International Negotiations

Extension activity 2

Trainees work in pairs to think of phrases to use for the seven options for dealing with 

tough tactics, which were listed in the commentary. Afterwards, discuss the best answers 

with the class.

Possible answers

1  Sorry, but that’s also my final offer.

2  I understand what you’re saying, but can we please stick to the procedure we agreed.

3  So what exactly are you saying? I need to be clear on this before we go any further.

4  OK, so I need some time to think about the changes you’re suggesting. Let’s meet 

back in half an hour.

5  So let’s move on to the next point. We can come back to this later.

6  Listen, I’ve been in lots of negotiations before, and this always happens just as we’re 

about to agree a deal. Please treat me with a bit more respect than that.

7  I’m not going to talk about the colour of the boxes at this stage, unless you want to go 

right back to the beginning. But perhaps we can look into using stickers on the boxes. 

Of course that would be separate from the deal we’re discussing now.