North America
North America is home to two of the world’s largest and most interconnected economies. The United States and Canada share the world’s longest undefended border and are each other’s largest trading partners. Both countries share English as a primary business language (with French important in Quebec) and broadly similar Western business practices rooted in British cultural heritage.
However, important differences exist. Canadian business culture tends to be more reserved, more consensus-oriented, and more sensitive to multicultural considerations than the American style. The United States places greater emphasis on individual achievement, speed, and directness. Understanding these distinctions — and particularly avoiding the assumption that Canadian and American business cultures are identical — is important for international business professionals.