Abstract
Progress in telecommunication and transportation technologies has resulted in unprecedented growth in international trade in general and transatlantic trade (between the European Union and North America) in particular. As a result, Europeans and North Americans often interact to negotiate and implement business agreements. Doing business abroad leads to deal with lots of cross-cultural challenges. Prior to travelling to another country, factors such as differences in etiquette, business practices, negotiation techniques and business protocol must be considered.
And it's compulsory to take these elements into account very seriously to be able to work effectively. I will first present the American, English and French specificities and try to underline the similitarities and the differences. I will then speak about my own little experience about this subject. For North Americans and Europeans, doing business with one another was not that hard. Indeed, European Union and North American countries share common historical and religious roots, and lots of other elements and traits. Unfortunately, the apparent similarities between countries of the European Union and North America mask significant cultural differences.
