-the prices the firm charges can be quotes in the firm's currency or in the currency of each foreign customer
because several months can pass between placement and delivery of an order this results in uncertainty
firm and it's customers can use exchange rate as it stands on the date of each transaction, or they can agree to use specific exchange rates
a system of fixed rates of exchange existed between participating countries
money issued by member countries had to be backed by gold reserves
gold acted as an automatic adjustment