Encouraging of competitive relations and strengthening of competitive position of domestic producers on both national and EU common market of products and services become one of the main priorities of national economic policy. Latvian national interests are closely related to the maintenance of the competitive environment as an important factor for increase of competitiveness of separate commodity, enterprise or industry, which is able to provide economic growth in the circumstances of declining the business activity and strong competition on internal and external markets. However, fair market competition takes place only on the markets where there are no any essential obstacles and barriers for potential entry of new market actors. That is why the present article is prepared on the basis of case study carried out for Latvian grain processing sector with the purpose to describe and qualitatively assess the effects of various entry barriers, which really exist on the domestic market.

Foreign trade as part of the main economic relationship between a country and the global market, its regions and super-players is a significant research object. This paper deals with a particular case, exploring Latvian import in first one and a half decade of the 21st century. Since in Latvian academic society economic issues are largely dominated by economic scientist, this is an attempt by geographer to look at special aspects of mentioned ties and relationships. Research is focused around main producing sectors of economy such as agriculture, fisheries and forestry. With the aim of establishing clear ties between Latvia and its major import markets, the statistics of foreign trade was analysed using frequency analysis. The research shows that Latvian major import markets, although, similarly with its export markets, are located in the Baltic Sea region and have some differences. Major import markets are usually countries with bigger internal market, than Latvia’s. Import does follow the pattern of export markets in its separation into East and West groups with similar characteristics. Major difference, however, is differentiation of markets, where majority of high quality goods are being imported from a wider variety of markets, in contrast to export, where consolidation was a major pattern. This shows a rather close competition on world markets for potential clients, and a way for further economic change in Latvian industrial structure and operations.

The national strategy and objective for agricultural marketing focuses on 1. Making markets effective 2. Sustaining and increasing foreign exchange earnings and 3. Increasing productivity by supplying agricultural inputs and products efficiently. Market standards and active monitoring processes will be established to assure the progress of these market development efforts that will be supplemented by a capacity strengthening campaign that will sustain the market development agenda and manage the implementation of reforms.

The article deals with the current situation in production of building materials and foreign trade in Latvia. Export and import of building materials are one of the most important factors influencing the production of building materials. The report analyses import and export development trends within two sections of the harmonized system: wood and articles of wood; the articles of stone, plaster, glassware and ceramics.