#155 International Commerce 2
Key Word
hazard: a source of danger; chance, risk
When it comes to investments, research shows that women are more likely to weigh up potential hazards than their male counterparts.
weigh up: 가늠하다. 따지다
intuitive: readily learned or understood
As we enter new markets, it is more important than ever to make our products intuitive, so that people across cultures find them natural to use.
backlash: a strong negative or contrary reaction
There might be a backlash in the company if we have to downsize staff or if our products become produced too globally.
turbulence: sudden violent movements; many changes and disruptions
There are signs of turbulence ahead for the economy.
sluggish: slow to respond or make progress
Fierce competition and sluggish demand have resulted in very poor sales.
downsize: reduce the number of employees in a company
The company was forced to downsize in order to remain competitive.
favor: ~에 편들다, 지지하다
the powerful: 권력자
Nowadays, a popular concept in business is the idea of “businesses without borders”, which means doing business and being present in as many countries as possible. How do you feel about this practice: Is it beneficial to the typical worker or does it favor only the powerful? Could you list some advantages and disadvantages of the practice?
Role Play
Role A | Shipping Coordinator
• Explains the situation and lists the company’s critical requirements (e.g. a track record of on-time delivery, knowledge of both Japanese and U.S. markets, experience with a product launch, etc.)
track record: (개인, 기관의) 모든 실적
• Asks E&A to find a cost- effective, yet speedy, way to ship video games.
• Warns E&A that the U.S. customers have strict distribution requirements such as container sizes.
Role B | E&A Logistics Rep.
• Discusses E&A’s track record, capabilities, and experience. Provides specific examples of product launches they have handled successfully.
• Recommends chartering aircraft to transport the goods. Explains that E&A can pick up the goods from the supplier, transport them to the planes, and then offload them in the U.S.
chartering: 용선, 화주가 선주로부터 선박의 전부 혹은 일부를 임차하여 자기계정으로 운용하는 것이다.
• Guarantees that E&A can fulfill all of the distribution requirements, including transferring the goods from airline pallets to properly sized containers.
International Shipping and Logistics
A Japanese video game company is planning a product launch in the U.S.
This will be the company’s first entry into the U.S. market, and during the planning phase, the company discovers that its traditional ocean-based transportation and logistics model are not effective for the new market.
The company must find an alternate shipping method in order to meet launch deadlines and avoid product outages on U.S. shelves.
The Shipping Coordinator calls a representative for E&A Logistics, a global logistics firm, to discuss the company’s needs.
Discussion Questions
Trade Barriers vs. Free Trade
International trade reshapes the consumer landscape, offering access to a higher number and a wider variety of products. It also lowers prices of goods for which there is domestic competition and allows domestic producers the ability to ship their products abroad. With such benefits, why do so many governments hamper international trade by erecting barriers such as tariffs, quotas, and non-tariff barriers (e.g. regulating product content)?
hamper: 방해하다.
Reasons for trade barriers include protection for domestic industries and workers, protection for consumers from unsafe products, national security, and even retaliation against another country’s tariffs or foreign policy. Yet, some argue that those who are designed to benefit from trade barriers are actually being harmed.
retaliation: 보복, 앙갚음
For example, prices on goods are higher, reducing spending power, and thus destroying jobs. These critics claim that free trade is actually healthier for a country’s economy and for society as a whole.
Feedback
Original: So they want to develop new product line, but it causes the downsize the people in the company, so the target people can react negatively to develop the new product.
Better: So they want to develop a new product line, but it means the company's workfoce, which may cause the targeted employees to respond negatively to the new product's development.
Original: Do know the sluggish what it means?
Better: Do you know what the word sluggish means?
Original: My company last ten years got the window of opportunity, and as the result, my company have grown very big.
Better: My company has had a window of opportunity over the past ten years, and as a result, it has grown significantly.
Original: If I join this company at the really early stage, then I think I should work really crazy and addicted to the work.
Better: If I had joined this campany at an early stage, I was going to be expected to work extrealy hard and become addited to my job.
Original: My previous company make us the program for export and import trade, so in that company I also handled the trade program.
Better: My previous company developed the program for export and import trade, and I was in charge of the program there.
Original: I am in charge of developing the program, so in that company I had to communicate with shipping coordinator because they wanted me to develop many functions for their work becoming more easily.
Better: I was in charge of developing the program, so at that company I had to communicate with shipping coordinator because they wanted me to develop many functions to make their work easier.
Original: Hello Rosie. This is from the Japanese video game company, Nintendo; Nintendo company. You know, next month, we enter the US market for the first time, and we are worrying about the shipping logistics is not adjustable for our product, and I think the remain time is really short for delivering all the product to the US because we remain only a month. So I think we should reorganize the shipping strategy and schedule.
Better: Hello, Rosie. This is MJ from Japanese video game company, Nintendo. As you know, we will be entering the US market for the first time next month, and we are worried that the shipping logistics will not be suitable for our product, and I think the remaning time is not enough for delivering all of the products to the US, as we only have a monnth. So, I think we need to adjust our shipping strategy and schedule.
Original: I'm negative; I think the free trade is negative. I agree we need some kind of tariff to protect our domestic workers.
Better: I have negative feelings about free trade because I think it's harmful. I believe that we need some kind of tariff to protect our domestic workers.