Global Business Environment

SUMMARY: The global legal environment refers to the legal environment in international business. The legal environment regulates the operations of firms in international markets. It is sufficient for a firm operating at the domestic level to stick to regulations of the land, but organizations operating in different countries need to know and comply with the laws of the domestic country as well as all the host countries they operate in.

Governments impose laws to protect the home industry from cut- throat global competition. They impose different kinds of tariffs, enter into agreements and sign treaties to protect indigenous industry and promote local trade. When governments feel that the home industry is affected because of dumping, under Article VI of GATT, they can impose heavy anti-dumping duties. To protect domestic industry, they can also impose non-tariff barriers and frame regulations on foreign investments.