Business Trade Experts Work to Break Deadlock in Global Trade Talks

Published on March 16, 2012

L-R: WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, ICC Honorary Chairman Victor K. Fung, USCIB Chairman (and ICC Vice Chair) Harold McGraw III, and ICC Chairman Gerard Worms. — L-R: WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, ICC Honorary
Chairman Victor K. Fung, USCIB Chairman (and ICC Vice Chair) Harold McGraw
III, and ICC Chairman Gerard Worms.

Business leaders and trade experts met in Geneva earlier this week for the first conference on the ICC Business World Trade Agenda, an initiative of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), part of USCIB’s global network. The initiative aims to ensure that business works together with governments to
drive more effective trade talks.

More than 70 business experts, including CEOs, senior corporate executives and representatives of business organizations, together with World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Pascal Lamy, took part in the event. USCIB was represented by Chairman Harold McGraw III and Senior Vice President Rob Mulligan as well as a number of member executives.

Global business leaders involved in this initiative aimed to define multilateral trade negotiation priorities for business, and to help governments set a trade policy agenda for the 21st century that contributes to economic growth and job creation.

“It is crucial that governments work directly with the global business community to find answers to the current economic crisis,” said ICC Chairman Gerard Worms. “Opening trade and investment offers a stimulus to the global economy and would give business the clear sign that governments will not resort to protectionism.”

For the first time in 60 years, the multilateral trade negotiation process is at a standstill, and after 10 years, the Doha Development Agenda has reached a stalemate. Yet global trade remains a mainstay of the world economy and it is therefore crucial that global trade rules address the needs of the global marketplace.

“Business is especially troubled by the threat of increased protectionism from the world’s major economies. During this economic crisis, governments should be opening markets to stimulate their economies rather than putting up barriers to trade,” Victor K. Fung, chairman of the ICC Business World Trade Agenda initiative and honorary chairman of ICC said.

ICC launched in December 2011 the Business World Trade Agenda at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva, answering the call from G20 leaders at the recent Summit in Cannes for new approaches to trade negotiations. ICC is bolstered by the support it has received from the WTO in engaging business to provide recommendations to advance global trade negotiations.

Trade and Investment Committee Reviews Broad Array of Developments

Published on March 13, 2012

At the March 1 meeting of USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee discussed a wide range of issues. They met with Bruce Hirsch, trade counsel with the Senate Finance Committee, and heard about a recent trip by the committee’s chair, Sen. Max Baucus, to Russia and his support for moving forward on permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with the country. Members also discussed customs reauthorization, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, China trade enforcement and developments in Argentina.

Members were also briefed on work in the International Chamber of Commerce to update the ICC Investment Guidelines, the OECD’s work on competitive neutrality for state-owned enterprises, ICC’s upcoming Geneva conference on the WTO, and preparations for business input to the G20 summit in Mexico.

USCIB members may contact Rob Mulligan (rmulligan@uscib.org) for more information and to obtain a written summary of the meeting.

Staff Contact: Rob Mulligan

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Call for Nominations for World Business and Development Awards 2012

Published on February 6, 2012

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are delighted to announce the Call for Nominations for the World Business and Development Awards (WBDA) 2012. USCIB serves as ICC’s American affiliate.

Now in its 10^th year held on June 19, 2012, the biannual awards are the pinnacle of recognition for the contribution of the private sector in helping to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through their core business. In 2000, 189 world leaders adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which include eight goals that offer a road map to put people-centered development at the heart of global, national and local agendas. The eight goals, if achieved, could end extreme poverty and its root causes.

The 2012 Awards will be given to companies delivering Inclusive Business models, which include sustainable, commercially-successful business initiatives that expand access for low-income people to goods and services, or improve their livelihoods by engagement in value chains as direct employees, suppliers or distributors.

Taking place at the Rio+20 UN Conference in Brazil, the ceremony will convene when heads of state and CEOs of international businesses gather for the Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD) Business Day. A special category designated for Brazil-based companies will honor the Rio+2- host country.

The WBDA will take place this year in partnership with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the UN Global Compact.

The deadline to nominate an initiative is March 25, 2012. Please visit the Awards website:http://www.WorldBusinessAwards.net for more information.

For any questions or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, please email Lea Felluss (lfelluss@uscib.org).

Staff Contact: Louise Kantrow

World Business and Development Awards website

USCIB Will Support the China International Import Expo

Published on January 30, 2012

USCIB and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the world business organization which USCIB represents in the United States, along with 30 foreign counterparts of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC), have confirmed their support of the China International Import Expo (CIE 2012), which will be held from March 29 to 31, 2012 in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province in China.

Starting in 2012, China will accelerate the transformation of its economic development, as well as the strategic adjustment of its economic structure and industry upgrading. Therefore, China will pay more attention to environmental protection and will expand import of technologies and products of the energy-saving and environmental protection industry. This industry is among the 7 Strategic and Newly-Emerging Industries of which China will accelerate the fostering and development in fast pace. The total volume of its investment is expected to reach RMB 3.1 trillion. The highlights on import focus on technology and equipment for processing and recycling waste, saving energy and preventing and controlling air pollution; new-energy technology and equipment; the technology and equipment for the comprehensive utilization in the recycled economy and resource regeneration; new material and composite material; new-energy material; chemical and macromolecular new material, electronic information material, etc.

The pavilion for energy-saving and environmental protection industry is an important part of the expo. With the help of the database of 100,000 main Chinese import companies the CIE 2012 will invite Chinese companies in the energy-saving and environmental protection circle to visit and purchase during the expo.

Staff contact: Justine Badimon

More on USCIB’s China Committee

China International Import Expo (CIE 2012)

USCIB to Prepare Recommendations on Next Steps for Trade

Published on December 9, 2011

At the December 1 meeting of USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee, chaired by Scott Miller (director of national government relations with Procter & Gamble), members moved forward on planned USCIB recommendations on the international trade and investment agenda.

With the recent passage of three long-pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama, the continued lack of progress in the WTO’s Doha Round and growing protectionist sentiment in many key markets, a USCIB task force is developing broad yet detailed recommendations for the United States and other governments on what is needed to spur greater liberalization of trade and investment. The recommendations are expected to be completed in February.

The committee held a discussion with Everett Eissenstat, trade counsel with the Senate Finance Committee, covering a wide range of trade issues including the recent APEC summit, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Russia’s accession to the WTO, Customs reauthorization, Trade Promotion Authority, Doha and other trade priorities for 2012.

In addition, the committee reviewed plans for a possible USCIB study of global production networks and their impact on U.S. competitiveness. Members also heard an update on USCIB’s work USCIB on investment issues, especially state-owned enterprises and competitive neutrality.

Staff contact: Rob Mulligan

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Transatlantic Economic Council: US and EU Commit to Stronger Economic Ties

Published on December 9, 2011

Under the leadership of European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs Michael Froman, the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) met last week, during the U.S.-EU Summit, to discuss more cohesive and mutually beneficial regulatory cooperation between the U.S and EU, with a focus on opportunities in innovative sectors to ensure continued economic success and job creation.

The TEC discussions highlighted the need for bilateral efforts to avoid the creation of unnecessary regulatory and standards barriers to trade, especially in emerging sectors such as nanotechnology and electric vehicles, in strengthening joint approaches to third countries, and in developing commitments to shared principles for international investment by early 2012.

Among the positive outcomes of the TEC, USCIB applauds the much awaited agreement reached by the EU Directorate for Trade and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on mutual recognition of our trusted trader programs, AEO and C-TPAT. The agreement will enter into force in June 2012.

USCIB urges the European Union and the U.S. to continue the positive momentum of the TEC into 2012 and looks forward to working with officials by providing input and recommendations from our membership on current and future areas of regulatory cooperation.

Staff contact: Justine Badimon

More on USCIB’s European Union Committee

Business Urges Vigilance on Postal Authorities

Published on December 4, 2011

As postal revenue dries up around the world, many publicly operated postal organizations may be tempted to get into new lines of business. This presents a vexing challenge to private-sector companies that may find themselves in competition with these state-supported entities.

To address these concerns, last month USCIB and three other business groups sent a letter to the Obama Administration urging the U.S. to prepare diligently for the next ministerial-level congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which will take place in Qatar in September 2012.

“We see potentially important issues on the table at the UPU session, including unhelpful efforts from some quarters to extend the scope of government-run postal monopolies into new areas, potentially competing with the private sector,” stated Shaun Donnelly, USCIB’s vice president for investment and financial services. “Package delivery, insurance, financial services and retail are just some of the sectors where postal monopolies might try to encroach in an effort to offset shrinking volumes and financial losses in their postal services.”

The business groups urged the administration to form an interagency committee to develop coordinated pro-market, pro-competition positions for the U.S. delegation leading up to and at the UPU congress. They also recommend that the State Department, Postal Service and the U.S. interagency team work closely with relevant private-sector entities throughout this preparatory period.

Other groups signing the letter with USCIB were the American Council of Life Insurers, Coalition of Service Industries and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Staff contact: Shaun Donnelly

More on USCIB’s European Union Committee

Silicon Valley General Counsels Learn About Emerging Global Legal Challenges

Published on November 1, 2011

On October 21, Charlene Flick, director of intellectual property and competition at USCIB, addressed the Silicon Valley Association of General Counsel in Santa Clara, California. Ms. Flick discussed emerging legal challenges for U.S. companies as they expand internationally, and specifically how USCIB helps American industry navigate an increasingly complex global marketplace.

USCIB recently updated its Legal Issues Overview, which presents a number of key international policy issues with strong legal components as a reference for corporate counsel and other legal professionals.

“The objective of USCIB’s work,” Ms. Flick noted, “is to foster fair and predictable legal and regulatory regimes across borders to enhance seamless transactions across borders.” Ms. Flick discussed how USCIB capitalizes on its extensive industry network to influence policy at both national and international institutions. She then offered a selection of legal challenges that she confronts regularly in her work at USCIB, ranging from questions of jurisdiction and extraterritoriality to the adequacy of a country’s intellectual property regime and whether or not the U.S. notion of due process is respected in foreign jurisdictions in the course of a foreign enforcement action.

“Of particular interest to the general counsels was the realization that legal privilege as U.S. lawyers understand it – that communications between corporate executives and in-house lawyers are privileged and not discoverable — does not apply in all foreign jurisdictions,” Ms. Flick observed. “The European Union, for example, does not accept this notion of legal privilege, and it is important for American companies to understand that communications internally across borders may be subject to different legal norms in the course of a foreign investigation, and how best to deal with this reality.”

Ms. Flick emphasized that advocacy should not be limited to the legislative bodies, but that influencing policy objectives should be approached on the executive and judicial fronts, as well. She noted that as the markets globalize, policymakers will be forced to harmonize their own regulatory landscape with that of other countries to benefit their own economies. “U.S. industry is global industry,” Ms. Flick concluded, “and it should insist upon being at the table where regulations and policies are conceived that will dictate global business.” This, of course, is where USCIB really provides value to its members.

Staff contact: Helen Medina

USCIB Legal Issues Overview

More on USCIB’s Intellectual Property Committee

More on USCIB’s Competition Committee

Business Says Euro Debt Deal Only First Step

Published on October 27, 2011

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) welcomed the agreement reached by leaders to address the challenges of sovereign and bank debt in Europe, calling it a development that should contribute to restoring confidence and stability to the world economy. But ICC, which USCIB represents in the United States, said it believes that a strong multilateral effort by all G20 countries will be needed to lead the world economy into a position of renewed growth and job creation.

“The leaders of the G20 are uniquely placed to build on this example of European unity to adopt a plan that will take the world economy beyond the reach of instability and growing unemployment,” said ICC Chairman Gerard Worms. “As they did in 2009, the G20 can agree on a plan where emerging and developed economies chart a course out of crisis into a new period of growth and job creation.”

ICC said greater coordination and more effective international governance are crucial for ensuring that economic policies are consistent and contribute to global stability. It said this can best be brought about by continuing to develop a more formal framework between the G20 countries – the leaders of which are meeting for a Summit in Cannes, France on November 3-4 – and key intergovernmental financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund.

USCIB Chairman Harold McGraw III, CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies and also vice chairman of ICC, will participate in the B20 Business Summit taking place just prior to the G20 Summit in Cannes, which ICC is organizing alongside other major business groups.

Business Groups Continue to Oppose China Currency Bill

Published on October 12, 2011

In response to proposed legislation aimed at pressuring China to accelerate the appreciation of its currency against the dollar, USCIB has been working with a coalition of other trade associations, led by the U.S.-China Business Council, to oppose the bill.

The Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act would label currency manipulation as a foreign subsidy, triggering U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.

In a September 21 letter to Congress, USCIB and over 50 trade associations emphasized the importance of balancing bilateral with multilateral pressure on China.

“In addition to continuing U.S. government efforts, our organizations support strong, coordinated and enhanced multilateral pressure through international organizations such as the G-20 and APEC to promote China’s adoption of market-determined currency and exchange rate policies,” the letter stated.

On October 11, the controversial legislation was voted through the Senate without amendment by a vote of 63-35. One proposed amendment submitted by Senator Orrin Hatch (R – Ut.).had included a multilateral approach to pressuring China on the appreciation of its currency.

Ten Years On: China in the WTO

This year marks the tenth anniversary of China’s membership in the World Trade Organization. In October, as we have done each year since 2001, USCIB delivered a comprehensive statement to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk’s office on China’s compliance with its WTO obligations.

USTR collects this invaluable information from the business community to assist in preparing its report to Congress on China’s WTO compliance. USCIB members provided updated information in several cross-sectoral areas as well as those affecting their specific industries. Among the top concerns were China’s policies and practices in indigenous innovation, intellectual property rights enforcement, transparency and standards.

We thank the USCIB members who took the time to send in updates and help us prepare the statement.

The Treasury Department has announced that it will delay publication of the semi-annual Report to Congress on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies of the U.S.’s major trading partners until later this year, to allow time to assess progress following several international meetings, including the G20 finance ministers/central banks meetings on October 14-15 and the G20 and APEC summits in November.

USCIB will continue to monitor the progress of the proposed currency legislation and work with industry associations to ensure that the voice of business is heard on the importance of a multilateral approach to China’s management of its currency.

Staff contact: Justine Badimon

More on USCIB’s China Committee

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