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When selling your goods or services overseas you may encounter international trade barriers which impede your progress or impact upon your sales figures.

Amongst the most common international trade barriers are the language and cultural differences associated with that particular market. These can hamper effective communication, making negotiations an arduous and lengthy process. That is why you are advised to seek international trade information specific to the countries you are concentrating on when devising your export strategy.

International trade information, like advice and support on language and cultural issues, is available from organisations such as the Regional Language Network and these could be the key elements to overcoming any international trade barriers.

If you need language advice to help your business trade internationally, want to learn a new language or find work using existing language skills, the RLN West Midlands can help you to succeed.

The Regional Language Network, a not-for-profit organisation, promotes language skills and cultural awareness in the West Midlands. The RLN helps businesses to increase their export potential, supports language service providers and helps anyone who wants to learn a language or look for a job using their language skills. More information on the variety of services available can be found on the RLN website, which is a great place to start looking for language and cultural advice.

If you work in an export or multinational business, are a teacher of MFL or just have a passion for different languages and cultures then you will probably enjoy keeping up to date with the latest language events and language news.

From specialist publications such as interpreting and translation magazines, to the range of language blogs and websites, there are many ways of sourcing your language news.