Chapter 1: Introduction to International Business - Answers
What is international business? - Answers The cross-border movement of goods, services, people,
money, and intellectual property.
What risks are common in international business? - Answers Cultural, commercial, transport,
currency, and regulatory compliance risks.
What is commercial risk? - Answers The risk that one party fails to perform as promised in a
transaction.
What is transport risk? - Answers The possibility of loss, damage, or delay during shipping by air, land,
or sea.
What is foreign exchange risk? - Answers The risk from currency value fluctuations in international
transactions.
What are currency controls? - Answers Government restrictions on currency exchange or transfer.
What is regulatory compliance risk? - Answers The challenge of meeting foreign legal and regulatory
standards.
What is direct exporting? - Answers The company manages its own exports and deals directly with
foreign buyers.
What is indirect exporting? - Answers Using intermediaries like export management or trading
companies to handle exports.
What is importing? - Answers The process of bringing foreign goods into a country's customs
territory.
What are tariffs, quotas, and embargoes? - Answers Tariffs are import taxes; quotas limit quantities;
embargoes prohibit trade.
What is intellectual property (IP)? - Answers Legal rights from intellectual activity such as inventions,
designs, or artistic works.
What is an IP licensing agreement? - Answers A contract granting another party rights to use
intellectual property.
What is IP infringement? - Answers Unauthorized use, copying, or distribution of another's
intellectual property.
What is international franchising? - Answers A business model licensing trademarks and know-how in
exchange for royalties or fees.
What is foreign direct investment (FDI)? - Answers Ownership or control of productive assets in a
foreign business.
What is a foreign branch? - Answers An extension of a company in another country, not a separate
legal entity.
What is a foreign subsidiary? - Answers A separate legal entity owned and controlled by a parent
company abroad.
What is a joint venture? - Answers A cooperative business arrangement between two or more firms
for profit.
What is a multinational corporation? - Answers A firm with significant operations and revenue in
multiple countries.
What are national language laws? - Answers Laws requiring contracts or advertising to be in the host
country's language.
Case: Gaskin v. Stumm Handel GmbH - Answers Language barrier doesn't invalidate a contract;
parties are bound by what they sign.
Case: Bernina Distributors v. Bernina Sewing Machine Co. - Answers Importer bore exchange rate
risk; contract didn't allow currency cost pass-through.
Case: Dayan v. McDonald's Corp. - Answers Franchisee breached quality standards; franchisor
properly terminated agreement.
Case: In re Union Carbide (Bhopal) - Answers Court dismissed case to India under forum non
conveniens—local courts more appropriate.
Chapter 2: International Law and Legal Systems - Answers
What is international law? - Answers The body of rules governing relationships among nations and
private international actors.
What is public international law? - Answers Rules applying to conduct between nations and
international organizations.