Doing business in Mexico --- Often when we are briefing business people who want to travel to Mexico to do business, we remind them of an interesting difference between Mexico and the US and/or Western Europe: whereas in the US and Western Europe is it considered good form to not waste their counterparts time and to go straight to the point, in Mexico that can be seen as rude and disrespectful. Down there, the best practice is to become "close" to your counterpart first, before any negotiation. This is achieved through socializing, breaking the ice, getting to know about your counterpart's life and family. Then the business talk flows much better.

Source author: Christian Peter Clay Mendoza cclay@sre.gob.mx