Which term best describes the shipment of goods across international borders?

The term that best describes the shipment of goods across international borders is international trade. This concept encompasses the exchange of goods and services between countries, which often involves exports (goods sent to another country) and imports (goods brought in from another country). International trade plays a crucial role in the global economy, allowing countries to specialize in the production of certain goods and services, and thus promotes economic efficiency and growth.

Tariffs refer to taxes imposed on imported goods, impacting the cost and pricing of those goods but not directly defining the act of shipping itself. Economies of scale relate to the cost advantages that a business obtains due to the scale of operation, meaning that the average cost per unit decreases as output increases, which is more about production efficiency than the logistics of shipping. Task utility is a concept in marketing that refers to the value added to a product through various processes that result in the final product being more useful to the consumer, which does not directly relate to the movement of goods internationally.

Thus, international trade is the most appropriate term since it specifically captures the essence of goods moving across borders.