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BRIDGESTONE INTEGRITY IN THE MARKETPLACEQ: We have received an order for an unusual volume of tires from a new customer. The customer is in a country where we are allowed to ship, but we have heard that the customer may have close ties to a regime in a country where we may not ship. Payment will be made in the currency of yet another country. It’s a big sale and our local representative says not to worry. Can we just assume that the tires will be used in the country where we are shipping, or is this a problem?A: The information you have indicates that the tires might be shipped to a prohibited country. You should seek advice from the Law Department before acting.Q: I believe European law applies restrictions to sales to Syria and certain other countries, but I am not a European citizen and I don’t work in the European Union. Do these laws apply to me too?A: Many EU trade laws apply not only to EU companies but also indirectly to their subsidiaries around the world. Please consult with the Law Department for assistance in this complex area.Q: I work in Bridgestone’s U.S. Commercial Tire Sales division and recently met a prospective customer at a trade show. When he gave me his business card, I realized that his business is located in a country that is subject to U.S. trade restrictions. Can I pass his information along to a coworker in another country that does not have trade restrictions?A: No. U.S. law not only prohibits you from selling products to people or businesses located in the restricted country, but also prohibits facilitation of sales to people or businesses located in that country—even if the company that ultimately makes the sale is not located in the U.S. Just forwarding a business card to a coworker could constitute facilitation, if it results in a sale. If you aren’t sure what to do, ask the Law Department.39Trade Restrictions