USCIB Senior Advisor Shaun Donnelly was the guest speaker on a webinar titled, “Biden Trade Policy: What’s Ahead?” hosted by the Vancouver-based Pacific Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Canada. Donnelly, a former USTR trade negotiator and retired U.S. Ambassador, offered his candid assessments of the economic and political factors shaping President Joe Biden’s trade policy, with a special focus on Canada, the US-Mexico-Canada (“USMCA”) agreement, China, and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Questions from webinar participants focused on concerns about a turn toward protectionism in the U.S., especially on government procurement in light of strong statements from the President and other Administration officials endorsing “Buy American.”
According to Donnelly, it was a “return gig” for him; in 2018, he had traveled to Vancouver as the dinner speaker at the AmCham’s annual dinner.
“It’s always good to get beyond our Washington trade policy wonk cocoon and speak with, and listen to, real business people, whether here at home in the U.S. or in key trade partners like Canada,” said Donnelly. “Canada is obviously a unique trade partner with our integrated North American marketplace. I told the webinar participants that I am confident that the Biden Administration would be an engaged partner with Canada on USMCA implementation issues, as well as on shared global priorities like WTO reform and confronting China’s abusive trade practices as well as, of course, the full range of bilateral issues. It was a very good session. And no jet lag!”
USCIB Senior Advisor Shaun Donnelly and member company Dell staffer Eva Hampl led a significant “kick-off” session for Business at OECD (BIAC) and its China Experts Group to elevate and deepen a dialogue with the OECD’s Ambassadorial-level Informal Reflection Group on China on May 3.
New York, N.Y., April 22, 2021—Transboundary challenges such as climate change are most effectively solved with the fullest possible international cooperation, so we applaud the Administration’s initiative to convene the Leaders Climate Summit and Major Economies Forum this week in Washington.
USCIB has led private sector participation at a series of recent events organized by the OECD’s Investment Committee. Kimberley Claman, director of international government affairs in Citi’s Washington office, was a lead speaker for the Business at OECD (BIAC) delegation in a condensed, virtual OECD annual International Investment Agreements Conference on March 29.
Through Business at OECD (BIAC), USCIB recently had an opportunity to contribute to an OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade Plenary Meeting. During the Plenary, the Chair of BIAC’s Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group and Chair of USCIB’s Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee, David Luna, highlighted the significant impact of illicit trade on the economy, businesses and people’s welfare. Luna also stressed the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders, including public and private, to counter the significant risks posed by illicit trade.
In advance of World Immunization Week later this month, USCIB has announced on April 6 that it has taken the “COVID-19 Global Workplace Challenge”—a commitment by companies to listen to employees’ needs and concerns about COVID-19 and encourage vaccine confidence and uptake.