The China Factor

Chapter 18The West: Politics => The Geopolitical DimensionGet Your Government Involved, Get Involved with Your Government

Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.

—Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Questions Answered in This Chapter

• I get that China Inc. is a strong force. How can the West do something similar?
• Does the U.S. government have resources similar to those in China to help American companies?
• How do Chinese companies get away with some of their business practices?

Chapter Outline

1. Using the Corporate Government Affairs (GA) Group in Your Company
   1. Getting the Corporate Government Affairs (GA) Group on Board
   2. Creating a Government Affairs Initiative to Support Emerging Markets
   3. Know Your Priorities, Budgets
2. Government Regulatory Barriers That Hinder Competitiveness Overseas
   1. The Export License Process: A Bottleneck for International Business
   2. Taking Action as a Company
   3. Escalating Challenges to Government
3. The U.S. Department of Commerce (or Your Country's Equivalent) Is There to Help You
4. Fair Trade Is in the Emerging Entrants' Best Interest, Too
   1. Be Proactive before the Situation Is Critical
   2. Remind Your Customers of Their Own Rules
   3. Remember That Unfair Practices Go Both Ways

As mentioned in earlier chapters, the Chinese are highly savvy and well practiced in applying political influence in business situations. Politics in this context includes a number of different aspects, which we will discuss in this chapter.

The Chinese (and other ...