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By traveling abroad, you can locate and cultivate
new customers while improving relationships and communication with
your current foreign representatives and associates. Like domestic
business, face-to-face meetings with a client or customer is the
best form of business contact. As you plan your trip, be aware of
the various business customs, travel conditions, entrance requirements,
cultural environments, and American citizen services in the country
of destination.
American Citizen Services
Business Meetings
Cultural Considerations
Entrance Requirements and Visas
Other Considerations
Sources of Cultural Information
American Citizen Services
The U.S. belongs to the ATA Carnet System. This
system allows U.S. commercial and professional travelers to take
commercial samples, tools of the trade, advertising material, cinematography,
audio-visual, medical, scientific, or other professional equipment
into member countries for temporary periods of time without paying
customs duties and taxes or posting a bond at the border.
Generally, the Carnet covers all merchandise
with the exception of consumable goods, disposable items, and postal
traffic. Carnets are typically valid for 12 months. When using the
Carnet, the exporter reduces costs, simplifies customs procedures,
and finds a simpler reentry process for returning goods to the United
States. For use of the carnet, companies should expect to pay a
required fee based on the value of the goods and put up a security
deposit equaling 40% of the shipment value.
To obtain a carnet, contact the U.S. Council
on International Business, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
NY 10036. Phone: 212-354-4480 Fax: 212-575-0327, or visit www.uscib.org.
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Business
Meetings
A well-planned itinerary enables
a traveler to make the best possible use of time abroad. Before
you start your trip, obtain the names of possible contacts, arrange
as many appointments as possible, and check transportation schedules.
In addition, confirm meetings and other travel arrangements before
leaving the U.S.
Keep your schedule flexible enough to allow for both unexpected
problems (such as transportation delays) and unexpected opportunities.
For example, accepting an unscheduled luncheon invitation from a
prospective client should not mean missing the next appointment.
Check with foreign consulates about the normal
workdays, including foreign holidays, and business hours in the
countries to be visited. For instance, in many Middle Eastern countries
the workweek typically runs from Saturday to Thursday. In many Latin
American countries, lengthy lunch hours, or "siestas,"
are customary.
Business language is generally more technical
than conversational speech and misunderstandings can be costly.
Before leaving the U.S., you should know whether the individuals
with whom you are planning to meet are comfortable speaking English.
If not, arrange to have professional interpreters at your meetings.
Also, you should carry business cards printed in English and in
the language of the country visited, since exchanging business cards
when first meeting someone is considered a basic part of proper
business etiquette in some countries. Some international airlines
can arrange this service.
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Cultural
Considerations
Business executives traveling abroad should learn about the history,
culture, and customs of the countries to be visited. Business manners
and methods, religious customs, dietary practices, humor and acceptable
dress all vary greatly from country to country. Although you need
not completely adopt business procedures of the countries you visit;
flexibility, cultural sensitivity, and adoption should be guiding
principles when traveling abroad and conducting international business.
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Entrance Requirements
and Visas Be aware that the U.S. and foreign governments
may restrict your travel from one country to another. For example,
a passport containing an Israeli visa may prevent visits to certain
other countries in the Middle East. You should obtain the necessary
travel documents two or three months before departure, especially
if visas are required. A travel agent can help make these arrangements.
All travel outside the U.S., Canada, and Mexico requires each
traveling family member to possess a valid passport for the entire
duration of the trip. You can obtain a passport by applying in person
through certain local post offices and U.S. district courts. Information
can be obtained at your local post office or at the US Department
of State website www.state.gov.
Requirements for certain vaccinations differ from country to country.
A travel agent, airline, or doctor can advise you on the various
requirements.
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Other Considerations
Consider seasonal weather conditions, differences in electrical
currents (plug adapters may be required to use electrical appliances),
use of credit cards and travelers checks, currency exchange rates,
tipping standards (who is tipped and how much), U.S. customs regulations
and various health care issues when planning your trip. For instance,
foreign customs regulations vary widely from place to place, and
you should learn in advance those that apply to each country visited.
Discuss, health care issues, such as, what to eat and what non-required,
vaccinations doctors recommend. Furthermore, you must make allowances
for cigarettes, liquor, currency and certain other items because
customs officials may impound them at national borders.
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Sources
of Cultural Information
- Background Notes. A publication of the U.S.
Department of State that provides historical details, a map and
other valuable information about individual countries. The series
is periodically updated.
- Country Commercial Guides. Prepared annually
by U.S. embassies, these U.S. State Department guides provide
useful investment climate analyses and business travel information.
- Culturgrams. Published by the David M. Kennedy
Center for International Studies, these reports describe the general
attributes, customs and courtesies, lifestyle, society, passport
and visa requirements, warnings and travel environment of individual
countries.
- Current History. An excellent world affairs
journal with articles that describe and analyze current political,
economic and social trends in selected countries.
- Ernst & Young's International Business Series.
This series consists of guides for doing business in various countries.
The volumes contain information on a country's business environment,
foreign investment climate, structure of business entities, labor
force, financial reporting and auditing procedures, taxation policies
and contact information. Visit www.ey.com.
- International Travel Health Guide. The guide
provides health suggestions for travelers to individual countries.
Updated annually.
- Price Waterhouse Country Information Guides.
These guides provide an investment climate analysis, guidelines
for establishing and operating a business in a particular foreign
country, and audit, accounting and taxation information. Visit
www.pwcglobal.com.
- The Statesman's Yearbook. A statistical and
informational guide to all countries and many of their provinces
and territories. Updated regularly.
- World Development Report. An annual publication
of the World Bank that discusses salient issues, provides economic
analysis and presents data for developing countries.
- World Factbook. An annual publication of the Central Intelligence
Agency. Designed for use by government officials. Visit www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook.
- World Tables. It offers statistical data on
most countries, focusing on economic indicators and trends for
the past 20 years. Available from the World Bank.
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