Foreign exchange received and paid through import and export trade is called trade foreign exchange, including payment for goods and its ancillary expenses. Trade foreign exchange includes export foreign exchange, import foreign exchange and trade management foreign exchange. Foreign exchange is divided into trade foreign exchange, non-trade foreign exchange and financial foreign exchange according to different sources and uses.

Trade foreign exchange, non-trade foreign exchange and financial foreign exchange are all foreign exchange in essence. Foreign exchange refers to the creditor's rights held by the monetary authorities (central bank, monetary management institutions, foreign exchange stabilization fund and Ministry of Finance) in the form of bank deposits, treasury bills and long-term and short-term government securities, which can be used for the balance of payments deficit, including foreign currency, foreign currency deposits and foreign currency securities (government bonds, government bonds, stocks, etc.). ) and foreign currency payment vouchers (bills)