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Surviving the etiquette minefieldHow to clinch that foreign deal without putting your foot in itBy Joelle Naayem for CNN  Business should always keep their name cards handy. BUSINESS TRAVELLER
HAVE YOUR SAY
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSLONDON, England (CNN) -- Thinking about giving a Japanese business partner a gift bearing the words "made in China", or ordering an Italian colleague an after lunch cappuccino? Think again. Given uneasy Japanese relations with China and Italians' post-prandial preference for espresso, such attempts to make good first impressions could wind up being faux pas. In international business, good impressions can be crucial and preparation, presentation and professionalism are a must. The question is, how to ensure that you and your foreign partner will keep doing business? Doing the background research on your destination country is crucial, says Ann Marie Sabath, author of International Business Etiquette and founder of At Ease Inc "Make sure you pack according to the climate and type of business; and always remember to have a business card ready to hand," she told CNN. Says Sabath, attention to detail is crucial in almost all aspects. Buying gifts for your foreign client is good -- but in Taiwan for instance, one should buy them in pairs as the number two is seen as lucky. "The gesture also awakens a sense of touch, a tangible foundation for future business with your colleague. But do not open your gift in front of your host in the Asian culture as that is seen as an insult," she advises. What about language problems? "Try to make a list of the top 15 most commonly used terms, but beware that words which mean one thing in one language can often mean the complete opposite in another." Sabath speaks from painful experience. She once made the mistake of claiming she was "embarazada" which actually translates in Spanish to being pregnant as opposed to being embarrassed. Don't be lateCustoms and traditions also vary from country to country. Some cultures in the West welcome business lunches, whereas in the Middle East, important matters are never discussed during meals. Sabath also insists that presentation plays a very important role when conducting business abroad. In Thailand for instance, black is considered to be the color of mourning, whereas purple is reserved for royalty. Ladies should dress according to local tradition, particularly in many conservative Middle East nations, where items like low-cut tops are a no-no. Also, when scheduling meetings in Germany and in other western cultures, abiding by timing schedules is appreciated. However in the Middle East and in Latin America, it is seen as an insult if you place a time constraint on the meeting. Punctuality on the other hand is something that should be acknowledged. "It is as much of an insult to be two minutes early as it is to be two minutes late," says Sabath. As a final point, Sabath advises that "You should always remember the universal rule in any business situation: People see you as interesting, when you are sincerely interested in them". 
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