Gift giving in the international business context

Gift giving in the international business context

In Great Britain and the United States corporate gift giving is not a very popular custom; people can spend their entire working lives without ever receiving a corporate gift. However, gift giving is sometimes and integral part of the negotiation process when doing business abroad. It is important to learn about the etiquette of gift giving before sending or taking a gift to an international client or business partner, or you may find that your gesture appears offensive. For example, in China a desk clock is a sign of bad luck or death. It is also interesting to note that the receiver never opens a gift in front of the giving. Waiting for the person to open your gift would show that you were not sensitive to China culture. In France, don’t give something with your company logo, as they find items like this impersonal and in a bad taste. Giving knives in Italy, Russia or Argentina could lead to problems in establishing a deal as this signifies cutting off the relationship! Giving flowers is another possible minefield. In England, Australia, and Canada, some people see white lilies as a symbol of death while in Germany, yellow and white chrysanthemums could be seen this way.