I once had some visitors from Japan and Saudi Arabia. At the end of the trip I presented each of them with a bottle of single malt whisky. There was a stunned silence and all three stepped quickly into the car that would take them to the airport. I had just committed a double whammy. Giving the same gift to a senior executive and his junior assistant is considered disrespectful in Japan, whilst giving alcohol at all to my Arab guest was unwittingly an insult.
The next time I did my homework and learned that gifts are a highly sensitive issue in many cultures. In most Asian countries they should always be given at the end of meetings (at least I got that right before) whilst in Latin America they are considered as icebreakers.
The value and nature of gift does not only apply to alcohol. In Spain, for instance, business gifts are not generally given, but if you are invited to a business contact’s home then small token (but quality branded) gifts for every family member are considered appropriate. Take special care to avoid flowers – but if this is all you can find on the way there always give odd numbers not adding up to 13 and avoid dahlias, chrysanthemums, white lilies (and certainly red roses).
Because there is a grey area between gifts and bribes many companies have decided to ban gifts altogether. However, I think that this is a big mistake. A company policy needs to set out some guidelines, allow discretion and perhaps set a maximum value for any gift (which may vary by country). I have always taken with me a beautifully wrapped box of Scottish shortbread or Belgian chocolates on my visits. Unless I know a gift is expected I will simply wait to see if a gift is offered to me or my host pays for dinner or lunch. Then out will come the gift from my case. You can always open an ungiven gift on the way home and eat it with coffee at the airport.