Final answer:
In the past, international trade and investment activities were mainly conducted by companies that sold goods, not services.
Step-by-step explanation:
International trade and investment activities were mainly conducted by companies that sold goods, rather than services, in the past. This is because goods can be physically transported across borders, while services are more intangible and often require the presence of the provider. For example, in the past, companies would export physical products like textiles or machinery, while services like consulting or software development were less common in international trade.