Selected Global Challenges in View of a Commercial Diplomat: Selected Practical Cases from the Business, Trade and Commercial Diplomacy

Abstract

Abstract Purpose This chapter provides a few practical cases in the framework of selected global challenges from the experience of a practitioner – commercial diplomat that have been chosen according to the combination of relevant experience and legitimacy issues. Design/methodology/approach This empirical study has no conceptual or big theoretical ambitions. The approach of a multiple case study was chosen as it provides a high-level view of different cases and questions describing practical aspects of selected theoretical topics in the work of a commercial diplomat in the framework of the International Business. Thus the simple narrative descriptions are shown below to provide some important or interesting elements in order to yield different and practical details of Business and Commercial diplomacy which are often different from the theoretical conclusions and outcomes. Hence, some challenges have been selected and analysed as it is assumed that narrative may provide a good insight into the decision-making and into the processes of Business and Commercial diplomacy. Findings It covers the role of the commercial diplomacy in the EU, the challenges of limited capacities, the comparison of OECD guidelines versus EU acquis communautaire, the sustainable development in the EU and in developing countries, the impact and potential of digitalisation, some notes on the tax avoidance and the importance of public–private partnership. Originality/value This study provides practical context for some global challenges and issues from the point of view of a commercial diplomat. There is also a trial for the new definition of Commercial diplomacy and comparison of approaches of Business, Commercial and Trade diplomacy to these issues.