Kira Yevtukhova Archives

Business, Anti-Poverty and Faith-Based Groups Unite in Support of Open Markets

Published on March 20, 2009

handshakeNew York, N.Y., March 20, 2009 – Faced with rising signs of the damage the global economic crisis is causing in poorer nations, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s top global companies, and other business groups joined with the anti-poverty and faith-based communities in appealing for U.S. leadership to maintain open markets and keep millions in the developing world from falling back into poverty.

In a joint letter to President Obama and the House and Senate leadership, the organizations noted that it was highly unusual for such disparate groups to join forces on an issue, but that “there are aspects of the current global financial crisis that warrant such common efforts.”  Chief among these is the need to keep markets open and avoid turning inward, they said.

The groups wrote: “The economic welfare of Americans is inextricably linked with the well-being of men, women, and children across the globe.  It is essential, therefore, that the United States reject those policies that will worsen the impact of the current economic crisis on global economic growth and development, particularly with respect to poor nations, and work instead alongside the people of these nations to further their own sustainable development.  By doing so, we ultimately secure our own economic future.”

The letter cited worrisome evidence of the damage the crisis is having on developing countries, with recent reports from the IMF, World Bank and World Trade Organization all pointing to the urgency of the situation.  Sharp decreases in investment flows, export demand, export credits and commodity prices will hit developing countries hard, the groups said, with Africa being especially vulnerable.  The World Bank estimates that each one-percent drop in global economic growth traps 20 million more people in poverty worldwide.

The groups joined in urging the Obama administration and Congress to reaffirm at April’s G20 Summit in London the earlier commitment by G20 nations to reject destructive protectionism.  They also called upon the United States to strive for a successful conclusion of the WTO’s Doha Round that opens major markets for both developed and developing countries, review and reform U.S. trade-preference programs to give special attention to uniquely vulnerable countries, and reinforce the commitment to increase development assistance.

“It is important to remember that at the heart of the global financial system are working families and local communities whose fate is bound together in a globalized economy,” the letter stated.  “Our nation is undergoing severe distress in terms of jobs, businesses and investment that is taking a daily toll on people.  Such problems should motivate us to seek solutions that reject destructive protectionism on the one hand and global indifference to the plight of the poor on the other.”

Groups joining USCIB in signing the appeal included the National Foreign Trade Council, Business Roundtable, Center for Global Development, Emergency Committee for American Trade, the Episcopal Church, ONE, Oxfam America, Progressive Policy Institute, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and World Vision.

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.

Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, VP Communications, USCIB
Tel: +1 212.703.5043 (office) or +1 917.420.0039 (mobile)
E-mail: jhuneke@uscib.org

Joint letter on Doha Round and development

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Industry Groups Say Union Card-Check Bill Violates Principles of International Law

Published on March 18, 2009

ballot boxNew York, N.Y., March 18, 2009 – The proposed “card-check” bill currently before Congress, which would effectively eliminate secret ballots for employees to form unions, may violate longstanding international legal principles, according to a joint letter from two top industry groups.

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have sent a letter to Congress spelling out how provisions of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) contradict the principles of international labor law as defined by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

“It’s disturbing that labor unions, which for years have pressed for integration of ILO labor standards into U.S. law and trade agreements, would be pushing to introduce a system that violates ILO standards,” said Adam Greene, USCIB’s vice president for labor and corporate responsibility.

USCIB is the American employers representative to the ILO, a tripartite United Nations body with representation from governments, businesses and trade unions that sets international labor standards and works to promote improved labor practices worldwide.  The International Organization of Employers (IOE) is the worldwide organization that coordinates business participation in the ILO.

The joint industry letter highlighted two provisions in the card-check bill, which would modify the National Labor Relations Act.   They would effectively eliminate the secret ballot in union elections and impose a compulsory arbitration scheme to set the terms of initial collective bargaining agreements.  The business groups said these were inconsistent with the ILO’s 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

The ILO calls secret ballot elections the preferred means for workers to select a union, since workers face far less risk of reprisal.  The UN body also discourages compulsory arbitration schemes, saying they interfere with voluntary collective bargaining and freedom of association.

“Congress needs to think long and hard about whether we really want to place the United States so far outside the agreed international norms on this issue,” said Mr. Greene.  “Even prisoners of war, under the Geneva Conventions, are guaranteed the right to a secret ballot when electing their representatives.”

These arguments will be elaborated in more detail in a forthcoming article by attorney Stefan Jan Marculewicz in the IOE’s 2009 International Labor and Social Policy Review.

USCIB promotes international engagement and prudent regulation in support of open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility. Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including the IOE, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.  More information is available at www.uscib.org.

Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, VP Communications, USCIB
Tel: +1 212.703.5043 (office) or +1 917.420.0039 (mobile)
E-mail: jhuneke@uscib.org

Joint industry letter on Employee Free Choice Act

Article: “Elimination of the Secret Ballot Union Election and Compulsory Arbitration Under The Employee Free Choice Act – A Violation of Fundamental Principles of International Labor Law”

More on USCIB’s Labor and Employment Committee

U.S. Multinational Companies Strengthen the Domestic Economy

Published on March 16, 2009

Study demonstrates how domestic multinationals contribute to American productivity and prosperity

Washington, D.C., March 16, 2009 – A study published today by the United States Council Foundation confirms that – contrary to public belief – U.S. multinationals strengthen the domestic economy by enhancing America’s productivity, leading to job creation and increased compensation for our workers. The study, “How U.S. Multinational Companies Strengthen the U.S. Economy,” published jointly with the Business Roundtable, challenges recent concerns regarding the balance of these corporations’ domestic and international activities.

“The notion that U.S. multinationals have ‘abandoned’ our country by shipping the majority of their operations overseas is not supported by the facts,” said author Matthew J. Slaughter, associate dean of the MBA program and professor of International Economics at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. “We live in a society that is truly interconnected on a global scale. Consumers demand access to goods and services from all over the world. Therefore, the success of these companies increasingly depends on their engagement in the global marketplace. Their leaders must make strategic investment and employment decisions from an international perspective, linking all locations to take advantage of the dynamic world market.”

According to Slaughter, U.S. parent companies account for nearly 25 percent of all private-sector output (measured in terms of GDP), or more than $2.5 trillion.

“U.S. multinational companies are, first and foremost, American companies,” noted Slaughter. “These companies strengthen the American economy through a combination of their domestic activity and their international engagement, which together stimulate capital investment, research and development, and trade. These productivity-enhancing activities, in turn, lead to more job opportunities and to larger average paychecks for millions of American workers.”

Slaughter contends that the central role U.S. multinational companies play in underpinning U.S. economic growth and jobs creation is even more important today as the United States addresses challenges presented by the current economic environment.

“Strong U.S. multinational companies that are able to compete effectively in foreign markets will be better positioned to help lead America out of recession,” said Slaughter.  “By preserving and enhancing the health, vitality and competitiveness of their worldwide operations, U.S. multinational companies can help stem job losses in the United States and, eventually, hire more American workers.”

Additionally, the study found that U.S. multinationals maintain a large presence in America, both relative to the overall domestic economy and relative to the size of foreign affiliates. The worldwide operations of U.S. multinational companies are highly concentrated in America, not abroad in their foreign affiliates. Domestic parent companies accounted for nearly 70 percent of worldwide employment of U.S multinationals, that is, almost 22 million U.S. workers versus 9.5 million at affiliates. This translates into a ratio of nearly 2.3 U.S. employees for every one affiliate employee and represents about 19 percent of total private-sector payroll employment.

Slaughter argues that this global connection has allowed U.S. multinationals to tap into diverse international markets, which have experienced faster growth throughout the past generation than the United States. This foreign-affiliate activity, he believes, helps drive increased domestic employment, worker compensation and capital investments.

“Being globally engaged requires U.S. multinationals to establish operations abroad and expand and integrate these foreign activities with their U.S. parent activities,” said Slaughter. “The idea that this international expansion tends to ‘hollow out’ domestic operations is incorrect. Rather, the success of American operations of these companies depends on success abroad and vice versa. Ultimately, it’s the linkage and right balance of domestic and international operations that increases productivity of these corporations and promotes a higher standard of living for all Americans.”

Foreign affiliates are located primarily in high-income countries that in many ways have economic structures similar to the U.S., not in low-income countries. Affiliates in high-income countries accounted for 79 percent of total affiliate output.

This study was commissioned by Business Roundtable, an association of America’s leading CEOs, and the United States Council Foundation, the educational arm of United States Council for International Business (USCIB).

The full text and findings of “How U.S. Multinational Companies Strengthen the U.S. Economy” can be found by clicking here as well as at www.businessroundtable.org.

USCIB promotes international engagement and prudent regulation in support of open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility. Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.

Business Roundtable is an association of chief executive officers-ud-736-UD-736 of leading U.S. companies with more than $5 trillion in annual revenues and nearly 10 million employees. Member companies comprise nearly a third of the total value of the U.S. stock markets and pay nearly half of all corporate income taxes paid to the federal government. Annually, they return $133 billion in dividends to shareholders and the economy.

Business Roundtable companies give more than $7 billion a year in combined charitable contributions, representing nearly 60 percent of total corporate giving. They are technology innovation leaders, with more than $70 billion in annual research and development spending – more than a third of the total private R&D spending in the U.S.

Contacts:
Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
(212) 703-5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

Kirk Monroe, Business Roundtable
(202) 496-3269 or kmonroe@businessroundtable.org

Study: “How U.S. Multinational Benefit the U.S. Economy”

More on the United States Council Foundation

Business Roundtable website

USCIB’s Adam Greene Named to Advisory Body on Forced and Child Labor

Published on March 4, 2009
USCIB’s Adam Greene
USCIB’s Adam Greene

Appointment comes as forum spotlights child labor’s challenges to global supply chains

New York, N.Y., March 4, 2009 – Adam Greene, vice president of labor affairs and corporate responsibility with the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), has been named by the National Academy of Sciences to serve on the NAS Committee on Approaches to Reduce the Use of Forced or Child Labor, an important element in the Department of Labor’s efforts to prevent imports of goods made with prohibited forms of labor.

“We’re delighted that the National Academy of Sciences has recognized Adam Greene’s important contributions to the cause of combating forced labor and child labor,” stated USCIB’s President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “USCIB members take their responsibilities in this regard seriously and are working closely with Adam to ensure that forced and child labor are rooted out of global supply chains.”

The new committee will play an integral role in advising the Department of Labor on the framework for identifying those goods made with prohibited forms of labor.  The department is charged with developing a public list of all such goods by January 15, 2010.

Last week in Atlanta, USCIB, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers (IOE), and the International Labor Organization (ILO), held a one-day international business forum on “Engaging Business – Addressing Child Labor,” hosted by The Coca-Cola Company.  Child labor experts from the ILO, business leaders and other key actors converged to share concrete experiences dealing with child labor from the local to the global levels as well as the growing business risks resulting from child labor in supply chains and how business can strengthen efforts to address child labor.

Speakers at the USCIB forum included Muhtar Kent, president and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, Brent Wilton, deputy secretary general of the IOE, Ed Potter, director of global workplace rights with The Coca-Cola Company, and USCIB Executive Vice President Ronnie Goldberg, a member of the ILO’s Governing Body who moderated a panel on the impact of child labor on business.

USCIB is the primary forum through which American business advances its interests in the area of international labor policy.  It works with the executive branch and Congress to develop trade policies that also promote sound labor practices. Serving as the U.S. affiliate of the IOE, which represents business in the International Labor Organization, USCIB was instrumental in the development of the ILO’s Declaration on the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

In developing its list of prohibited goods, the Department of Labor will create a standard set of practices to reduce the likelihood that prohibited goods make their way into supply chains.  The new committee will advise the department on the framework for identifying and organizing such practices.

Mr. Greene is responsible for USCIB’s activities on labor and corporate responsibility.  He manages U.S. business participation in the development of international labor standards and advises companies on international and regional trends in labor and employment policy.  He also coordinates USCIB involvement in the governing and standard setting bodies of the ILO and promotes the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.  He serves as vice chair of the Business Technical Advisory Committee on Labor Affairs to the Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor.

USCIB promotes international engagement and prudent regulation in support of open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility. Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including the IOE, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.  More information is available at www.uscib.org.

Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, VP Communications, USCIB
Tel: +1 212.703.5043 (office) or +1 917.420.0039 (mobile)
E-mail: jhuneke@uscib.org

Agenda of February 25 USCIB forum, “Engaging Business: Addressing Child Labor”

More on USCIB’s Labor and Employment Committee

More on USCIB’s Corporate Responsibility Committee

National Academy of Sciences website

The Journal of Commerce: 10 Tips for Saving Money with ‘Merchandise Passports’

Published on March 1, 2009
The Journal Of Commerce

 

JOC TENS: IN THE KNOW: 2009

Cynthia Duncan

10 Tips for Saving Money with ‘Merchandise Passports’

Cynthia J. Duncan
United States Council for International Business

www.uscib.org

The ATA Carnet, a standard internationally recognized customs document that allows goods to move into foreign markets duty-free and tax-free, is one of the best-kept secrets in international trade. Carnets, also called “merchandise passports,” are used for temporary admission of product samples, merchandise displayed at trade shows and professional equipment — that is, goods that won’t be sold or have value added during their travels overseas. If you regularly take such goods abroad — and who doesn’t? —a Carnet can save time, money and hassle.

There are just a few things you need to know before you go:

  1. Carnets are one document for all customs transactions and good for one year.

    Carnets are used for unlimited exits from and entries into the U.S. and a foreign country. This allows a temporary exporter to use a single document for multiple country visits, instead of posting a financial guarantee at every port of entry. Goods on Carnet must return to the U.S. within one year or face penalties.

  2. Carnets are accepted in 75 countries and territories.

    Customs authorities in more than 75 nations accept the ATA Carnet as a temporary importation document. Carnets are accepted throughout the European Union and in major emerging markets. The system is growing: Pakistan joined in 2007, and Ukraine and Montenegro followed last year. This network provides ready-made access to a large number of important markets, simplifying and cutting the costs of doing business.

  3. Carnets cover commercial samples, professional equipment and goods for exhibitions and fairs.

    Goods covered under Carnets run the gamut from jewelry, jets and construction equipment to computers and the instruments and equipment taken on tour by groups such as Bon Jovi and the San Francisco Symphony. Everyday items such as medical devices, industrial machinery, artwork, computers, vehicles, repair tools, film equipment, wearing apparel and furniture make temporary entry on Carnets. They also cover more unusual items such as vintage costumes, Stradivarius violins, human skulls, satellites, racehorses, and rare gems and jewels.

  4. Carnets eliminate the need to register with U.S. Customs.

    Carnets substitute for the CF 4455 (Certificate of Registration), which is used to register goods leaving the U.S. on a temporary basis. The CF 4455 does not negate the need to complete entry documents in all foreign countries visited. What’s more, re-entry into the U.S. can be a hassle, as registration information is not shared among U.S. ports. By using a Carnet, you avoid both pitfalls.

  5. Carnets avoid the need to post duties and taxes.

    As an alternative to an ATA Carnet, an exporter may deposit with foreign customs the appropriate taxes and duties. At the time of re-exportation, additional paperwork must be completed to obtain a refund and will be delivered some months later. Why lay out this money in the first place? Reimbursement will be made in the foreign currency, not U.S. dollars, leading to the hassle and expense of currency conversion. What’s more, duties and taxes can range from 20 to 30 percent in Europe, to 40 percent in China — an enormous initial outlay.

  6. Carnets waive the need for Temporary Importation Under Bond (TIB).

    Another option for temporary entry is to post a financial guarantee or TIB. An exporter must secure the TIB at the time of entry into each foreign country and must meet foreign customs requirements. These requirements vary from country to country, making it more difficult to plan and prepare.

  7. Carnets are paid for in U.S. dollars.

    Because a Carnet is obtained in the U.S., charges are paid in U.S. dollars. The same is not so for duty deposits or TIBs, for which local currency is required.

  8. Carnets are the cost-effective option.

    For a Carnet covering $50,000 worth of merchandise for multiple trips to the U.K, the cost is $500. Alternatively, posting just the value-added tax of 17.5 percent would require an outlay of $8,750.

  9. Carnet paperwork is in English.

    The Carnet application process is done online and in English. As an internationally recognized customs document, a Carnet also can limit the possibility of confusion or miscommunication posed by language barriers when entering a foreign country.

  10. Carnets save you money and hassles when shipping goods overseas.

    Bottom line: Carnets save you time, money and hassle. And they can be obtained by you, the exporter, or by a forwarder or other third party.

  11. A bonus tip …

    Remember to check with the Department of Commerce to ensure your goods do not require export or import licenses!

The worldwide ATA Carnet system is overseen by the World Customs Organization in cooperation with the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce and its network of national guaranteeing associations.

In the U.S., the United States Council for International Business guarantees Carnets and issues them from its headquarters in New York and via a nationwide network of service providers. Visit www.merchandisepassport.org or call 1-800-5DUTYFREE (1-800-538-8937) for more information.

JoC TENs Essayist Cynthia J. Duncan is senior vice president for Carnet operations at the United States Council for International Business in New York City. She can be contacted at cduncan@uscib.org.

Self-Regulation and Advertising: Surviving the Global Challenges Ahead

Published on February 10, 2009
Plenary speaker Deborah Platt Majoras, vice president and general counsel with Procter & Gamble and former chair of the Federal Trade Commission.
Plenary speaker Deborah Platt Majoras, vice president and general counsel with Procter & Gamble and former chair of the Federal Trade Commission.

Last month in Washington, D.C., just ahead of the change in administration, marketers and advertisers from around the world gathered at an International Chamber of Commerce roundtable on the future of self-regulation, organized by USCIB.  The January 12 roundtable focused on upcoming U.S. regulatory and self-regulatory initiatives, their international components, and engagement by U.S. firms on global marketing and advertising policy.

Plenary speaker Deborah Platt Majoras, vice president and general counsel with Procter & Gamble and the former chair of the Federal Trade Commission, shared her perspectives on what lies ahead for the advertising industry, given the current financial crisis, and warned against the call for broad regulatory reforms.

Ms. Platt Majores urged business to communicate the benefits of advertising in encouraging competitiveness and to stress the cost-effectiveness of self-regulation at a time where government coffers are already heavily burdened.  She praised the Children’s Food and Beverage Initiative, which uses marketing and advertising to foster good nutrition for children, as a positive undertaking by the food sector.

“It is a great example where self-regulation can do something that government cannot do, not just because of constitutional limitations but also in terms of effectiveness,” Ms. Platt Majoras said.

Speakers from AT&T, Google, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, the FTC, the U.S. and Dutch self-regulatory bodies and a range of legal experts contributed to panel discussions on:

  • advertising in interactive environments
  • sustainability and advertising
  • self-regulation in Latin America
  • new models and initiatives in self-regulation

Chairing the roundtable, the American advertising executive John Manfredi, who also serves as chair of the ICC Commission on Marketing and Advertising, cautioned that the erosion of trust caused by the current crisis has serious implications for the marketing world.

“When trust and confidence are gone, marketing and marketers suffer. Without trust, it’s impossible to establish or retain a relationship with consumers,” he said.  “And without trust, bad things happen.  Not only in the marketplace, but also in the arena of public policy and governance.”

The ICC Commission on Marketing and Advertising met the day after the roundtable and explored practical steps for the commission to take in 2009 to help restore trust and effectiveness in self-regulation.

The roundtable and commission meetings, hosted by the law firm Winston & Strawn, attracted participants from 11 countries, including China, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, Sweden and Turkey.  (Click here to view a summary of the roundtable.)

ICC has been a major rule-setter for international advertising since the 1930s, when the first ICC code on advertising practice was issued. Since then, it has extended the ICC self-regulatory framework on many occasions to assist companies in marketing their products responsibly.  A revised and expanded consolidated ICC Code on Marketing and Advertising Practice was issued in 2006, following in the long-established tradition of promoting high ethical standards for advertisers, advertising agencies and the media around the world.

Staff contact: Jonathan Huneke

Summary of the ICC Marketing Roundtable

More on USCIB’s Marketing and Advertising Committee

ICC website

World Employers: Financial Markets Need to Provide Stability and Liquidity to Business

Published on February 10, 2009
IOE President Prof. Wiseman Nkuhlu
IOE President Prof. Wiseman Nkuhlu

Lisbon and New York, February 10, 2009 – As governments around the world enact stimulus measures to deal with the recession, financial institutions must move quickly to speed the injection of new capital into struggling economies, according to the head of the International Organization of Employers.

“The financial markets need to fulfill their proper task of providing stability and liquidity to business, rather than serving their own interests,” stated IOE President Prof. Wiseman Nkuhlu of South Africa on the release of an IOE statement on the crisis at a forum in Lisbon.  “They must act to ease the current credit crunch and start circulating in the economy the cash injections received through various government stimulus packages.”

The Geneva-based IOE is the largest private-sector network in the world, representing national business federations in 140 countries.  It is the leading international business organization on social and labor matters, directly representing business in the International Labor Organization (ILO) and working closely with policy makers at all levels.  The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), based in New York, serves as the IOE’s American affiliate.

Just as the financial sector bore some of the responsibility for the onset of the crisis, it bears a similar responsibility for getting the economy moving again, said Prof. Nkuhlu, who spoke on the eve of an ILO European meeting in Lisbon.

“This easing of credit is particularly true for the small and medium-sized enterprises which form the backbone of our economies and employ our people,” he added.  “They are the sometimes forgotten majority in efforts to kick start the economy.”

Speakers at the IOE forum speakers provided a global overview of the impact and responses to the crisis.  In summing up the session, IOE European Vice President Renate Hornung-Draus of Germany spoke of the many similarities between countries in the identification of what employers see as critical in ensuring the life of enterprise and of the jobs they provide.

“Key support is needed to secure the fundamentals of growth,” she stated,” particularly in areas of ongoing investment in people through education and training.  The ILO meeting of European employers, workers and governments over the coming week needs to focus on the actions we all have to take to start moving forward again.”

IOE Executive Vice President Daniel Funes de Rioja of Argentina, who serves as employers’ vice chair of the ILO Governing Body, stressed the need to maintain an open trading system as a key means for business to revitalize its activities.

“We remain in a globalized world, and recent calls for a return to protectionist measures to satisfy short term political unpopularity must be actively and persistently resisted,” he urged.  “For example, a country like Argentina, which has itself had direct experience of a financial crisis, found a  key element in its recovery was its continuing to be able to access global markets.”

Within the ILO and elsewhere, employers need to be vigilant about adopting failed policies of the past as answers for the present difficulties,” warned Mr. Funes de Rioja.  “We owe it to our enterprises and to our citizens to remain focused on the real means of reviving growth and to make it happen quickly.”

The forum participants also benefited from the views and reflections on the impact of the crisis in their respective regions of USCIB Executive Vice President Ronnie Goldberg, who is IOE’s regional vice president for North America, as well as Yogendra Modi, chairman and CEO of Great Eastern Energy Corp. of India, and Francisco Van Zeller, president of the Confederation of Portuguese Industry.

USCIB promotes international engagement and prudent regulation in support of open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility. Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including the IOE, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.

Contacts:
Antonio Peñalosa, IOE secretary general
+41 79.409.27.16 or ioe@ioe-emp.org

Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

IOE statement: Economic Recovery and Employment

More on USCIB’s Labor and Employment Committee

IOE website

ICC Kicks Off 90th Anniversary Celebrations With Launch of New Research Foundation

Published on February 2, 2009
WTO Director General Pascal Lamy spoke at the launch.
WTO Director General Pascal Lamy spoke at the launch.

Geneva and New York, February 2, 2009 –  Over 270 business leaders converged in Geneva today to celebrate the International Chamber of Commerce’s 90th anniversary, highlighted by the launch of the ICC Research Foundation.

The ICC Research Foundation was established in December last year to reinforce ICC’s role of providing global intellectual leadership on public policy issues of major concern to business and peoples around the world.

The Paris-based ICC is the largest, most representative private sector association in the world, with hundreds of thousands of member companies in over 130 countries.  The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), based in New York, serves as ICC’s American national committee.  USCIB President Peter M. Robinson and Executive Vice President Ronnie Goldberg attended today’s launch event.

“What is needed now is a way to make a compelling case for world trade, in the context of today’s world, that is accessible to all and based on well-designed research,” said ICC Chairman Victor K. Fung, chairman of the Hong Kong-based Li & Fung Group.  “That is the aim of the ICC Research Foundation.”

Mr. Fung led the launch of both the foundation and ICC’s year-long 90th anniversary celebrations at a reception organized by ICC Switzerland.  ICC Honorary Chairman Marcus Wallenberg delivered closing remarks, and other main speakers included Pascal Lamy (click here to view remarks), director general of the World Trade Organization, and Micheline Calmy-Rey, member of the Swiss Federal Council and head of Swiss department of foreign affairs.

L-R: ICC Chairman Victor Fung, USCIB President Peter Robinson, USCIB Executive Vice President Ronnie Goldberg.
L-R: ICC Chairman Victor Fung, USCIB President Peter Robinson, USCIB Executive Vice President Ronnie Goldberg.

The ICC Research Foundation will commission research to demonstrate the public benefits that flow from an expansion of international trade and investment, and how multilateral rules are particularly beneficial to that end.  It will also promote a deeper understanding by policy makers, the media and the public at large of the benefits of international trade and investment, and the dangers of protectionism, through a public education program drawing on the results of its research.

Founded in 1919, ICC promotes trade and investment across frontiers and helps business corporations meet the challenges and opportunities of globalization.  Its conviction that trade is a powerful force for peace and prosperity remains as valid today as it was 90 years ago, organizers said.

The ICC Research Foundation will commission studies by research bodies, academic institutions and other experts in the areas of trade and investment.  Its initial research projects will examine the contribution to global prosperity of international trade as seen from the perspective of different geographical regions – beginning with Europe, the US and Asia.

ICC’s 90th anniversary year will include a series of noteworthy events around the world, in Paris, Kuala Lumpur, New York, Boston and New Delhi.

For more information about the ICC Research Foundation, visit: www.iccresearchfoundation.org

A conference jointly organized by ICC and the IMD business school on the future of international trade will take place in Lausanne tomorrow as part of the IMD Responsible Leadership Summit.

USCIB promotes international engagement and prudent regulation in support of open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility.  Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, and with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.  More information is available at www.uscib.org.

Contacts:
Jonathan Huneke, VP of Communications, USCIB
+1 212 703 5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

Dawn Chardonnal, ICC Communications Dept.
+33 1 4953 2907 or dcl@iccwbo.org

Text of remarks by WTO Director General Pascal Lamy

ICC Research Foundation website

ICC website

G8 Business Leaders: Crisis Demands Urgent Response But Does Not Indicate a Failure of Market Economics

Published on December 4, 2008
Leaders of the G8 business federations (USCIB President Peter Robinson is at far right).
Leaders of the G8 business federations (USCIB President Peter Robinson is at far right).

Paris and New York, December 4, 2008 – Meeting in Paris, business federation heads from the G8 nations called for urgent measures by governments to correct “real dysfunctions” in the world financial system.  But they said the crisis did not call into question the basic assumptions of private sector-led growth, and they pressed for an immediate re-launch of WTO trade talks as a way to revive the global economy.

“We came to Paris to voice our common support for efforts to make the market economy work better, increase financial transparency and foster closer international cooperation,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson, who joined business leaders from North America, Europe and Japan in issuing a joint statement prior to a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.  “Where more clarification and regulation is needed, it must be smart regulation, and policy makers must avoid over-regulation at this delicate time for the global economy.”

In their statement, the business leaders stated that “the present crisis does not call into question the basic principles of the open market economy but calls for urgent responses mainly in technical and regulatory terms.”  They said the causes of the crisis were multiple, and included monetary policies leading to excessive liquidity, lack of regulation or inappropriate regulation, attempts to achieve high yields without an accurate assessment of risks and inadequate coordination of macro-economic policies.

“These are real dysfunctions which have had serious consequences and which in concrete terms call for a revision of the rules governing agents, products and operations on the financial open markets,” the statement said.  “On the other hand, these dysfunctions do not in any way cast doubt on the open market economy, which requires clear and shared rules to make private companies and entrepreneurs free to create, grow and innovate.  Businesses have today the talented people, technologies, and drive to succeed as before the crisis.  This is the cause for our optimism.”

The business chiefs welcomed pledges made by leaders at last month’s G20 Summit in Washington to avoid protectionist policies.  They echoed the G20’s call for efforts to restart the struggling Doha Round of trade talks as an immediate priority.  “The business community fully supports all of the efforts that will result in a prompt, ambitious and balanced conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda,” the statement said.  “This is necessary to ensure the world’s economic growth in the coming years.”

USCIB’s Mr. Robinson applauded the French business federation MEDEF for convening the business leaders, and for working rapidly and effectively to develop a consensus approach all parties could support without reservation.

The other participants in the G8 Business Summit were:

Fujio Mitarai, president of Nippon Keidanren (Japan)

Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Laurence Parisot, president of MEDEF (France)

Jürgen R. Thumann, president of BDI (Germany)

Emma Marcegaglia, president of Confindustria (Italy)

Alexander Shokhin, president of RSPP (Russia)

Martin Broughton, president of the Confederation of British Industry

Thomas J. Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Ernest-Antoine Seillière, president of BusinessEurope.

USCIB promotes an open system of global commerce in which business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare and protection of the environment.  Its membership includes more than 300 leading U.S. companies, professional services firms and associations whose combined annual revenues exceed $4 trillion.  As American affiliate of three global business groups – the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers, and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD – USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade.

Contact: Jonathan Huneke, VP Communications & Public Affairs, USCIB (212) 703-5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

Statement From the G8 Business Summit Leaders (click here for summary)

Watch the press conference (MEDEF website, French/Japanese/English)

USCIB statement on the G20 Summit (November 2008)

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Montenegro Joins ATA Carnet System for Duty-Free Imports

Published on December 2, 2008

MontenegroNew York, N.Y., December 2, 2008 – Beginning this month, the European nation of Montenegro has begun accepting ATA Carnets, waiving duties and taxes on a variety of goods entering the country temporarily.  It is the 66th country to join the unique system to facilitate trade and business travel, according to the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which administers the ATA Carnet system in the United States.

“Montenegro’s decision to accept Carnets further solidifies their use in southeastern Europe,” according to Cynthia Duncan, USCIB’s senior vice president for Carnet operations. “Among the nations of former Yugoslavia, only Bosnia and Kosovo remain outside the system.”

ATA Carnets (“ATA” is a combination of the French and English abbreviations for “temporary admission.”) are internationally recognized customs documents for temporary duty-free, tax-free import of commercial samples, professional equipment and goods displayed at trade shows.  Companies find the “merchandise passports” essential for reducing costs and speeding global operations.

Ms. Duncan said Montenegrin industries of interest to U.S. importers and exporters included synthetic cloth and industrial textiles, footwear, lumber, telecommunications equipment, steel mill products, and photographic and optical equipment.

Since gaining independence in 2006, Montenegro has embarked on an economic reform and privatization drive that has led to strong economic growth, which exceeded seven percent last year. The country is also a candidate for membership in the European Union.

Carnets are honored in over 80 customs territories, including all EU members, and can be used for multiple trips during a one-year period.  The global ATA Carnet system is overseen by the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce.  USCIB administers the Carnet system in the United States, working with service providers Roanoke Trade Services, Inc., and the Corporation for International Business.

In 2007, over 155,000 ATA Carnets were issued worldwide, covering goods valued at almost $12 billion.  The system is growing, with Ukraine and Pakistan among the most recent additions.  China recently marked its tenth anniversary in the system. See related story.

USCIB promotes an open system of world commerce.  As American affiliate of the leading international business and employers organizations, including ICC, it provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide.  USCIB facilitates international trade by issuing and guaranteeing ATA Carnets, by promoting international cooperation in such areas as customs policies and commercial dispute resolution, and through its ICC Books USA unit, which publishes a variety of publications on to international trade and investment.

Contact:
Cynthia Duncan, SVP Carnet Operations, USCIB
(212) 703-5079 or cduncan@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s ATA Carnet Export Service