This study examines the impact of trust on relational exchanges between buyers and sellers in an international
context. Trust is considered as two separate dimensions: cognitive trust and affective trust. Data
from Australian exporters are tested with regards to their overseas buyers. The empirical results show
that cognitive trust and affective trust are distinct dimensions. Shared goals is a common antecedent
to both dimensions of trust. Perceived cultural distance and reputation are the unique antecedents to
cognitive trust while total interdependence is the unique antecedent to affective trust. The results indicate
that international relational outcomes benefit from the presence of both cognitive and affective
trust. In other words, when exporters exhibit both dimensions of trust, they are more willing to be flexible
and report higher levels of satisfaction with export performance.
2011 Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.