However, I think we tend to forget this also pertains in the everyday-office environment. We communicate with individuals of different backgrounds/cultures and communication styles from our own on a daily basis.

Just a couple of examples of what a thorough understanding of the different communication styles (which, I would say, includes cultural differences) around us can lead to at work:

1. Greater efficiency wherein less amount of time being spent on clarifying simple ideas.

2. Better understanding of the skills available within the team, resulting in stronger teamwork and improved output.

3. All benefits combined lead to more new idea generation.

The first step is to be able to identify your own communication style, including your strengths and weaknesses and then be able to recognize the difference between low-context and high-context cultures. Merely this knowledge alone can help in positioning the delivery of information and help predict reactions of your audience(s).(This is especially valuable when in sales)

I think individuals trying to further their communication skills will strive to widen their vocabulary and practice their articulation. Not a bad thing at all. But what about listening and watching for non-verbal cues? It’s important to understand that communication also includes the ability be attentive and listen to what is being said. Another important ingredient — processing the information the way it was intended to be delivered. Now, obviously most of us can’t read minds and know one’s intentions, but with the knowledge of different communication styles, I believe, one can learn to translate (non-verbal) communication to better comprehend the intention. Learning the difference between high-context and low-contest can be like learning a new language, but ultimately will lead to greater success and holds significant learning opportunities by opening up a whole new view of the world (sorry that sounds a little corny – but true!).

Best, Esha

- Marc Shaw

moreover, i would like to clarify that dumping investigations can be initiated against one company or more in a certain country, or companies in more than one country if it was alleged that these companies were actually practicing dumping in the effected market. As for safeguards, the measure should be applied against the imported products despite the origin of it, since imports fault here is that it has increased in quantity, notwithstanding the developing and least developing countries’ exemption criteria in the WTO safeguards agreement.

In practice, an Anti-dumping measure is usually more effective than a safeguards measure since its based on the dumping margin between the export price and the normal value of the dumped product, therefore if the dumping margin is %200 competent authorities can apply a tariff rate up to %200 or less on the dumped imports. As for safeguards, measures can take the form of tariffs and/or quantative restriction, and usually tariffs amount is calculated to the extent necessary to limit only the increase of imports in order to have the domestic product in an equivalent price situation with the imported products, since its only an emergency action that would give the opportunity to the domestic producers to adapt to the new situation of the market, as you have mentioned.

As regard duration of both measures, and according to the WTO safeguards agreement, safeguards measure can be extended only once, unlike dumping measures which can be extended forever if competent authorities can keep determining that dumping remain to exist.

Thank you again and Best regards

Baha’a Armouti

Keep up the good work!