The article analyzes the legal foundations of the foreign economic activity of the Russian Federation. The genesis of legislation in the field of foreign trade activity demonstrates the improvement of the process of managing foreign trade relations as a part of international relations. Based on the data of the foreign trade turnover of the Republic of Khakassia, it is proved that regional exports tend to increase, the geographical structure of foreign trade relations is changing, the commodity structure of imports is changing as well. Under the conditions of import substitution, the role of state assistance in terms of expanding new sales markets and foreign partners for Russian manufacturers is growing. The mutual interweaving of foreign economic and interregional economic complexes is important. For a long time, the processes of globalization that took place in the world economy have affected the economy, cultural and social relations of Russia. At present, there is a need to ensure the effectiveness of foreign investment, competitiveness of Russian goods in the world economy, and foreign trade in general. These tasks will be solved with their joint understanding and mutual work of both federal authorities controlling foreign trade relations and regional support of various centers of competence, non-profit organizations, consulting agencies. The solution of the issues of increasing the efficiency of foreign trade activity of a particular regional enterprise is possible by applying a set of measures to stimulate foreign trade activity, identifying specialization and evaluation of export-oriented objects of regional industrial production. The study proves that regional enterprises possessing sufficient economic potential, with an increase in the number of foreign trade contracts are able to increase the rate of production of competitive products to the world market. Recommendations on improving the structure of foreign trade activity departments of regional enterprises are given.