Final answer:
A bribe is a crime even if it is lawful under the laws of the foreign country where it was given, largely due to international laws like the FCPA. Compliance with these laws is required despite the temptation for higher profits.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that a bribe is a crime even if the payment was lawful under the laws of the foreign country in which it was paid. This is in part due to international anti-corruption laws like the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which makes it illegal for U.S. citizens and entities to bribe foreign government officials, regardless of the local lawfulness of such actions.
The fact that firms face the temptation to earn higher profits does not justify the defiance of anti-bribery laws. History provides an example with the XYZ affair, where the attempt to extract a bribe outraged the American public and demonstrated the weight of ethical conduct in international relations.