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Businessmen Work Hard at Canton Fair

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An increasing number of exhibitors and buyers are flooding into the Canton Fair in Guangzhou. Exhibitors are going for the hard sell, while buyers are are looking for the big bargain.

Yang Yi is an auto lighting seller. Assaf Yejazkifl is a buyer from Israel. They have been talking about business for almost an hour but have not yet reached an agreement. But it seems that they don't want to lose each other.

Yang said, "I don't want to lower my price. But he is a very good negotiator. Neither he nor I want to give up. Both of us try to convince the other."

Another half an hour passed. They finally made a win-win deal when Assaf left with smiles.

Their case is not uncommon here at the Canton fair. Participants all need to use their negotiating skills and tactics in order to get what they want, especially in time of crisis.

Huan Jie, also an exhibitor, said, "Our brand has a history of almost 70 years. But it is facing a very challenging situation. Many of our old clients have diminished their orders, or don't make any order at all. It is a big blow to us."

Huan hopes China's export tax refund could be further increased though it has recently been lifted five times in a row. Despite difficulties, she believes her enterprise will survive the crisis.

(CCTV April 16, 2009)