by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: April 23, 2008   Last Updated: January 01, 2009

Basically, one deals with corruption, whether in one's own country or a foreign country by shunning it. This of course does nothing about combating it but it does give you time to think of alternative methods of dealing with it. If it is an isolated concern and you are certain it is not something the law of the country allows, and your dealings are large and impressive and are important to their economy and you are sure of your ground, you can report the matter to the CEO of the offending company.

Otherwise. if the bribery, and often this is what corruption amounts to, is widespread and is something that is well known but not admitted publicly, you can take the matter to your own country's regulating organizations that regulate international trade and ask for guidance and direction. The International Chamber of Commerce has its antennae out for all kinds of complaints and would welcome your input. Effecting better international trade and working toward equitable world trade is what they do best.

Either under its jurisdiction or well known to them there are any number of organizations with the sole purpose of addressing bribery and chicanery and every other kind of corruptive business dealings. The world of business deals with this kind of greed and shoddy business practices every day and those wanting to foster better trade relations will welcome knowledge of how and where it affects them. Most countries know a good business reputation means more business.

Examples of the kind of help that is available for troubled trade relations abound on the Internet. But be forewarned: there is so much of it you will find yourself swaddled with rhetoric and will feel confused and in need of precise instructions. To get a feel for how corruptible the international world of trade is I read an article Charles Galvata wrote on November 19, 2007. He is a lawyer.

From his article I learned of "three key pieces of legislation that have international application", The FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act); OEDC (organization for Economic Cooperation and Development); and the U.N. Convention Against Corruption. There are others but primarily, these are a good first start in your quest for justice against international corruption. The FCPA is an American legislative act passed in 1977 and is taken very seriously by American companies"

If the infractions and bribery and wrong doing are by American businesses then the countries reporting their misbehavior is listened to very carefully. In other words this organization dealing with business violations has supportive and sanctioning measures; its aim is to help American companies doing business abroad to deal with fraud against them as well as help sanction and penalize those perpetuating it. Other countries, I am sure, have similiar legislation.

English law works within OECD and about 37 other countries trade by its rules. In the latest development the United Nations got into the act in 2005 and at the time the author wrote the article there were 95 participating countries. What are the basics of these laws against corruption? The rules of the company policies that companies and individuals work under must be followed; companies and individuals working abroad are responsible for their actions; unfair advantages by bribery and penalties for corrupt practices, and many other regulations.

Source: http://www.law.com/jsp/lif/

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