country by country information
Venezuela
Currency is Bolivar Economy dependent on oil Oil accounts for 90% of all exports Want to sell more oil to China and be
less dependent on the U.S. People stand close to each other while
doing business
Brazil
Light meals at night, lunch bigger Talk about soccer & family Do not talk about rival Argentina & politics Women touch cheeks & air kiss when
meeting Long handshakes O.K. hand gesture is rude Currency: Real
Spain
Dinner served at/after 9pm Different business ranks do not mix
company Do not rush negotiations Men/women wear high-quality business
suits Currency: Euro
China
Don’t eat all of your meal –shows you are still hungry and is disrespectful
Don’t discuss business at dinner Very discriminatory to women in
business Large agricultural industry Currency: Chinese Yuan (CNY)
Chinese Labor
More on China
China is the world's third-largest trading nation. Cheap Chinese shoes and textiles flooding
Europe and the United States, underpaid Chinese labor may threaten to wipe out entire industries abroad.
Chinese researchers claim their growing exports have improved the lives of people abroad because the products are so cheap.
Switzerland
Private peopleAvoid personal questions, cracking jokes
Dinner lighter than lunch, sometimes just cheese
Very expensive food - $12 burger! Home to Nestle Currency: Swiss Franc – not the Euro
Cuba Use “comrade” instead of Mr. / Mrs. Cuban Peso Chinese are drilling offshore Cuba U.S. embargo with Cuba
Embargo voted heavily against by U.N. but still stands...will Obama lift it?
United Kingdom (Great Britain) Conservative dress Men don’t wear striped ties “V” Victory sign with palm facing in is
offensive Offended if you mix up British with
Scottish, English, Welsh, Northern Ireland
Home to HSBC, BP & Vodafone Currency: British Pound-not the Euro!
Canada
Conservative, dark dress “V” Victory sign facing in is bad Rude to eat in public (Streets, busses,
etc) Expensive gifts are frowned upon
Kazakhstan
Rich in Uranium Currency: Tenge Greet with a kiss on the cheek 8:30 bed time (no late night business
deals) Transitioning from a communist to
democratic economy
Belgium
Conservative/dark color dress Kiss during greeting; men shake hands Rude to leave food on plate Avoid confrontation Currency: Euro
Japanese
Highly recommended to bring a gift Don’t choose your seat, wait to be seated and
wait to get up Currency: yen Toyota, Sony, Nintendo, Nissan, Mitsubishi Tokyo-most expensive city in the world to live
in. Avoid pointing (live in such close quarters) Avoid talking with hands
More on Japan
Always bow – lower and longer than your host
Take off shoes when entering home Be prepared to take a bath before dinner
at a guests homeBath water is shared by all in the home
Tipping is unnecessary and impolite Japanese often wear sterilized masks
Germany
Authority is well-known and respected 2 hour midday meal called mittagessen Leaving food on table is disrespectful &
wasteful Home to Braun, Puma, Adidas, BMW,
Siemens, Volkswagen Currency: Euro
New Zealand
Be early or on-time not fashionably late Don’t talk during meals, do it before/after
food arrives Do not want to be associated with
Australia (they are a separate country!) More sheep than people by 10:1 ratio
Major exporter of wool and sheep meat
Currency: New Zealand dollar
France
Don’t loosen ties or take off jackets at work
Conservative dress– invest in well-tailored clothes
Punctuality treated casually Lunch best time to conduct business Do not make unannounced visits Currency: Euro
South Africa Business BBQ meals at homes called
braaivieis Casual about business deals so do not
rush them Don’t give gift with left hand-offensive Most industrious country in African
continent Women wear Sari Currency: Rand
Argentina
Don’t put your feet up! Don’t eat outside in public Conservative business dress Business luncheons uncommon, dinner
okay Currency: Argentine Peso
Netherlands (aka Holland aka the Dutch) Give flowers as a gift but an odd number
is bad luckCan also give chocolate, don’t give wine
Dark and conservative dress Keep distance from others in meetings Language: Dutch Currency: Euro
Italy
Business is done with those they know Air kiss friends, shake hands w/ strangers Heated arguments a regular in meetings Talk loudly Home to Armani, Ferrari & Maserati 17 unlucky number Currency: Euro
Australia Conservative dress in Melbourne & Sydney Tropical areas men wear shirt & ties w/
Bermuda shorts to work Get down to work quickly, appreciate brevity Aussies use colorful language unthinkable in
other countries Currency: Australian Dollar
