Megan Giblin Archives

Pfizers Barone is New Vice Chair of ICC Customs Committee

Published on February 14, 2011
Anthony Barone
Anthony Barone

USCIB affiliate the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has appointed Anthony Barone, director of global logistics policy at Pfizer, as vice chair of its Committee on Customs and Trade Regulations.

In his role as vice chair, Mr. Barone is set to advance the committee’s work program, as well as to provide support to the committee’s chair, Selig Meber, vice president of GE International, in developing consensus within the committee on policy positions and statements.

The committee’s work focuses on customs reform, with the aim of simplifying and harmonizing customs policies and procedures so as to overcome barriers to trade.  “The committee is honored to have Mr. Barone as the new vice chair and is looking forward to benefitting from his contributions,” ICC said in a statement.

Mr. Barone draws on extensive experience in the field of customs and trade.  He was a consultant in international logistics and trade finance before joining Pfizer, the world’s largest research based bio-pharmaceutical firm, in 2001.  He also held senior positions in the third-party logistics industry and with supply-chain IT providers.

Between 2005 and 2009, Mr. Barone served on the U.S. Customs Operations Advisory Committee, and in 2008, he joined the Private Sector Advisory Committee of the World Customs Organization in Brussels.

Mr. Barone is currently a member of the New Jersey Export District Council of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  He graduated from Columbia University with an MBA in management.  Outside of Pfizer, he writes screenplays and is a member of several writer groups.

The committee elected Mr. Barone, whose appointment was announced during their last meeting on January 27 in Brussels.  He will help the chair represent consensus viewpoints of the committee, including those of governmental decision-makers and the media as needed.  He will also be called upon to lead meetings of the committee when the chair is unable to do so.

More on USCIB’s Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee

USCIB letter to Senator Lugar on Ratification of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Published on May 10, 2004 
May 10, 2004

The Honorable Richard Lugar

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations

450 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington DC 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I am writing on behalf of the members of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) to urge timely Senate action to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The USCIB promotes an open system of global commerce in which business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare and the protection of the environment.  Its membership includes some 300 leading U.S. companies, professional services firms and associations whose combined annual revenues exceed $3 trillion.  As American affiliate of 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. 

The United States played a leading role in negotiating the Convention in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, and led a successful effort to revise the deep-sea mining provisions of the Convention in a manner that meets U.S. interests.  Subsequently, the United States signed the Convention in 1994, but has yet to ratify.

The United States has vital economic, political and security interests that will be advanced through ratification.  By ratifying the United States will:

  • be able to restore our leadership in securing the common interest in navigational freedom and the rule of law in the oceans;
  • be more effective in our efforts to protect our naval mobility and commercial navigational freedom;
  • be able to develop more rapidly its oil and gas resources  of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles;
  • foster the rule of law in international affairs.

While some have argued that the Convention will impinge upon the sovereignty of the United States, I believe this is not the case.  Indeed, because the Convention advances U.S. national objectives in the areas it covers in a manner that will enhance our economic, political and security interests, it will in fact strengthen our country, and make it better able to defend our sovereignty as needed. On behalf of our members, I urge members of the United States Senate to ratify the Convention.

Sincerely, 
Thomas M. T.  Niles

More on USCIB’s Transportation Committee

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