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USCIB Strengthens Business Voice at UNGA

Published on September 26, 2017

The high-level portion of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) wrapped up last week in New York, attended by President Donald Trump and other heads of state, and featuring numerous parallel events involving business and business issues.

For the first time, USCIB convened a series of meetings during UNGA week to highlight challenges and opportunities for the U.S. business community in advancing inclusive growth and sustainable development, working with the United Nations, and the importance of partnering with the U.S. government in advancing economic and other benefits at home and abroad.  USCIB events highlighted key U.S. business recommendations and involvement to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), inform climate change policy and implementation, and advance inclusive business engagement as part of UN reform.

These discussions explored the “ingredients for impact” to catalyze business contributions to the SDG’s under the theme, “Business Makes It Happen.”   Over the course of the week, USCIB worked closely with and welcomed representatives of the U.S Department of State, the Office for Management and Budget, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.

USCIB organized 2 Breakfast Roundtables on:

  • Data analytics for SDGs and national reports, and
  • Public private partnerships for SDG impact
OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria speaks at one of USCIB’s UNGA side-events

USCIB members KPMG, Deloitte and Pfizer hosted USCIB events, which drew high-level participants and speakers including OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria, Assistant UN Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs Thomas Gass, Assistant UN Secretary General and Head of the NY office of UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Elliott Harris and Chief of the NY office of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Chantal Line Carpentier.  CEO of Novozymes and USCIB Board member and sustainability champion Peder Holk Nielsen presided over USCIB’s UNGA week wrap up event.

In addition to USCIB-organized events, USCIB was honored to work with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and to represent the International Organization of Employers (IOE) in the launch of two important initiatives: the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) and the ILO Alliance 8.7 study, “Global Estimates on Modern Slavery.”

USCIB joined forces with Business Fights Poverty to co-host the September 18 Business Fights Poverty Conference, “Rethinking Collaboration for the SDG’s”.

A full review of these meetings, their recommendations and next steps, as well as other USCIB involvement in UNGA week will be shared later this week.

China Announcement on ATA Carnet May Reduce Trade Deficit

Published on September 26, 2017

The tenth installment of the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) World Chambers Congress (WCC) concluded last week in Sydney, Australia, which brought together over 1,200 delegates from across the globe to discuss challenges impacting the business and chamber communities and to exchange knowledge and expertise while promoting result-oriented innovation. In an ever-changing business climate, the Congress addresses and examines today’s most significant global issues.

USCIB’s Senior Vice President for ATA Carnet and Trade Services Andy Shiles attended the ATA Carnet global management meetings held during the WCC. A major outcome of these meetings was China’s announcement of an expansion of goods under their Carnet to include professional equipment and commercial samples. While China has yet to announce when they will implement this expansion, Shiles believes this will have a positive impact on U.S. trade.

“China’s Carnet expansion is a huge step in the right direction and will certainly minimize the United States’ trade deficit with China,” said Shiles. “We are living in exciting times of ATA Carnet, but we need to continue making progress.”

Shiles also reported that commitment for the development of joint projects to benefit the ATA Carnet have been outstanding, with excellent progress being made with Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia and Poland.

Additionally, the meetings deliberated on the e-carnet development project, which is on track to begin a pilot in the latter half of 2018.

“I’m expecting great things for U.S. carnet development,” concluded Shiles. “2018 will be a historic year for the Carnet.”

If any U.S. companies have interest in getting exposure to their goods in the Chinese market, kindly contact Andrew Shiles.

USCIB’s Statement on China Urges WTO Compliance

Published on September 25, 2017

As China continues to grow in importance in the global economy, it is crucial for the Chinese and U.S. governments to continue to work together to address common challenges and responsibilities. In view of this, USCIB has recently submitted a statement to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on China’s compliance with its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments, which incorporated a wide array of input from USCIB members across various sectors.

In the statement, which is submitted annually, USCIB commended the U.S. and Chinese governments for important work in on-going bilateral dialogues, as well as in support of working relationships between U.S. and Chinese agencies which provide invaluable opportunities for exchanging information and addressing agency-specific issues. The statement addressed important issues to U.S. business including taxation, customs and trade facilitation, information technology and intellectual property rights. Furthermore, it advocated for continuing negotiations of a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between the U.S. and China.

“We also urge both countries to utilize the full range of multilateral forums in addition to the WTO, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), to work toward improved commercial relations,” said Eva Hampl, who leads USCIB’s work on China.

“While USCIB acknowledges the efforts China has made since joining the WTO in 2001 to meet its obligations under the terms of its accession agreement, there still remain significant WTO obligation compliance concerns,” added Hampl. These concerns include government procurement, trade restrictions in information technology and continued intellectual property violations in audiovisual, software, agriculture biotechnology and chemicals.

The full statement is available here.

USCIB Hosts Business & Human Rights Symposium

Published on September 18, 2017
L-R: Jonathan Drimmer (Barrick Gold), Sarah McGrath (ICAR), Ariel Meyerstein (Citi and formely, USCIB), Gabriella Rigg Herzog (USCIB)

USCIB teamed up with Barrick Gold and Article One Advisors on September 13 to hold a symposium—Human Rights and Remedy in Business Relationships with Limited Leverage. The symposium was hosted by Marriott International and held under Chatham House Rule.

Businesses often have different types of leverage that can be used to help promote corporate responsibility and respect for human rights in their operations and with their business relationships. Contracts provide a clear source of leverage, such as agreements with business partners or sourcing agreements with direct suppliers. This leverage can also extend to using business relationships influence to help promote greater access to judicial and non-judicial remedy for victims – in keeping with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Security and Human Rights (aka Guiding Principles).

“First and foremost, the Guiding Principles set out the critical duty of States to protect the human rights of their citizens through the development and enforcement of national laws,” noted Gabriella Rigg Herzog, USCIB’s vice president for corporate responsibility and labor affairs. “They also include the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and operate with due diligence, and the need for greater access to remedy for victims of alleged human rights abuse,” she added.

But what happens if a business’s leverage is limited? How can a company identify new ways to exercise leverage – especially when it relates to promoting respect for human rights and greater access to remedy – when faced with leverage-limiting scenarios franchises, licensing, sponsorships and non-operated joint ventures?

These questions were the focus of the symposium, which was attended by over 70 representatives of business, U.S. government and civil society. Presenters representing industries as diverse as extractives, hospitality and banking, as well as civil society, discussed stakeholder expectations for business, brainstormed on how to increase trust between stakeholders and business on the issue of leverage, the challenge of defining remedy, and moving from theory to action around key issues like performance, timing and achieving scale.

“Our conversation today is a continuation of the important business and human rights dialogue series launched by Coca-Cola, and which USCIB – together with the International Organization of Employers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – has been proud to co-sponsor,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M Robinson. “And while we won’t likely resolve all of these important questions today, we’re proud to participate in this dialogue and we’ll look forward to seeing you all and continuing the conversation together in Geneva this November at the UN Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights – and beyond.”

Shiles to Promote Trade Services at World Chambers Congress

Published on September 18, 2017
This year’s World Chamber Congress is taking place in Sydney, Australia

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) kicks off the tenth installment of its biennial World Chambers Congress this week in Sydney, Australia, which will bring over 1,200 delegates from across the globe to discuss challenges impacting the business and chamber communities and to exchange knowledge and expertise while promoting result-oriented innovation. In an ever-changing business climate, the Congress, with its high level speakers, addresses and examines today’s most significant global issues.

Among them will be USCIB’s Senior Vice President for ATA Carnet and Trade Services Andy Shiles who will be attending ATA Carnet global management meetings in Sydney. Stay tuned for next week’s e-newsletter for a report from the field!

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian will officially opened the World Chambers Congress. While the Congress is taking place in Australia during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, ICC First Vice-Chair and Corrs Chambers Westgarth Partner and CEO John W.H. Denton acknowledged the important discussions taking place in New York and called on business and chamber leaders to show support for the UN Sustainable Development Goals and help ensure that businesses worldwide are doing all they can —in their daily operations and investments—to drive their implementation.

The #10WCC is jointly organized by the Sydney Business Chamber, a division of NSW Business Chamber and the ICC.

OECD Business Communicators to Meet in Ireland

Published on September 18, 2017
Dublin’s Samuel Beckett Bridge: The Irish capital will welcome business communicators from across the OECD.

Continuing its efforts to re-frame the global narrative on trade and economic openness, on October 12-13, Business at OECD (BIAC) will hold its 2nd Heads of Communications Roundtable in Dublin and Cork, Ireland, in cooperation with its Irish member Ibec . This is a two-day program for heads of communications from BIAC’s global membership, and USCIB company representatives are encouraged to attend.

“The roundtable will include a series of meetings, company visits, and guest speakers on themes relevant to communications professionals within business federations and individual companies, and will facilitate a solution-based discussion on the challenges we face in the current international socio-political environment,” according to Ali Karami-Ruiz, BIAC’s director of policy and communications. “Through the event, we will showcase the success and substance globalization has brought to Ireland’s economy.”

In the context of a growing populist narrative in some economies, Irish business leaders will address participants on the challenges and opportunities we face in communicating business and open markets. The program will include a number of company visits and inputs from the communications team behind the “Yes Equality” campaign for marriage equality in Ireland, and from the Irish government’s director of strategic communications.

Communications professionals from USCIB member organizations who are interested in participating in the roundtable should contact Jonathan Huneke, USCIB’s vice president for communications and public affairs.

 

ICC/USCIB Competition Committee Hosts DOJ Antitrust Expert

Published on September 18, 2017

USCIB’s Competition Committee held its annual joint meeting on September 11 in partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Commission on Competition. Introductory remarks included comments by Paul Lugard, partner, Barker Botts LLP and chair of the ICC Competition Commission, and John Taladay, partner, Baker Botts LLP and chair of the USCIB Competition Committee.

The meeting included an off-the-record exchange of views with Bernard A. Nigro, Jr., deputy assistant attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice, antitrust division, on issues of relevance to USCIB membership, including international engagement, trade related competition issues and mergers.

The remainder of the meeting provided updates on the ongoing projects of the various task forces of the ICC Competition Commission, including on compliance and advocacy, merger control regimes, due process, the International Competition Network (ICN), cartels and leniency, and court proceeding in antitrust damage claims.

Finally, the membership received an update on ASEAN competition issues by Hatasakdi Na Pombejra from HN Pro International, who presented on behalf of ICC Thailand.

Business Makes It Happen: American Business at the UN General Assembly

Published on September 18, 2017

By Peter M. Robinson
President and CEO
United States Council for International Business

 

“We live in a complex world. The United Nations cannot succeed alone. Partnership must continue to be at the heart of our strategy. We should have the humility to acknowledge the essential role of other actors, while maintaining full awareness of our unique convening power.”

-Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General

The 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) gets under way this week at a time of stresses and strains in the international community. The nature of these stresses is particularly acute for the U.S. business community: a growing need for financing and investment in infrastructure, the open trading system called into question, and calls by some for a retreat from engagement in multilateral forums. How does American business plan for these challenges, and where can we make the biggest difference?

For USCIB and its members, an important place to start tackling these questions is the UN’s 2030 Development Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a framework that will be at the center of this week of high-level meetings, also known as Global Goals Week.

In the face of challenges such as unemployment, climate change and population growth around the world, USCIB believes we have to pursue the SDGs as “must-wins” for the United States and for the American business community. We know that economic growth abroad helps create jobs at home. Open markets and policies that foster private investment offers new markets for our products. Innovation aimed at improved sustainability give the U.S. a leg-up in global competition while advancing investment in energy sources and new technologies to combat climate change.

That is why, this week, USCIB is holding a series of discussions on the margins of the UNGA to cultivate the “ingredients for impact” to catalyze business contributions to the SDGs. We are doing this under the theme, “Business Makes It Happen,” because we believe that, without strong commitment and incentives for the private sector, we won’t be able to achieve the Global Goals.

USCIB supports multilateral solutions to global challenges, with business constructively involved. We rely on solid, long-term dialogue and a close working relationship with both our government and the UN system to advance U.S. business contributions to sustainable development, delivering economic benefits at home and abroad. When it comes to what business depends on to succeed, thrive and lift the American economy, we look to Washington, D.C., and to the United Nations. We depend on both, and that is why USCIB has chosen to step forward as a U.S. business organization, working closely with our partners in the U.S. government as UNGA gets underway.

The Three I’s

The 2030 Agenda provides a blueprint for action that enjoys wide business and government support. But there are still three broad challenges in terms of implementation by business – inclusiveness, innovation and information.

  • Information: While there is more and better information available from companies on SDG action, we are overwhelmed with the quantity of data, and so we – business, governments — don’t know where to begin to understand or prioritize action. We have too much information and not enough analysis. The business community needs to develop ways to present its progress that are accessible and relevant for the international community and national governments.
  • Innovation, which is the best source of solutions for sustainability, still faces obstacles due to a lack of proper incentives for researchers, inventors and investors. The UN must do better in creating a fully welcoming environment and institutional framework for technology innovation that is genuinely involving business experts.
  • Inclusiveness: A basic tenet of the Agenda for 2030 is that no one is left behind. That suggests that everyone needs to be involved to deliver solutions. Yet in some UN forums, the private sector is still not regarded as a full partner in the effort. At times, there are still political sensitivities when business wants to come to the table, or even just listen in on policy deliberations. Clearly, we in business need to do more to demonstrate commitment and deliver actual results.

Statements by both United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and President of the General Assembly Miroslav Lajčák suggest that, under their leadership in the UNGA this year, we could see progress towards a more inclusive and transparent framework to involve the business community across the board. USCIB would endorse and welcome such a development.

By their very nature, many of the SDGs depend on partnerships to be implemented, and we regard business as indispensable in collaborative action to deliver the SDGs. On its 2nd anniversary, the USCIB web platform, Business for 2030, now showcases 200 initiatives from 52 companies, in over 150 countries, covering 85 of the 169 SDG targets. These encompass both philanthropic and corporate responsibility initiatives as well as core business operations that all contribute to achieving one or more of the 17 SDG targets.

Progress has been made, as witnessed by the strong response to this year’s SDG Business Forum on the margins of last July’s High-Level Political Forum – it literally filled the UN’s largest room, the General Assembly Hall. Governments and the UN have to continue to create those new kinds of spaces in which that exchange on policy and practice can occur substantively and with good governance.

With our affiliations to leading global business organizations embedded in the UN system, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE), we have been fortunate to be on the front lines of the collaborative discussions that brought forward the SDGs, and to foster recognized opportunities for the private sector to cooperate with the UN. The process of multilateralism does move slowly, demanding investment of time and effort, but the rewards are outcomes in which business is invested and knows what to expect.

It is already clear to USCIB that one element of success towards efficiency and effectiveness in the reform of the UN is to create the most open and inclusive institutional structures to consult with representative business bodies, and then to recognize and include those inputs. We have seen time and again how the ILO, the OECD and other inter-governmental forums have demonstrated that including business in a recognized manner is a value add because it is brings on board those societal partners that invest, innovate and implement.

At USCIB, we are more convinced than ever that a more open and accountable policy dialogue, with recognized involvement of representative business groups, is a fundamental element of good governance (which is in fact the aim of SDG16), and will deliver real results. By and large, UN bodies are involving business in more substantive ways, and we are looking forward to this year’s UNGA to keep that discussion going, particularly in the context of UN reform.

In his report laying out his vision of UN reform, Secretary General Guterres presents eight big ideas for reform of the UN system.  At the heart of those are the 17 big commitments which the global community made in 2015: the SDGs. Our main goal this week is to join the international dialogues and offer ways to make those big ideas a reality for, and with, U.S. business.

Throughout the negotiations leading to the SDGs, and now in the period of their execution, we have underscored the need for business to be embedded in the process. This is necessary to leverage all the resources that the private sector can provide through investment, innovation and know-how. With dialogue and the right mix of incentives, business really can make it happen and we will be working throughout this year’s UNGA to continue the evolution towards collaborative and impactful SDG partnerships with business.

Robinson Talks Trade at International Trade Conference

Published on September 18, 2017

BAFT, the leading international transaction banking association, held its 27th Annual Conference on International Trade in Chicago on September 12, where USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson served as keynote speaker to address the topic of U.S. Trade Policy.

“This is a very perilous time for trade,” noted Robinson. “In the past, no matter what other countries were doing or saying, we could always count on the U.S. and UK to stand up for open markets. That’s no longer the case. We could be at a point where anti-trade forces can effectively flip the script.”

In discussing NAFTA, Robinson emphasized USCIB’s recent recommendations to the Trump administration:

  • First, do no harm. Most of NAFTA has worked well for companies and has spurred far greater integration of the North American economy than would have happened without it.
  • Negotiate new and better rules for e-commerce and digital trade, an enormous part of the U.S. economy, to include provisions on e-commerce and digital trade such as ensuring the flow of data across borders, prohibiting requirements to localize data in a country, protecting personal data, and not carving out certain sectors (like financial services) from these provisions.
  • More regulatory coherence, strong protection of investments (including effective investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms), and rules to level the playing field with state-owned enterprises.

On trade with Asia, Robinson discussed the importance of an alternative approach in place of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). “TPP was really a top-notch agreement in my view,” he said. “But we walked away from it for political reasons. And potential FTA partners like the UK and Japan would be likely to take a very hard line in any talks with us.”

Robinson also discussed innovation and USCIB’s work on the digital economy, alongside the OECD, that the OECD takes into account the views of business and to shape policy that would not stifle innovation. Robinson also touched upon the International Chamber of Commerce’s new status at the UN General Assembly which will enable USCIB to push for expanded trade, access to trade finance and sensible approaches to technological innovation and regulation, as well as promoting business involvement in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which encompass financial inclusion.

USCIB Supports an EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework

Published on September 18, 2017

On the occasion of the first joint review of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework, USCIB reaffirmed support for the Framework and issued a statement underscoring its importance in ensuring continued robust and reliable transatlantic data flows, which have proved vital for healthy U.S.-EU commercial relations.

In just one year, nearly 2,500 U.S. business entities have self-certified with the Department of Commerce and publicly committed to comply with the Framework requirements – with many of them already in the process of re-certifying.

“This impressive ‘track record’ substantiates our view that many U.S. companies see the potential of the Framework to provide greater legal certainty and consumer confidence in data transfers,” said Barbara Wanner, USCIB’s vice president for ICT policy. “In the longer term, this will promote commercial activities and investments yielding increased economic and societal benefits on both sides of the Atlantic,” she added.

USCIB highlighted three important points for consideration in the Annual Review: (1) the Framework is realizing stronger personal data protections; (2) the Framework is serving as an effective mechanism for certification by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); and (3) the longevity of the Framework remains important.