Английский разговорный язык. Практическое пособие по развитию устной речи

US Imports in 2001 in $ Million

96.4 – Petroleum

34.5 – Motor vehicle parts

18.6 – Iron and steel

12.8 – Electrical machinery parts

14.7 – TV, radio and sound products

10.6 – Clothing

9.1 – Natural gas

8.8 – Chemicals

To go international a large firm can also set up a joint venture with a company in another country. In this case two companies pool their resources to design, manufacture and sell the product. Both firms profit by the results of this arrangement. They also share responsibility. One of the firms provides the necessary funds and know-how for producing goods. In return it gets a foothold in the foreign market. The other firm obtains financial aid and technical assistance. And it takes responsibility for handling red tape and organizing sales in the local market.

Слова и выражения:

afford – позволять (себе)

assistance – помощь, поддержка

branch – ветвь, филиал, представительство

chemical – химикат

clothing – одежда

design – разрабатывать, планировать

foothold – плацдарм

joint – совместный

machinery – оборудование, машины

motor – двигатель, автомобиль; моторизованный

petroleum – нефть

pool

– «сливать» (средства)

responsibility – ответственность

retailer – розничный торговец

share – делить, разделять

vehicle – наземное транспортное средство

venture – предприятие, рискованное предприятие

wholesaler – оптовый торговец

control over product – контроль над продуктом

sound products – звукозаписывающие устройства (товары)

go international – выходить на международный рынок

in this case – в этом случае

export/import merchant – экспортно-импортный посредник

take the selling risks – брать на себя риски, связанные

с продажей

sales office – офис продаж

know-how – «ноу-хау»

in return – взамен, в ответ

red tape – бюрократия

Exercise 4

Answer the questions:

1. What do companies do if they want greater control over their product?

2. Who takes all the selling risks if companies sell their products to an export/import merchant?

3. Who in the foreign countries do export/import agents sell the product to?

4. What do exporters sometimes set up in foreign countries?

5. How much petroleum did the USA sell abroad in 2001 (in $ million)?

6. What is a joint venture?

7. What do companies that set up a joint venture pool?

8. What does a foreign company provide?

9. What does it get in return?

10. What is the home company responsible for?

The International Corporate Boat Race

An American automobile company and a Japanese auto company decided to have a competitive boat race on the Detroit River. Both teams practiced hard and long to reach their peak performance. On the big day, they were as ready as they could be.

The Japanese team won by a mile.