|
6
- Other sectors
Numerous
sectors of activity favour a company's
establishment in the USA. Differents economic
possibilities exist to promote the creation of a
company or a commerce.
Professionals must know the equivalent university
levels in case of job offers. Certain diplomas are
not automatically recognized and you must inquire
about this.
A large scope exists for the French exporter to
enter the American market.
Look up 'creating a company'.
The market for French books is attractive, as the
American spends about 400 FF a year on books.
The American food industry is powerful and highly
structured. French agribusiness companies should be
aware of this in their commercial dealings.
Since 15th November 1995 the American budget is
being re-equiliberated and a tax reduction of 245
billion dollars is programmed.
7
- Population
The American
population is at 247 million inhabitants over the
whole continent. There are 81% Whites, 14% Blacks
and 5% Asians.
8
- Languages
English is
the official language.
It is English originally from England, Ireland and
Scotland. Shakespearean plays are acted in an
English accent, but the everyday English spoken in
America, the working English, is different from
English English, both in writing and vocabulary as
well as in the pronounciation. In Florida and
California Spanish is spoken and French is still
used in Louisiana.
9
- Religious Affiliations
Several
religions are practised in the United States but
especially Protestantism and Catholicism. Among the
others are most notably, Jews, Muslims, and several
Puritan groups who were amongst the first settlers,
such as the Amish, who still live very simply
without electricity.
10
- Weights, Measures and Voltage
Little
by little the metric system should be taking the
place of the American system.
However the US
system is still widely in use.
Electrical current is 110 volts.
Temperatures are indicated in Fahrenheit.
Temperature °F = (Temperature °C x 1.8) +
32
Temperature °C = (Temperature °F -
32):1.8
US
measurements of length are the same as in England
:
1 yard =
0,914 m.
1 mile = 1,609 km.
1 foot = 30 cm.
1 inch = 2,54 cm.
American
volume measures are a bit different from their
English
counterparts:
1 gallon US = 0,83 gallon UK.
1 gallon US : 3,785 litre.
1 quart US : 0,946 litre.
1 pint US : 0,473 litre.
Weights
are measured differently than their English
counterparts :
1 metric
ton = 2204 pounds US - 1 US ton = 0.902 metric
ton
1 pound /livre= 0,45 kilogramme.
1 pound = 0.45 kilogramme
1 ounce/once = 28 grammes.
1 ounce = 28 grammes.
11
- Money
The
official currency is the American dollar
1$US = 6.50 F.
It is advisable to be very careful when dealing
with money in the States as all the notes are the
same size and the same colour.
Travellers' cheques and international credit cards
are widely used.
12
- Main towns
The
United States is made up of 50 States and numerous
large towns.
Washington,
the capital, is situated in the District
of Columbia.
Seattle
(West Coast, State of Washington),where the
time difference with France is approx. +9 hours in
winter, has two airports Sea-Tac and Boeing in the
southern suburbs at 20 minutes from the centre.
English and Japanese are spoken there.
 
Atlanta
(Georgia), a town with 3 million inhabitants.
+5 in winter.
Chicago
(Illinois) has about 6 million inhabitants in
the Metropolitan Area which includes the suburbs.
The time difference with France is -7 hours in
winter and -6 hours in summer.
http://www.france-consulat.org/chicago/
Miami
(Florida) where the population is booming, has
about 2 million inhabitants. The time difference
with France is 6 hours.
Miami
Miami-accueil
New York
is situated on the east coast of the United
States
Los
Angeles
.is
on the west coast of the United States.
13
- Climate
New York has
a very cold winter with heavy snowfalls; the
summers are hot and humid. You can swim at Long
Island in July and August. New England has very
pleasant springs and summers, mild autumns
distinguished by their Indian summers in October,
but the winter is very cold. Cross- country skiing
and downhill skiing are widely practised.
The south-east has a mild spring and autumn, the
summer is humid, with cyclones.
Florida has a sub-tropical climate and attracts
tourists the whole year round.
The great central plains have very cold winters and
very hot summers.
The strong winds (blizzards) make the winters even
more severe.
In Texas the winters vary depending on the north
wind. Summers are very hot in Dallas and
Houston.
Winters in the Pacific region are colder in the
Rocky Mountains, which means that several ski
stations can work all the year round.
The north Pacific coast (Seattle) up to the south
of California has a maritime climate on the coast,
but in the region of Los Angeles the Santa Ana wind
which is very dry and dusty can wreck havoc.
Average Temperatures (maxi/mini) :
J F M A M J J A S O N D
CHICAGO 1 - 7 2 - 6 6 - 2 14 5 21 11 26 16 29 20 28
19 24 14 17 8 8 0 2 - 5
LOS ANGELES 18 7 18 8 18 9 19 11 20 13 22 15 24 17
24 17 24 16 23 14 22 11 19 9
MIAMI 24 14 25 15 27 16 28 19 30 21 31 23 32 24 32
24 31 24 29 22 27 18 25 15
NEW YORK 4 - 3 4 - 2 9 1 15 6 21 12 26 17 28 20 27
19 24 16 18 10 12 4 6 - 1
SAN FRANCISCO 13 5 15 6 16 7 18 8 19 10 21 11 22 12
22 12 23 12 21 10 18 8 14 6
WASHINGTON 7 -1 8 - 1 12 2 19 8 24 13 29 18 31 21
30 20 26 16 20 10 14 4 8 - 1
Number of hours a day - Rain : (measured in
mm/number of days)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
CHICAGO 4 5 7 7 9 10 10 9 8 7 5 4
LOS ANGELES 7 8 9 9 9 10 12 11 10 9 8 8
MIAMI 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 8 7 7 7 7
NEW YORK 5 6 7 7 8 10 10 7 8 7 6 5
SAN FRANCISCO 5 7 8 10 11 11 10 9 9 8 7 6
WASHINGTON 4 6 7 7 8 9 9 8 8 6 5 4
Sea temperatures (monthly average °C) :
J F M A M J J A S O N D
LOS ANGELES 15 15 15 15 16 16 18 19 19 18 17 16
MIAMI 23 22 22 23 25 27 28 28 28 27 25 23
14
- Insects and
Animals
Mosquitos and
midges are unfortunately to be found on the great
central plains, in the woods in Maine and Oregon,
but also in New York... There are also snakes in
the desert regions in Arizona, New Mexico and
southern California. Beware of Poison Ivy which
grows in the woods and causes violent itching.
|
