Q Why Does International Business Matter to Me? Do you know that you can find many of your favorite U.S. businesses alongside local businesses in foreign countries? Do you know how U.S.-based businesses enter international markets? monticello/Shutterstock.com International business occurs every day as exchanges take place across national borders. Businesses based in the United States may enter international business through importing and outsourcing goods and services from outside nations. U.S.-based businesses may also export raw materials or finished products to other countries. Starbucks, a U.S.-based company, utilizes both importing and exporting in its international business strategy. Starbucks imports coffee beans from more than 30 countries, including Columbia and Brazil. The coffee beans are then roasted and distributed to Starbucks stores all over the world. Starbucks also imports tea and cocoa beans from many different countries. Recently, Starbucks released a digital tracking program, where customers can trace their coffee’s journey across the world by entering a code from a bag of coffee into the company’s website. For example, a bag of Blonde Espresso Roast may feature coffee beans from Honduras, Columbia, and Ethiopia. Starbucks practices exporting by sending roasted coffee beans from the United States to other countries and by opening stores in new countries. Starbucks stores sell signature products in addition to products specific to the tastes and requirements of the new international market. When Starbucks first entered the European market in the early 2000s, the company president was concerned that European café culture would not allow for an outside American company to succeed. These worries were unfounded as there are now more than 2,500 Starbucks stores in Europe. Starbucks has further expanded its international business, with 32,000 stores in more than 80 countries. Refer to the following scenario to see why international business matters to you and the world around you. Imagine you are visiting Paris on a summer semester abroad to study international business. You are enjoying all the tourist sites, including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. One day, you make plans with friends to see the famous Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre Museum. You realize you would really like some coffee to stay energized for the art museum’s tour. There are many choices for coffee in Paris, and as you enter the Louvre you discover a Starbucks coffee shop inside the museum. The sign is written in both French and English, “Starbucks Coffee – Carrousel du Louvre: All the Coffee-Based Beverages You Could Possibly Want.” Why Does International Business Matter to Me? Assessment question Do you buy coffee at the Starbucks shop at the museum?