Brian Lowry Archives

Private-Sector Approaches to Reducing Food Waste

Published on July 8, 2013

foodsRecognizing that approximately one third or more of food is lost or wasted every year globally, the private sector is proactively working to address this major challenge throughout the food chain. A recent Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD paper, entitled BIAC Perspectives on Private Sector Solutions to Food Waste and Loss, argues that tackling food waste is a win-win approach: the private sector benefits through increased productivity and economic returns, while at the same time food security, economic growth and development are all strengthened.

However, in order to scale-up and incentivize private sector-led solutions, the BIAC paper underlines that the right enabling policy conditions need to be put in place. It will be crucial to reach a workable definition of food waste and loss, while also improving consistency in data collection around the world.

BIAC’s paper was submitted to an OECD event on June 20-21 entitled Food Waste Along the Supply Chain, as a contribution to ongoing OECD work to collect and harmonize international data on food waste.

Staff contact: Helen Medina

More on USCIB’s Food and Agriculture Committee

APEC Officials Compare Notes on Regulation of Chemicals

Published on June 25, 2013

At this week’s third APEC senior officials meeting (SOM III) in Medan, Indonesia, regulators from a wide range of APEC economies met with industry representatives and other stakeholders to discuss emerging issues in the regulation of chemicals. Helen Medina, USCIB’s senior director of product policy and innovation, attended along with a number of member company executives. The forum took place under the auspices of the APEC Chemical Dialogue, a forum for regulatory officials and industry representatives to find solutions to challenges facing the chemical industry and users of chemicals in the Asia-Pacific region.

The APEC Regulators Forum began with a discussion of what is happening with the OECD Clearing House on New Chemicals (CHNC) which brings together representatives of interested governments (U.S., Canada, Australia) and the chemical industry, working cooperatively to reduce overall burdens associated with new chemical notification reviews, while maintaining the high quality of health and safety decisions for new chemicals.

Participants in the APEC regulators forum. At center is Ana Corado of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, acting chair of the forum. USCIB’s Helen Medina is immediately to the left of Ms. Corado.
Participants in the APEC regulators forum. At center is Ana Corado of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, acting chair of the forum. USCIB’s Helen Medina is immediately to the left of Ms. Corado.

The CHNC works to streamline the new chemicals notification processes by sharing the work on new chemical notifications and assessments, so that that there is a mutual recognition of assessments and a mutual acceptance of notifications. It is actively working to include more participants from non-OECD countries in its activities. Since many APEC economies are in the process of updating or creating new chemical management systems, participants at the regulators forum agreed that having joint meetings with the OECD CHNC would help APEC regulators.

“The OECD New Chemicals Clearing House has real value for both economies and industry,” said Marianne Heinrich (BP). “We hope that having the joint meeting with the APEC regulators forum will increase the participation of APEC economies, so that participation in the Clearing House can create even more benefits for all stakeholders.”

Other items that emerged from the meeting include:

  • A proposal for a scientific workshop on metals risk assessment within the framework of the APEC Regulators’ Forum which was introduced by the Australian government. This was supported by Japan, Australia, Chile, Philippines, Chinese Taipei, Russia and China, and approved by the APEC Chemical Dialogue, which took place later in the week.
  • Vietnam has requested APEC funding for technical assistance to develop an industrial chemical inventory, which would be recognized internationally and allow the trade of chemicals between Vietnam and other APEC economies. It was agreed that the proposal needs to be further developed, keeping in mind ways that such a project could also help other economies.

Economies represented included Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, the United States and Vietnam. USCIB members present included BP, the American Petroleum Institute, Dupont, the American Chemistry Council, Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates, the Nickel Institute and the Toy Industry Association.

In addition, during a breakout session, USCIB members met with EPA officials to discuss possible future projects for the APEC Regulators Forum to undertake. USCIB suggested the following:

  • The Regulators Forum could provide information about training tools to help SMEs implement the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.
  • APEC could translate new regulatory documents that emerge from APEC economies into English.
  • Improve the APEC Chemicals Dialogue website so that it is easier for participants to search for and access documents.

The chair of the meeting (from the United States) thought these ideas could be valuable as future projects but they would need to be formally introduced either in the Regulators Forum or at the APEC Chemical Dialogue Steering Group.

Survey on confidential business information

At the APEC Chemical Dialogue itself, USCIB’s Medina unveiled the APEC Economies Survey on Confidential Business Information (CBI), which seeks to determine what type of information is protected in various APEC economies.

“This survey is important to business because industry needs a better understanding of what is protected,” she said. “If confidential business information must be disclosed, industry needs to know how the APEC Economy is sharing the information, and with whom.”

Once information has been gathered from the survey, we hope to foster a discussion on how the APEC Chemical Dialogue can work on harmonizing how economies protect CBI, and what type of information is considered CBI.

Staff contact: Helen Medina

More on USCIB’s Product Policy Working Group

 

Taiwan Adopts New Chemicals Legislation

Taiwan, Province of China, has passed new legislation that moves it toward a European Union-style chemicals management system. Some highlights of the new law include:

  • A ban on manufacturer or import prior to submitting hazard and labor risk assessment reports and obtaining the approval  for registration of new chemicals (those not listed in a government inventory)
  • Required disclosure of hazard and risk assessment of the registered new chemical substance for the purpose of protecting workplace safety and health
  • Required submission of relevant operation data of priority management chemical substances designated by the Taiwan government
  • Required government permit for operating with or exposure to designated controlled chemical substances, including those that are potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction, and endocrine disruptors

USCIB has advocated a risk-based approach to chemicals management, and has sought to curtail requirements for the disclosure of confidential business information, including trade secrets and other intellectual property, as a precondition for approval to use new chemicals substances. We will continue to monitor the development of chemicals regulation in a number of key markets.

News Brief: Report Calls for Action to Stop Counterfeiting in Free Trade Zones

Published on May 15, 2013

A new report from ICC’s Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) initiative calls for increased regulation and better management of free trade zones (FTZs) to stop the alarming trend of the use of FTZs to facilitate the manufacture, distribution, and sale of counterfeit products.

The report, Controlling the Zone: Balancing facilitation and control to combat illicit trade in the world’s Free Trade Zones, looks at the increasing vulnerability of FTZs to criminal activities that are facilitating the global trade of counterfeit and pirated products. It summarizes the circumstances that have enabled the exploitation of FTZs, including an examination of weaknesses in international agreements, national legislation and judicial enforcement.

National governments encourage the creation of FTZs to increase trade and attract investment by removing or reducing duties and tariffs, softening customs controls and largely decreasing oversight in FTZs. These incentives have simultaneously made it easier for criminals to set up illicit operations, with increasing evidence showing that FTZs are being exploited to facilitate the international trade in counterfeit and pirated goods.

Last year, USCIB welcomed the Obama administration’s rollback of planned changes to the rules governing U.S. free trade zones. USCIB had earlier said some of the proposed changes would impose significant hurdles for exporters.

Read more and download the report on the ICC website.

Staff contacts: Helen Medina and Nasim Deylami

More on USCIB’s Intellectual Property Committee

More on USCIB’s Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee

Greening the Agro-Food Chain: Better Policies Are Needed

Published on May 2, 2013

4497_image002Last week in Paris, business executives and government policy makers held their first OECD workshop on how to make the agro-food chain greener and more sustainable for all.

The topic of green growth in the food and agriculture sector was at the core of discussions – organized by the OECD secretariat and BIAC, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, part of USCIB’s global network – which were held under the banner of “Green Growth in the Agro-food Chain: What Role for the Private Sector?”

A number of USCIB members joined Helen Medina, USCIB’s senior director of product policy and innovation, at the workshop. Participants agreed that business is the leading driver of agricultural productivity and resource efficiency, but that sound policies are necessary pre-requisites in order to realize the full potential of greening the agro-food chain.

The growing challenges facing the sector were addressed, such as climate change, rising demand for food, shifting diets, soil degradation and competing demands for vital resources such as water. These challenges oblige the sector to do more with less – i.e., increase agricultural productivity to meet growing demand, but in a sustainable manner.

USCIB members highlighted several areas that OECD governments can work on to promote sustainability, including:

  • long-term, fact-based, risk-based, predictable and interpretable regulatory processes
  • good governance and well-functioning institutions (notably to protect intellectual property and land rights)
  • international and cross-discipline collaborations in the area of R&D and opportunities for international cooperation in basic research
  • closer cooperation between the public and private sector
  • fostering trade and investment liberalization to facilitate the development and diffusion of technology
  • increasing access to financial services in rural areas and for farmers in order to increase capital investment
  • an overall enabling policy framework that provides adequate incentives to create and adopt new technologies in all areas.

“We must collectively look at the problems to identify and answer the questions.” said Denise Knight, director of sustainable agriculture with The Coca-Cola Company, In remarks to the workshop. “Coke’s business strategy includes taking a holistic and integrated approach that recognizes the value of the services provided by intact ecosystems. We believe in working with partners across sectors, business, government, and civil society, to share our expertise and work on coordinated approaches to resolve problems. But, we also look to governments to reduce trade barriers and streamline the regulatory environments so that we can fully realize our strategy for sustainability.”

Other participating USCIB members included Croplife USA, McDonald’s and Monsanto.

Business representatives reminded governments of the importance of measuring performance in order to track progress. The OECD can play an essential role in greening the agro-food chain by generating data, sharing best practices and encouraging international and economy-wide policy cooperation and dialogue with the private sector.

Staff contact: Helen Medina

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

More on USCIB’s Food and Agricultural Working Group

APEC Members Look at Advertising Standards

Published on March 26, 2013

4472_image002Prior to the February meeting in Indonesia of the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Committee on Trade and Investment, each of the lead representatives of the 21 member economies were urged by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), part of USCIB’s global network, to support work advancing advertising standards in the region.

USCIB is working with ICC and a range of U.S. business groups to present business views to APEC member economies throughout Indonesia’s host year.

ICC, a leading proponent of self-regulation in many spheres, maintains a highly regarded code on marketing and advertising, which is used as a model by self-regulatory authorities around the world. In a letter, ICC Secretary General Jean-Guy Carrier expressed global business support and ICC endorsement of an Australian-led initiative to develop common principles for advertising standards across APEC economies, with the aim of reducing technical trade barriers.

eferring to a report from a November 2012 dialogue in Vietnam, where government and industry participants issued recommendations, Carrier highlighted the importance of APEC support and follow-up on capacity building proposals to help economies getting started or wishing to further develop national standards to the ICC Code and the best practice model recommendations for self-regulation. Read more on ICC’s website.

On February 19, USCIB’s Marketing and Advertising Committee organized a call with the U.S. Trade Representative’s office and the ICC Marketing Commission to discuss self-regulation in advertising in the APEC area, and the possibility for capacity-building within APEC to promote effective self-regulation of advertising. Outcomes of the call included exploring a possible workshop on self-regulation during the Indonesia APEC year and reporting out to senior APEC officials on the ICC’s code.

Staff contact: Justine Badimon and Charlene Flick

WHO Urged to Improve Consultation With the Private Sector

Published on March 22, 2013
WHO headquarters in Geneva
WHO headquarters in Geneva

USCIB is joining with other industry groups in urging the World Health Organization to improve its procedures for engaging with the business community and other stakeholders.

In February, as part of a broader reform effort, WHO’s executive board decided to conduct public, Web-based consultations on draft principles and policies of engagement with non-state actors.

“USCIB is pleased that WHO is now undertaking this process to consider how to engage with the private sector and other stakeholders,” said Helen Medina, USCIB’s director of product policy.

“In spite of the contributions that business makes to health care innovation, and the impacts of WHO norms and standards on business, WHO has traditionally maintained limited options for business observer organizations.”

WHO is the lead organization for health policy matters within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

Reflecting on decades of experience in undertaking proactive engagement with other intergovernmental bodies, including in the areas of environmental affairs and product policy, USCIB encouraged WHO to follow the lead of other UN agencies in better integrating business views into its deliberations.

In its submission, USCIB noted that the private sector is highly diverse in terms of industries, company size and geographical location. Given the wide array of issues addressed by WHO, USCIB said it is essential to provide business and industry adequate representation in order to enable broad and deep engagement across the private sector.

Business and industry is vested in good outcomes for society and human health, USCIB said, and it plays an important role in addressing global health priorities. The private sector can harness its expertise to innovate, research and provide solutions in areas related to health and wellbeing. Business’s commercial activities generate employment, tax revenue and other important resources for societal and individual well-being.

USCIB said the WHO should strive for transparency, engage with business and industry as part of civil society, and take the private sector’s science-based views into account.

At the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, UN member states agreed that sustainable development could not be achieved by governments alone. Engagement with business and industry, along with other important societal interests, is a recognized feature of many other UN bodies.

USCIB will continue to work with its industry partners to encourage WHO to follow the lead of other UN bodies in engaging business and other groups in a transparent and consistent manner, respecting good governance and transparency, and avoiding conflicts of interest.

USCIB’s comments were submitted alongside those of other industry groups, including the International Organization of Employers (part of USCIB’s global network), CropLife International, the Global Alcohol Producers Group, the International Food and Beverage Alliance, and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations.

Staff contacts: Helen Medina and Norine Kennedy

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

More on USCIB’s Product Policy Working Group

APEC’s “Indonesia Year” Gets Underway at Chemical Dialogue

Published on February 11, 2013

4439_image002USCIB continues to maintain a high profile in the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum, which groups the United States and 20 other economies in the Asia-Pacific region. This is especially true in areas where we bring high functional expertise, such as customs, privacy and chemicals. The latter issue was among those addressed at this year’s first APEC senior officials meeting (SOM I) in Jakarta at the end of January and the beginning of February. (Indonesia has taken over from last year’s host, Russia; China is slated to serve as APEC host next year.)

Several USCIB members joined Helen Medina, director of life sciences and product policy, at the APEC Chemical Dialogue’s steering group meeting during SOM I. The Chemical Dialogue’s overall goals are to facilitate trade in the region through expanded cooperation and mutual recognition among chemical regulators, to enhance understanding of the chemical industry’s innovative role, and to encourage chemical product stewardship, safe use and sustainability.

This year, the Chemical Dialogue will continue to promote the implementation of the UN’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals – a set of guidelines aimed at simplifying regulations and labeling requirements, as well as improving safety and environmental protection – by APEC member economies. Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and Australia are lending support to the effort by assembling a clearinghouse on labeling initiatives and case studies on how APEC economies are implementing the UN system.

Chemicals Dialogue members are also evaluating the implementation of the EU’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) initiative, which regulates use of chemicals throughout a product’s life cycle, and which has had a large impact on companies up and down the supply chain. USCIB’s Medina made the case that regional initiatives like REACH need to take account of the global impact such rules can have, given today’s highly integrated global production networks.

The treatment of confidential business information is an important issue in chemicals regulation and product policy. While regulators must collect product information in order to carry out their programs, companies also need to protect trade secrets. USCIB is leading an effort to survey APEC member economies on their treatment of confidential business information. “Companies must be committed to designing and selling products safe for the users and environment in all markets, and have the confidence that intellectual property will be protected,” commented Beth Hulse, global regulatory manager at GE.

A number of additional programs are underway in the APEC Chemical Dialogue to promote regulatory cooperation and analyze the potential hazards of specific products and substances. USCIB members came away impressed with the discussion in Jakarta. “The sessions provided in-depth insight into cooperation between economies to forge a fair regulatory framework that promotes trade and environmental awareness,” said Poh Cheng Oh, compliance program manager with Hewlett-Packard.

APEC’s 2nd senior officials meeting takes place April 6-19 in Surabaya, Indonesia and include a meeting of trade ministers. The next round of APEC Chemical Dialogue meetings will take place June 22-24, during SOM III, in Meden, Indonesia. The APEC Leaders Meeting takes place October 5-7 in Bali. You can read a 2-page backgrounder on USCIB’s activities and priorities for APEC in 2013 by clicking here.

 

Staff contact: Helen Medina and Justine Badimon

USCIB APEC 2013 Backgrounder

More on USCIB’s Product Policy Working Group

Nairobi Conference Maps Out Future UN Work on Chemicals

Published on October 1, 2012

africaAgainst the backdrop of growing international attention to the use of chemicals throughout the production and consumption chain, Helen Medina, USCIB’s director of life sciences and product policy, attended the Third International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM3), September 17-21 in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference was held under the auspices of the UN Environment Program (UNEP).

An overarching issue at the conference was financing and technical resources for implementing the goals of the UN’s Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). SAICM is a voluntary policy framework, implemented in a multi-stakeholder process, with the aim of ensuring that, by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health.

“Since SAICM’s activities are increasingly dealing with products, downstream users and manufacturers need to be more fully included in the SAICM dialogue,” noted Medina. “This means that we need more participation from manufacturers, and that the SAICM process should take their views into account and reflect this in the outcomes.”

One of SAICM’s main objectives is that information and knowledge about chemicals contained in products “is available, accessible, user friendly, adequate and appropriate to the needs of all stakeholders.” As a step towards fulfilling this objective, UNEP has led a Chemicals in Product (CiP) project.

During ICCM3, it was decided that the CiP project would move forward to develop a proposal for an international voluntary program to facilitate and provide guidance on how relevant information on chemicals in products along the supply chain and throughout their life cycle can be shared with stakeholders. USCIB intervened during the negotiations to ensure that the proposed voluntary program would not target product categories within the scope of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of chemicals, and that only relevant information is sought from companies. USCIB also stressed that as the project develops it is important to recognize the existing information exchange systems which have already been developed and it underscored the importance of protecting confidential business information.

Other discussion items of interests to USCIB members included decisions on emerging issues such as endocrine disrupting chemicals, hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products, and additions to SAICM’s Global Plan of Action.

The issue of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) as a new work stream for SAICM was contentious. Derek Swick (American Petroleum Institute), representing USCIB, actively participated in the negotiations to emphasize the need for continued scientific knowledge on EDCs, and to underline that it was premature to include any work items to examine potential EDCs.  USCIB’s advocacy successfully limited new endocrine work under SAICM solely to known endocrine disruptors and not to “potential” endocrine disruptors.

The issue of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products continued to be of high interest to delegates, with African nations in particular voicing concern that, as production of electronics continues to increase, managing the waste and recovery of those products is crucial. Negotiators agreed that SAICM would develop an international set of best-practice resources, including in product design, to minimize the use of hazardous substances.

Another topic of interest to USCIB members was how SAICM’s Global Plan of Action might be expanded to address hazardous substances within the lifecycle of electrical and electronic products, as well as nanotechnologies and manufactured nanomaterials. Mike Irwin (Procter & Gamble) followed these negotiations on behalf of USCIB.

Currently, the GPA is list of activities is a menu of non-negotiated items, which countries may choose to undertake in implementing SAICM objectives. USCIB’s main concern was that list of activities discussed in Nairobi would be included in the GPA in a manner that would elevate the importance of the activities.  After much debate, the additional activities to the GPA continue to remain as list of optional actions which countries can carry out as they continue to implement SAICM.

Sophia Danenberg (Boeing) was also invited to participate in a high-level dialogue of representatives from government, industry and civil society to discuss strengthening SAICM’s implementation. She reiterated that, with SAICM’s activities increasingly dealing with products, downstream users and manufacturers need to be more fully included in the SAICM dialogue.

Staff contact: Helen Medina

More on USCIB’s Product Policy Working Group

ICC to Co-Host Intellectual Property Seminar in Beijing

Published on September 25, 2012

beijing lanternsThe International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Commission on Intellectual Property is teaming up with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) to co-host a conference entitled “Increasing Economic and Business Competitiveness Using Intellectual Assets” in Beijing on October 26.

Organized principally for Chinese policymakers, corporate representatives and intellectual property (IP) professionals, the event will bring in top speakers from China and beyond, including Tian Lipu, Commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO), David Koris, Global Head of Intellectual Property for Shell, senior figures in the U.S. and European patent offices, and IP specialists from major companies.

Talks will focus on how IP can help businesses and be used in government strategies to boost economic competitiveness, promote innovation and attract investment.

“We’re delighted to be working with CCPIT to organize this conference. Intellectual property is a crucial tool for businesses in today’s economy, and we hope this event will stimulate a fruitful exchange between businesses and government officials from inside and outside China on some key intellectual property issues facing businesses and governments,” said David Koris, who is also Chair of the ICC Commission on Intellectual Property.

Shell, Beiqi Foton Motor Co., State Nuclear Power Technology Cooperation, Monsanto and General Electric are just a few of the businesses whose high-level IP specialists will speak at the event.

For more information on which topics will be discussed, click here.

Staff Contact: Helen Medina

Intellectual Property Conference in Beijing Program

More on USCIB’s Intellectual Property Committee

USCIB Represents Business at APEC Summit

Published on September 14, 2012
USCIB’s Justine Badimon and Peter Robinson in Vladivostok
USCIB’s Justine Badimon and Peter Robinson in Vladivostok

The APEC Russia host year recently came to a close with the APEC CEO Summit, Ministers’ and Leaders’ meetings held in Vladivostok in early September.  USCIB President & CEO Peter Robinson and Justine Badimon, manager for APEC affairs, attended the CEO Summit on behalf of USCIB members and the U.S. APEC Business Coalition from September 5-8.

The Business Coalition was represented in Vladivostok by USCIB and our partners, the National Center for APEC, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. ASEAN Business Council and the U.S.-Russia Business Council, along with many executives from USCIB member companies.

Ministers and leaders from the APEC economies met in Vladivostok over the first week of September to assess the progress of the 2012 year and plan the way forward. On September 6th APEC ministers released a positive statement on their commitment toward fostering trade and economic growth in the region, and addressing next generation trade and investment issues.

Over 50 representatives from U.S. companies attended the summit, which included a full agenda of panel discussions with members of the business community on current trade and economic issues affecting the Asia-Pacific region.  Leaders addressing the summit included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera meets with Robinson and other members of the U.S. APEC Business Coalition.
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera meets with Robinson and other members of the U.S. APEC Business Coalition.

U.S. participants also took part in the Business Coalition bilateral meetings, which were held parallel to the summit, with senior foreign government officials from the APEC economies including Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera (which Robinson chaired) and Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming. These bilateral meetings gave the U.S. business community an opportunity for dialogue on APEC and Trans-Pacific Partnership issues and a chance to express concerns about business issues faced in those economies. The coalition also met with U.S. officials including Under Secretary of State Robert Hormats, and Deputy U.S. Trade Representatives Demetrios Marantis and Michael Punke.

One of the most notable outcomes from the ministers and leaders meetings in Vladivostok was agreement on a list of Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) that directly and positively contribute to APEC’s green growth and sustainable development objectives. By the end of 2015 applied tariff rates on all environmental goods included on the list are to be reduced to five per cent or less.

In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Robinson wrote: “Together with agreement by the APEC ministers on a comprehensive approach to trade facilitation and supply chain connectivity – additional high-priority items for USCIB’s members – the green goods agreement demonstrates the ability of APEC to tackle and push forward important shared priorities.”

In addition to significant agreements on APEC’s approach to supply-chain performance and commitments to work toward prevention of local content requirements in the region, USCIB welcomed the formation of a Virtual Customs Business Working Group, which will enhance collaboration with the private sector on customs-related issues. Nasim Deylami, USCIB’s manager for customs and trade facilitation, played an integral role in creating the Virtual Working Group with the support of USCIB members and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). We look forward to the progress that this group will bring to maintaining a consistent and meaningful dialogue on customs issues in the APEC arena.

Turning ahead to Indonesia’s host year in 2013, USCIB is looking forward to continuing our role ensuring the engagement of the business community in maintaining the positive momentum of work and dialogue in the APEC process. The next APEC CEO Summit will take place October 5-7 in Bali, Indonesia.

To learn more about USCIB’s APEC work, please keep an eye out for USCIB’s 2013 APEC Priorities Paper, which will be finalized in late October.

Staff contact: Justine Badimon