A: We are sorry to say that we can't import your grain this year because we are short of foreign exchange.

我们很抱歉，今年不能进口你们的谷物了，因为我们缺少外汇。

B: That's too bad. Your country is a big market for our grain and so we will also suffer a great loss if you import nothing. Maybe we can find a way out.

太糟糕了。你们的国家使我们出口粮食的大市场，所以如果你们不能进口，我们的损失也很大，或许我们能想出办法来。

A: What do you think of conducting a barter trade?

您认为易货贸易如何？

B: That can be a solution. What commodities do you have to exchange for our grain?

这倒行得通。贵方用什么商品来交换我们的货物？

A: There are so many goods. Our country exports huge quantities of timber, wool, leather and mutton. Which commodity would you prefer?

那可多了。我国出口大量木材、羊毛、皮货和羊肉。您喜欢什么商品？

B: We would like to exchange our grain for you timber.

我们想用我们的谷物来换取你们的木材。

A: Excellent. The total import of grain would roughly equal your purchase of timber.

太好了。我们进口的粮食与你们购买的木材是等额的。

B: It would be a little difficult for us to sign two contracts simultaneously.

我们同时签订两个合同有点困难。

A: We could sign two sales contracts in a month, one for grain and the other for timber.

我们可以在一个月内签订两个合同，一个是谷物的销售合同，另一个是木材合同。

B: Then the L/C should be opened against one another though not necessarily at the same time.

那么信用证采用对开的形式，不必同时开立。

A: What tolerance will be allowed for the counter purchase? 补偿购买允许多大的差额？

B: We usually allow a tolerance of plus or minus 10%.

一般我们允许有正负10%的差额。

A: Then we have solved the problem of our shortage of foreign exchange.

我们已经解决了缺少外汇的问题。

“exchange A for B; exchage something (with somebody)”意思是“交换”，例如：He exchaged the blue jumper for a red one. （他把蓝毛衣换成了红的。）又如：They exchaged hostages with each other. （他们相互交换了人质）