivalent to 1.8% of British exports.

2.3. The foreign trade regime, regulation of foreign trade activities

The foreign trade regime of the UK based on the norms and rules of international trade, developed under the GATT / WTO, EU and national legislation.

State regulation of foreign trade activity is carried out with the application of customs tariffs, non-tariff measures, technical barriers (standards, rules and regulations), other regulators (e.g., insurance and export credit supply). An export from the UK is carried out without restrictions, with the exception of certain products subject to export control and licensing. Among them:

- Industrial products, which can be used for military purposes, although they initially were not specifically designed for such purposes (e.g., computers, equipment in the field of electronics and test equipment, machines, equipment in the field of communications, radar installations and civilian aircraft);

- Military equipment, such as arms, ammunition, tanks, military aircraft and ships, industrial products, specially designed for military purposes;

- Production associated with the production of nuclear weapons, including nuclear materials, nuclear reactors and equipment for processing nuclear material;

- Original items of chemical munitions;

- Antiques and works of art;

- Some products were exported to the United States;[23]

Applications for export licenses to a number of countries subject to the passage of the special procedures. A list of these countries is contained in the regulations on export control and export control authorities brought to British exporters.

In the area of tariff regulation of imports is the main instrument integrated Rates Great Britain, which includes a unified customs tariff and statistical nomenclature of the EU, as well as a harmonized system of description and coding. Most goods imported into the UK without restriction.

However, in order to protect the national economy, the implementation of international commitments and national consumer protection is limited import of arms, ammunition, explosives and other dangerous goods, food and agricultural commodities, including livestock, medicines and medical supplies. In order to protect the internal market applies anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures.

Prominent among the technical measures of export-import operations took sanitary-epidemiological and quarantine requirements for imported goods. The most stringent State control is carried out with the importation of live animals and birds. Makes high demands for compliance with standards, packaging and labeling products. In some cases (e.g., for high-tech machinery, including aviation), the UK standards are more stringent than applicable in the EU.

The regulation of foreign economic complex of Great Britain has a number of government agencies, among which the leading role played by the Ministry for Business, Enterprise and reform of state regulation. The competence of the Ministry of the issues of competition, entrepreneurship, small business support, employment, insolvency regulation of markets for goods and services. The regulation of international financial activities (investment, banking, insurance) exercises control over the service of financial markets (Financial Services Authority), with a wide range of powers.[24]

2.4. The influence of global economic crisis on the foreign trade of Great Britain

The deficit of foreign trade of Great Britain in December dropped sharply - to 7.4 billion pounds, which exceeded expectations for rate reduction. This was the lowest trade deficit since June 2007, when the figure stood at 7.0 billion pounds. Reducing the trade deficit the United Kingdom due to the increase in trade with countries outside the EU. This was reported on Tuesday by the National Bureau of Statistics of Great Britain.[25]

According to economists interviewed by Dow Jones Newswires last week, it is expected that the deficit of foreign trade in goods in the UK will be in December, 8.1 billion pounds.[26]

UK trade deficit in November was revised up to 8.1 billion pounds. Previously, it was reported that the deficit of foreign trade in goods amounted to Britain in November, 8.3 billion pounds.

The trade deficit with countries outside the UK the EU also dropped sharply -to 4.2 billion pounds from 5.2 billion pounds in November. Novembers’ value of trade in goods deficit with countries outside the EU has been revised. Previously, it was reported that in November amounted to 5.3 billion pounds.

Economists predicted that the deficit of trade in goods with countries outside the EU will be in December, 4.8 billion pounds.

According to published data, exports to countries outside the EU rose in December by 5% compared with November, while imports fell by 4.5% compared to the previous month.

The British pound fell slightly more than 33% against the euro and 31% against the U.S. dollar in 2008. This decline may be just beginning to have a positive impact on foreign trade in Goods UK.[27]

Oil trade deficit declined in Britain in December to 0.2 billion pounds from 0.5 billion in November.

In 2008, the total deficit of foreign trade in oil was £ 5.8 billion against the deficit of 4.0 billion pounds in 2007.

According to the figures, the total foreign trade deficit in goods of Great Britain in 2008 rose to 93.2 billion pounds. This was the highest figure since the beginning point of such statistics. In 2007, the deficit of foreign trade of Great Britain amounted to 89.3 billion pounds.

UK trade deficit in goods with EU countries in December rose to 3.2 billion pounds from 2.9 billion pounds in November.

The data showed that the surplus in services trade in the UK in December fell to 3.8 billion pounds from 4.1 billion pounds in November. As a result, the overall trade deficit in goods and services the UK in December fell to 3.6 billion pounds from 4.0 billion pounds in November. The November figure was revised. Economists predicted that the total foreign trade deficit in December rose to 4.6 billion.

Conclusion

The peculiarity of the British economy and its place in the world economy reflects the features of the external trade relations. Much of its current position in world trade in the UK is obliged to its history and its economic and geographical situation.

United Kingdom - one of the most economically developed countries in the world, this situation started back in 16-17 centuries, and today, although it lost its former power and is no longer a "world factory", it plays a major role in world imports and exports. This is largely driven by development of transport system, the existence of colonies and the relatively large reserves of coal, natural gas and oil deposits have been discovered relatively recently. Also, Britain is the "world bank" and is one of the most visited by tourists of the world. But as shown by the predictions of the specialists, perhaps, Great Britain will be the most affected economically developed country in the world because of the current crisis. This can happen because of the depreciation of the pound sterling. Nevertheless, its role in international trade in the UK will not lose, because producing the required goods and services.

Thus, it is possible to conclude that the success and effectiveness of the work, which is reflected in the results.

The goal - to identify the role of the United Kingdom in world trade has been reached. It was found that without the British world trade fairly be affected, but in this situation - the economic crisis - The economy of the UK could suffer badly. This poses a new challenge - to find out how you can raise the economy of Britain.