International Reciprocal Trade Association

The International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA) is the global trade association for trade exchanges.[1] which includes retail barter exchanges, corporate trade companies, complementary currency organizations and counter trade systems. IRTA promotes proper accountability rules, equitable standards, ethics and governmental relations, for the organized barter industry and its participating members. IRTA takes a major industry advocacy position to preserve, protect and enhance the barter industry. Its members are situated in Australia, Canada, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sardinia, Spain, Singapore, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. IRTA's home office is in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA. The Chairman of the Board is John Strabley, (CEO of International Monetary Systems), and the President & CEO is Ron Whitney.

IRTA estimates that the 400,000 participating businesses transacted $14 billion globally in 2104/15 — and it is anticipated that the 14 billion trade volume number will grow another 5 to 10% a year.

A barter exchange acts as a third party record keeper for its participating business clients. These member businesses buy and sell products and services on a barter basis using trade credits to account for each transaction. Barter exchanges practice third party bartering, meaning the seller does not have to buy from whom he or she sold to, rather, the seller's account is credited the market value of the sale in trade dollars. This modern trade and barter method is different than the ancient “direct trade” when people swapped one thing for another. Modern trade and barter has evolved into a sophisticated alternative way for business owners to increase sales and revenue, conserving cash, move inventory, maximize their excess or unused capacity to improve their financial bottom line.

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