RECOMMENDED APPROACHES FOR WORKING WITH U.S. NEGOTIATORS
• Anticipate a brief period of time for building relationship and fairly rapid
movement to focus on substantive issues, problems, or disputes to be
addressed.
• Expect a linear and problem-solving approach to negotiations, often with
time for resolution of specific issues.
• Expect a results-oriented attitude from American counterparts and a belief
that every issue can be addressed and resolved.
• Be prepared for a presentation of information in a direct, concise, and clear
manner and the expectation that you will reciprocate with a similar level
of detail.
• Be open to articulating your interest and probing for theirs.
• Avoid being vague, nonspecific, or focusing on philosophical principles;
seek practical and pragmatic solutions.
• Expect to be pressed to clarify points, explain your logic or rationale, and
explore the impacts of various options that you or Americans present.
• Consider linking issues and building packages that are mutually acceptable.
• Expect that Americans are likely to engage in direct back-and-forth bargaining,
development of options at the table, and reaching compromises
(if they are necessary) through direct talks rather than through internal
private meetings or caucusing.
• Do not be surprised by being pushed to reach a timely and rapid settlement
of issues.
• Expect that persuasion will be undertaken through substantive argument,
a marshaling of what they believe to be compelling facts, or an explanation
of how the preferred solution will be beneficial, rather than the expression of strong emotions, bullying, or direct intimidation.
• Explore your counterpart’s potential time constraints and the potential
impacts they may have on the negotiation process.
• Anticipate being pushed in a heavy-handed way if solutions you propose or that are on the table do not meet your American counterpart’s interests