What is the impact of geography on business practices and the global economy. What are some examples?

Distance is one factor. It costs more to ship a large item from China to New York than to ship the same item from Maryland to New York.

In the Middle East, gasoline is plentiful, but water is scarce.

Countries with poor growing conditions (northern Canada, norhern Africa, interior Australia, etc.) must import food.

What other examples can you think of?