Just imagine US SEC imposed fines on Chinese companies who bribed South American officials to get awarded businesses, conned US investors and pensions funds with fraudulent financial statements, conducted corporate espionage... LOL
You're coming to this completely wrong. In the 3rd world, it's all bribery. It's not "a few rotten apples" but it's the whole system. If you don't bribe, you don't exist. I've sat with a judge in the Philippines making legal requests and have met all the requirements. Nothing works, everything gets rejected because only later I realized I needed to bribe the judge - he was asking for payment indirectly. Courts as a whole work exactly the same. Lawyers just smirk and tell you it's all about quid pro quo, all the rest is an illusion - pretending there are laws and systems. You either bribe and get something done or you don't exist at all.
Can't agree more. And every single US company that is still doing business in corrupt regions has bribed along the way. American companies just use middle men to do the dirty deed for them and deny any connection in the event of discovery by US authorities. The US authorities know this full well but do nothing to enforce their regulations and laws because the virtue signaling makes them look holy yet allow American corporates to still compete in corrupt environments.
Again bullshit! bribe persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement. "an undercover agent bribed the judge into giving a lenient sentence"
The French have a legal accounting line item for bribes, thereby recognizing that in many parts of the world, to get any deal done, it is necessary to bribe to get the ball rolling. In modern nations the same exist, but above board. Try building a house... So many permits and inspections are required that add 10-15% to whatever project. In developing nations, you pay a small administration fee and then you pay the facilitators that can hold up or push your project.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...-awaits-corruption-appeal-verdict-2023-05-17/ Influence peddling - sounds like bribery to me.