USCIB Signs Statement of Concern on European Commission’s Exclusionary Abuses of Dominance

USCIB, along with other industries and trade associations, has signed a statement addressing the European Commission’s Draft Guidelines on Article 102 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The statement highlights concerns about the draft’s potential to reduce legal certainty and undermine pro-competitive conduct by deviating from established economic principles and case law. 

The draft guidelines may reduce predictability for businesses and shift away from effects-based economic principles, increasing uncertainty. Additionally, the proposed presumptions could unfairly shift the burden of proof to companies. 

USCIB supports clear, predictable, and effects-based guidelines that foster innovation, investment, and competitiveness. While welcoming the initiative, USCIB urges the Commission to align the guidelines with established principles to promote robust competition and benefit businesses and consumers. 

Read the full statement here.

USCIB Concludes Successful Negotiation Session at ILO Sectoral Meeting

Far left: Jose Arroyo (USCIB) at the ILO meeting in Geneva

Jose Arroyo, Manager of Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs at USCIB, actively contributed to a productive and constructive negotiation meeting at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva last week. The discussions focused on the urgent need for skills development and lifelong learning opportunities to facilitate a just transition in the food and beverage sector. Arroyo was one of eight employer representatives traveling to Geneva from around the world. 

Representing employers from the United States, Arroyo emphasized the need for governments to design and implement comprehensive, targeted policies to enable businesses to transition and thrive. Moreover, governments should address the unique challenges faced by the sector, which is characterized by a large number of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and high levels of informality in some regions. These factors present significant obstacles to workforce development and the implementation of inclusive policies. 

After long hours of deliberation, the group of experts – comprising governments, employers, and workers— reached a consensus and adopted a text in a tripartite manner. Despite the challenging nature of the discussions, the outcome was highly valuable. 

“We commend the ILO for continuing to highlight and engage with these critical, strategic topics, and look forward to further collaboration,” said Arroyo. “A sincere thank you to all involved—governments, workers, and especially my colleagues in the employers’ group from all over the world, the Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ACT/Emp) staff, and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) team.” 

USCIB remains committed to advocating for policies that ensure no one is left behind in the transition towards a more sustainable and inclusive food and beverage sector. 

USCIB Statement on Tariff Executive Orders

February 3, 2025, Washington, DCThe US Council for International Business (USCIB) recognizes the importance of stemming the flow of illegal drugs across the US border, finding solutions in cooperation with nations involved. The broad use of tariffs to solve this problem will have a destabilizing impact on supply chains, economic growth, our closest allies and trading partners, and the geostrategic benefits of an integrated North American market achieved under the Trump Administration’s US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Open and stable markets are imperative to US companies who grow their business by trading with the 96 percent of consumers outside of the United States.

The US Council for International Business looks forward to working with the Trump Administration on a trade and investment policy that bolsters US competitiveness, enhances supply chain resilience, and safeguards American jobs.

About USCIB:  

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) powers the success of US business across the globe. Our members include US-based companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, with operations in every region of the world. As the US affiliate of leading international business organizations including Business at OECD (BIAC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the International Organization of Employers (IOE), USCIB advances the US business perspective to policymakers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate commerce, support sustainable development, and build trust in multilateral systems. USCIB is also the national guaranteeing and issuing association for ATA Carnets, a unified international customs document that allows for the temporary import and export of various types of goods into a foreign country without paying duties or taxes. Learn more at www.uscib.org.     

Trade and Investment Committee Meets With House Ways and Means Committee Trade Counsel

Left to right: Alice Slayton Clark (USCIB), Rick Johnston (Chair of Business at OECD, Chair of USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee, and Managing Director, Global Government Affairs, Citigroup), Eric Ettorre (US House of Representatives), and Megan Giblin (USCIB).

House Ways and Means Committee Trade Counsel Eric Ettorre briefed USCIB members on the Republican trade agenda for the 119th Congress at the Trade and Investment Committee’s quarterly meeting. The discussion touched on key trade policy concerns for members, including tariff policy, trade preferences, investment safeguards, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review, as well as the Trump Administration’s review of US trade laws and practices to craft a new America First Trade Policy. We welcomed advice on how to respond and best position USCIB for a very active year on key priorities for member companies.

USCIB reminded Members to attend our February 19 conference in Brussels, Seeking Common Cause 2025:  the Future of Transatlantic Relations, and reported on the release of the USCIB 2025 APEC Priority Issues and Recommendations paper to Administration officials this week.

The next USCIB Trade and Investment Committee quarterly meeting will take place in April.

USCIB Marks 80th Anniversary in 2025

January 27, 2025, New York, NY—The US Council for International Business (USCIB) celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. In 1945, the same year as the founding of the United Nations, American executives established USCIB as an independent organization to represent the views of the US business community on the international stage. Since then, USCIB has become a powerful voice for US business in the global arena, shaping policy outcomes that promote inclusive economic growth, support sustainable development, and facilitate commerce.

“For eighty years, USCIB has been a powerful voice for US business, working to amplify and advance US leadership on the world stage,” said Whitney Baird, President and CEO of USCIB. “While much has changed since USCIB’s founding, our society continues to face complex challenges. We remain committed to elevating the role of US business as a valuable partner with multilateral and international decisionmakers.”

Milestones in USCIB’s 80-year history include:

  • 1945: USCIB is founded as the independent American affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
  • 1962: “USA-BIAC” – now Business at OECD (BIAC) – is formed by USCIB, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Manufacturers.
  • 1969: USCIB is appointed by the Treasury Department to operate the ATA Carnet system, a unified international customs document that allows duty-free and tax-free temporary import and export of goods for up to one year, in the United States.
  • 1979: USCIB becomes the US affiliate to the International Organisation of Employers (IOE).
  • 1983: The USCIB Foundation is created to demonstrate the role of the private sector in economic growth and social development.
  • 1984: USCIB takes on sole responsibility as US BIAC affiliate.
  • 2019: USCIB first American business organization to receive NGO Special Consultative status at United Nations ECOSOC.
  • 2023: USCIB welcomes its first female President and CEO, Whitney Baird.

USCIB will host special events throughout 2025 to commemorate the anniversary, including a reception in May in Washington DC and a gala dinner in December in New York.

About USCIB:

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) powers the success of US business across the globe. Our members include US-based companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, with operations in every region of the world. As the US affiliate of leading international business organizations including Business at OECD (BIAC), The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and The International Organization of Employers (IOE), USCIB advances the US business perspective to policymakers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate commerce, support sustainable development, and build trust in multilateral systems. USCIB is also the national guaranteeing and issuing association for ATA Carnets, a unified international customs document that allows for the temporary import and export of various types of goods into a foreign country without paying duties or taxes. Learn more at www.uscib.org.

USCIB Participates in Digital ATA Carnet Meetings in Vienna

Declan Daly (USCIB) pictured in the front row on the far left, with representatives from Austrian, German, Swiss, and UK Customs and National Guaranteeing Associations (NGAs).

Earlier this week, Declan Daly, Chief Operating and Financial Officer at USCIB, participated in the digital ATA Carnet meetings in Vienna. Organized by the Vienna Chamber of Commerce (WKO), the meetings brought together 50 participants, including representatives from Austrian, German, Swiss, and UK Customs; National Guaranteeing Associations (NGAs) from Austria, Germany, the UK, and the US; as well as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ATA Carnet Lead and UTIDID, the Austrian system developer. 

The primary purpose of the meeting was to foster collaboration among various international stakeholders on the development and implementation of the future digital carnet system. Daly provided a comprehensive update on the progress and developments related to the digital carnet in the US. He covered key aspects such as the current implementation status, challenges faced, and future plans. 

USCIB Advocates for Stronger Investor Protections in Trade Agreements

Former United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai and Colombia’s Minister of Trade, Industry, and Tourism Carlos Alberto Zuluaga recently signed Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Decision No. 9, interpreting key provisions of the US-Colombia Trade Agreement’s investment chapter. Unfortunately, this decision introduces challenges for USCIB members with operations in Colombia by narrowing investment protections and increasing regulatory uncertainty for US companies. 

“USCIB strongly opposes all efforts to extend these reinterpretations to other trade agreements,” said Natalie Bidner, Director of International Agriculture Policy at USCIB. “We look forward to working with the Trump Administration to have strong investor safeguards in trade agreements with public consultations in any trade agreement negotiations.” 

USCIB also opposes USTR’s efforts to weaken investor protections in other major trade agreements, including the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the Dominican Republic-Central America-US Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). These actions, taken without adequate consultation with Congress and the stakeholders impacted, aim to remove crucial investor safeguards that protect American businesses abroad. 

USCIB will continue to monitor developments and advocate for policies that protect US investor interests. 

Read our statement here. 

Cheryl Miller Appointed to Multistakeholder Advisory Group for the Internet Governance Forum

Cheryl Miller at the WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event 2024

Cheryl Miller, USCIB VP for Digital Policy, has been appointed by the UN Secretary General to serve on the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).  The other appointees from the United States include Justin Fair, Cyber Policy Advisor at the US Department of State and Theresa Swinehart, Senior Vice President of Global Domains and Strategy at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

“This is a huge honor for USCIB and we look forward to working with our colleagues across business, government, the technical community and civil society to make the 2025 IGF a success,” said Miller. IGF 2025 will take place June 23-27 in Lillestrom, Norway.

According to the IGF, “this experienced MAG will help navigate the unique challenges of planning for the 20th annual IGF meeting…and will also provide guidance on strengthening the future MAG’s long-term working modalities.”

USCIB Congratulates Members and Staff on BIAC Committee Leadership Confirmations

Whitney Baird with a BIAC delegation. USCIB’s affiliation with BIAC gives us international reach and influence.

USCIB is pleased to announce that several staff and members have been confirmed for Business at OECD (BIAC) Committee leadership positions. Through BIAC, USCIB members and staff provide expertise to the OECD and governments on a range of policy issues such as digital policy, labor, and corporate governance. 

Congratulations on your confirmations: 

  • Charles Fadel (The USCIB Foundation Board member) as Vice Chair of the BIAC Education Committee  
  • Dan Konigsburg (Global Head of Public Affairs at KPMG International) as Vice Chair of the BIAC Corporate Governance Committee  
  • Michael Kopolovsky (Principal, EU Public Policy at Amazon) as Chair of the BIAC Innovation and Technology Committee 
  • Riccardo Masucci (Managing Director, EU Affairs and Head of Brussels Office at Intel) as Vice Chair of the BIAC Digital Policy Committee  
  • Ewa Staworzynska (Director for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs at USCIB) as Vice Chair of the BIAC Employment, Labor, and Social Affairs (ELSA) Committee 

USCIB Prepares for APEC 2025 in Korea

USCIB attended the NCAPEC annual Executive Roundtable meeting in San Francisco last week, where US and Korean government officials met with industry leaders to discuss priorities for the Korea 2025 host year.  

The theme is “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow” with an agenda built around key priorities “Connect, Innovate, and Prosper.” These priorities will inform discussions on fostering a stable trade environment and facilitating services trade, building sustainable supply chains, promoting people to people exchange, enabling digital innovation and use of AI, accelerating the transition to clean energy, sustainability, advancing resilient food systems, ensuring sustainable oceans, enhancing cooperation on public health, addressing aging populations, and promoting inclusivity.  

Of importance, APEC 2025 will showcase a first AI and Digital Ministerial meeting August 4-6 in Inchoen, build support for the WTO Ministerial Conference in March 2026 (hosted by Cameroon), and tee up issues to advance in the China and Vietnam host years in 2026 and 2027, respectively. 

USCIB advanced member positions as outlined in USCIB’s 2025 priorities document as the Koreans are still shaping the agenda and looking for deliverables.  USCIB will aim to partner again with NCAPEC at the APEC CEO Forum October 28-31 to advance a panel relevant to the Korean themes. 

According to Alice Slayton Clark, USCIB SVP for Trade, Investment, and Digital, hanging over the meetings were concerns about political instability in Korea and the logistical challenges linked to the venue in Gyeongju, which Korean officials tried to dispel. The Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) – USCIB sister association to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) –will manage the private sector component for APEC 2025.