Sub Featured Story Archives

Donnelly Talks Trade and EU at Chautauqua

Published on October 2, 2018

USCIB Vice President for Investment and Financial Services Shaun Donnelly is serving as a speaker at a week-long Foreign Policy seminar at the historic Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York.  The biannual Foreign Policy seminar is  a joint effort of the Chautauqua Institution, the “Road Scholar” continuing education program, and the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA).

Donnelly, a retired U.S. diplomat, former Ambassador, and senior trade negotiator, is a long-time AFSA member.  In Chautauqua the week of October 1, he will be one of six experienced U.S. diplomats leading discussion sessions.

Donnelly will talk on two topics of interest of USCIB and its member companies – “U.S. Trade Policy in the Trump Era” and “The U.S. and the European Union – Partners? Rivals? Or Both?”

International Business Magazine: Fall/Summer 2018

Published on October 2, 2018

The Summer/Fall 2018 issue of USCIB’s quarterly International Business magazine is available here. The issue features a timely column by USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson titled, “The Myth of Private-Sector ‘Conflict of Interest’ at the UN. The issue also features news stories on how tariffs harm companies and consumers, tax reform impacts, and reinforcing US-China tie, plus news from our global network–Business at OECD, the International Organization of Employers and the International Chamber of Commerce.

“International Business,” USCIB’s quarterly journal, provides essential insight into major trade and investment topics, a high-level overview of USCIB policy advocacy and services, USCIB member news and updates from our global business network.

Subscribe to USCIB’s International Business Magazine

Subscriptions to “International Business” are available free upon request to representatives of USCIB member organizations. Contact us to subscribe.

Non-members may subscribe to “International Business” and other USCIB print publications at an annual rate of $50 (U.S.) for domestic delivery, or $75 for overseas delivery. Contact us to subscribe. USCIB’s annual report, studies from the United States Council Foundation and related publications are included with your paid subscription.

Our free electronic newsletter, “International Business Weekly,” provides regular updates on USCIB’s major activities and priorities. Click here to view a sample issue. Click here to subscribe.

We welcome outside submissions and inquiries regarding our publications – send them to news@uscib.org.

We welcome advertising in International Business magazine — special discounted rates for USCIB member organizations! Contact Kira Yevtukhova (kyevtukhova@uscib.org) for more information.

 

USCIB Welcomes Trilateral Update of NAFTA

Published on October 1, 2018

Washington, D.C., October 1, 2018 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s most successful global companies, issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s announcement of a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), modernizing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):

“We welcome the conclusion of a trilateral agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada on the modernization of NAFTA, which is a longtime priority for our members and American business more broadly.

“The North American market is very important to the success of our members, and keeping the region economically integrated is vital for U.S. companies to remain competitive in the global market.

 “The USMCA contains numerous provisions important to our members, recognizing the many changes in the North American and global economies since the original agreement was signed a quarter-century ago. We look forward to reviewing the details of the agreement to ensure that it addresses our key concerns and priorities in lowering barriers to cross-border trade and investment.”

About USCIB:

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world, generating $5 trillion in annual revenues and employing over 11 million people worldwide. As the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers and Business at OECD, 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
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

Op-Ed Dispels Myths of Business “Conflict of Interest” at UN

Published on September 25, 2018

As the annual United Nations General Assembly is underway in New York this week and next, USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson contributed a timely op-ed in The Hill, titled “UN’s private-sector phobia prevents if from hitting its lofty goals.”

“It is increasingly evident that the international community is not on track to deliver the expected results under the Paris Agreement (as well as the broader U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change) or the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals,” writes Robinson. “So why, at a moment when governments and international organizations should be actively seeking ways to encourage business to step up, is the private sector being accused of having a ‘conflict of interest’ or of actively seeking to upend global consensus?”

Robinson points out that accusations of conflict of interest are rampant across UN agencies, including the World Health Organization and in the context of the UN climate talks. He then outlines six “myths” about business influence in international policy-making and dispels them one by one.

To read the full op-ed, please visit The Hill.

 

USCIB Contributes to Setting Principles in APEC Transit Guidelines

Published on September 25, 2018

USCIB represented industry at a workshop that was organized by Chilean Customs addressing Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Transit Guidelines. USCIB Director Customs and Trade Facilitation Megan Giblin attended the workshop which was held in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, September 11 – 12, 2018.

Giblin participated in a panel with Chilean and Chinese Customs as well as World Customs Organization (WCO) representatives addressing the challenges and gaps on implementation of the APEC Customs Transit Guidelines. Overall the event was well attended and included participants from several APEC economies, including Chile, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru and Vietnam, as well as a handful of domestic Chilean industry representatives.

“USCIB participation in this event was critical in providing industry inputs into the process and is consistent with our longstanding engagement and leadership on customs and trade facilitation matters within APEC,” said Giblin. “The dialogue resulted in a positive discussion and general consensus on the ‘guidelines.’ These ‘guidelines’ are now viewed as ‘guiding principles’ and next steps among all parties, as well as secured a path forward for this issue as Chile takes on the APEC presidency in 2019.”

 

ICC Releases New Code of Conduct for Global Marketing Industry

Published on September 25, 2018
L-R: Carla Michelotti (International Advertising Association), Sheila Millar (Keller & Heckman), Lee Peeler (National Advertising Division)
Launched September 25 at a conference in New York, the new edition of the flagship ICC Marketing Code raises consumer protection standards around the world and expands rules in the digital realm.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has released the tenth revision of its flagship Advertising and Marketing Communications Code – a globally applicable self-regulatory framework developed by experts from all industry sectors worldwide. The ICC Marketing Code was launched on September 25 during the National Advertising Division’s 2018 Annual Conference in New York. ICC is the world’s largest business organisation, representing over 45 million companies and more than one billion employees. USCIB serves as ICC’s exclusive American national committee.

Underpinning self-regulatory frameworks in 42 countries, the ICC Marketing Code seeks to protect consumers by clearly setting out the “dos and don’ts” for responsible marketing to ensure legal, honest, decent and truthful communications and practices. This new revision ensures that the ICC Marketing Code takes into account emerging digital marketing and advertising practices, such as artificial intelligence-enabled marketing, market influencers, vloggers and data analytics.

“ICC’s global membership ensures that there is a worldwide consensus on Marketing and Advertising issues, and a unified voice when business speaks to the UN and to national governments,” said Carla Michelotti, vice president of the International Advertising Association and the vice chair of USCIB’s Marketing and Advertising Committee.

Sheila Millar, partner with Keller & Heckman and vice chair of the ICC Marketing and Advertising Commission, who joined Michelotti in unveiling the revised code, added: “The goal was to make sure that the ICC Code remains relevant to the marketplace of today, including modern technologies and marketing practices. We wanted to make it future-proof.”

The tenth revision of the ICC Marketing Code includes:

  • Enhanced guidance on distinguishing marketing communications content from true editorial and user generated content
  • Expanded coverage of the rules to include emerging digital mediums and participants
  • Consolidated rules on direct marketing and digital marketing communications
  • Updated terminology and guidance on the applicability of mobile phones and cross-devices to location-based advertising and interest-based advertising
  • Clarified rules on advertising to children and teens

“The digital transformation of marketing and advertising underscores the critical importance of trust between consumers and companies,” said ICC Secretary General John Denton. “The ICC Marketing Code sets the gold standard for ethical advertising that will help ensure consumer trust in the years to come.”

Brent Sanders, assistant general counsel at Microsoft and chair of the ICC Commission on Marketing and Advertising (as well as USCIB’s Marketing and Advertising Committee), agreed and noted: “The ICC Marketing Code has served as the inspiration for self-regulatory codes and as a building block for self-regulatory structures around the world. By ensuring advertising is honest, transparent and decent, these systems build consumer trust and provide quick and easy redress when transgressions occur.”

A Spanish-language edition of the newly-revised ICC Marketing Code will be launched in Cartagena, Colombia – and accessible globally online – on October 2.

The ICC Commission on Marketing and Advertising examines major marketing and advertising related policy issues of interest to world business and brings together top experts on self-regulation and ethical best practices in advertising and marketing communications. ICC has been the major rule-setter in international advertising self-regulation since 1937, when the Commission issued its first Marketing Code – one of the most successful examples of business self-regulation ever developed.

USCIB Voices Concerns With China’s WTO Commitments

Published on September 24, 2018

As part of the annual request by the U.S. Trade Representative for comments on China’s compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments and notice of public hearing, USCIB submitted comments on September 21 reflecting USCIB members’ feedback and concerns. Since China acceded to the WTO in 2001, while progress has been made in some areas, there still remain significant WTO obligation compliance concerns.

USCIB’s submission highlights concerns that arise in selected horizontal areas that transcend industry sectors, including IT security measures, China’s antimonopoly law, intellectual property rights, market access, national treatment and non-discrimination, the regulatory environment, standards, state-owned enterprises, customs and trade facilitation, taxation, labor laws, certification, licensing, and testing barriers. USCIB’s submission also addresses issues related to specific industry sectors that face problems in China, including agricultural biotechnology, audiovisual, chemicals, electronic payment access, express delivery services, recoverable materials, software, and telecommunications.

“On China’s fulfillment of its WTO obligations, USCIB acknowledges the efforts China has made since joining the WTO in 2001 to meet its obligations under the terms of its accession agreement,” said USCIB Senior Director for Investment, Trade and Financial Services Eva Hampl, who leads USCIB’s work on China. “However, there still remain significant WTO obligation compliance concerns. USCIB notes that its member concerns extend beyond those discussed in this paper, including government procurement; until China officially accedes to and implements the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), government procurement program concerns remain among USCIB members.”

A public hearing to discuss these issues is scheduled to take place on October 3, 2018. Hampl will be testifying and highlighting the most urgent issues to U.S. industry.

USCIB Salutes Retiring US Diplomat Ted Allegra

Published on September 21, 2018
Ted Allegra
Photo credit: U.S. Mission photo Dominique Nicolas

Last week, senior U.S. diplomat Ted Allegra retired after 27 years in the State Department’s Foreign Service.  USCIB has worked closely with Ted Allegra over the past five years, through his service first as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs at the State Department and since 2015 as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.  As the representative of U.S. business to the broad network of UN agencies and international organizations headquartered in Geneva, USCIB works closely with senior officials at the Department of State and in U.S. Missions to international organizations.

“Allegra has consistently been a tower of strength and a good friend of USCIB and U.S. business,” noted USCIB Vice President for Investment and Financial Services Shaun Donnelly, who is also a former diplomat. In his final 18 months in Geneva, in the absence of a U.S. Ambassador, Allegra, as Chargé d’Affaires (effectively Acting U.S. Ambassador), carried the full responsibility of leading that important Mission, representing the U.S. Government to nearly two dozen Geneva-based international organizations.

Allegra is capping a very distinguished Foreign Service career.  In addition to his final five years focusing on the United Nations and international organization issues, Allegra served with distinction earlier as Deputy Executive Secretary of the State Department, as Deputy Chief of Mission (#2 U.S. diplomat) in the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia, and as the Department’s  Deputy Coordinator for Counter-terrorism.  Earlier in his career, Allegra served in U.S. Embassies and Consulates in Pakistan, Philippines and Cambodia.

USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson was effusive in his praise of Allegra. “Ted has been a fantastic partner for USCIB and for American business,” said Robinson. “Since Ambassador Pamela Hamamoto’s departure in January 2017, Ted has done a great job leading the U.S. Mission in Geneva.  We’ve worked with him on a range of challenging issues arising in the International Labor Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the International Telecommunications Union and several other UN bodies and agencies.  Ted has always been available to meet with USCIB and our member companies, has listened to and understood our concerns and proposals, and has helped us find solutions.  When we took our first-ever official senior delegation of USCIB member companies to Geneva earlier this  year, Ted was incredibly generous with his time and wise in his advice.  I’ve worked with a lot of very senior U.S. Government diplomats in my career at USCIB and Ted Allegra is one of the very best.  We are sorry to see him leave the U.S. Mission in Geneva and the Foreign Service but we wish him well in future endeavors.  He leaves behind in Geneva both an impressive legacy and some big shoes to fill.”

 

Annual Conference Discusses Human Rights Trends and Developments

Published on September 18, 2018
Gabriella Rigg Herzog (USCIB) speaks at the 2018 Engaging Business Forum
Theme of 2018 forum: “Collaboration Through Partnerships to Address Business and Human Rights Trends and Developments.”
Forum brought together 200+ representatives from the private sector, U.S. government, civil society, academia, and international organizations to discuss the importance of partnerships in achieving business and human rights goals.

Since 2007, USCIB, The Coca-Cola Company, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the International Organization of Employers (IOE) have organized an annual forum on business and human rights to foster candid discussions and peer learning opportunities. The 10th Engaging Business Forum took place on September 13-14 at The Coca-Cola Company’s headquarters in Atlanta under the theme of “Collaboration Through Partnerships to Address Business and Human Rights Trends and Developments.”

The two-day forum has become the leading annual business and human rights convening in the United States, and this year brought together over 200 representatives from the private sector, U.S. government, civil society, academia, and international organizations to discuss the importance of partnerships in achieving business and human rights goals. Participants discussed leading business and human rights issues of the moment, including:

  • What does and doesn’t work in partnerships?
  • How business can work and interact with human rights defenders?
  • Best practices and challenges for business in providing access to remedy?
  • How to address the issue of wages in the supply chain?
  • Understanding diversity and inclusion in the workplace?

The keynote speaker at the event was Director-General of the International Labor Organization Guy Ryder. Other speakers included USCIB Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Gabriella Herzog, Director of Global Workplace Rights at The Coca-Cola Company Brent Wilton, Director of Stakeholder Engagement at IOE Matthias Thorns, and Michael Congiu of Littler Mendelson as the representative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. USCIB member company speakers included The Walt Disney Company, Walmart, H&M, and Rio Tinto.

“Our role at USCIB is to support U.S. business in creating and supporting a more prosperous society, including through demonstrating respect for human rights in their activities,” said Herzog. “We’re proud to be a co-sponsor of this prestigious annual human rights event which provides sharing and learning opportunities about the important roles that governments, business and civil society representatives are playing to advance human rights around the world,” Herzog added.

The event’s agenda is available here.

 

Climate Talks Make Limited Progress, As Clock Runs Out on Implementation Rules

Published on September 18, 2018
Meeting adjourned with 300+ pages that negotiators have to transform into a set of rules for governments and businesses.
Sticking points: differential treatment of reporting procedures by developed and developing countries and lack of attention to reporting on financial assistance commitments.

 

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change convened an additional negotiating session in Bangkok, Thailand from September 4-10. Representatives of over 190 governments gathered in intense discussions to conclude rules for implementation of the Paris Agreement, which are due at the next climate governing body meeting in Poland from December 4-14.

While government representatives worked around the clock in Bangkok to develop streamlined negotiating text that could be finalized at the end of the year, the meeting adjourned with over 300 pages that negotiators will have to tackle in the limited time left and transform into a set of rules that governments and businesses can use as a blueprint for investment, energy mix and other long term decisions.

While the Bangkok deliberations were to focus on operational details relating to reporting, tracking and assessing government actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with nationally determined targets under the Paris Agreement, the discussions became contentious.

Sticking points related to differential treatment of reporting procedures by developed and developing countries, and the lack of attention to reporting on financial assistance commitments dating back to the conclusion of the Paris Agreement itself. Developing countries also continue to argue for the inclusion of loss and damage liability in future UN climate agreement procedures.

Business representatives from the International Chamber of Commerce and USCIB tracked the talks, meeting with key delegations from the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. USCIB Vice President for Strategic International Engagement, Energy and Environment Norine Kennedy commented on the U.S. business stake in what might seem to be mainly technical details: “An important consideration for U.S. business is preserving American competitiveness and ensuring deployment of U.S. innovation in global markets. The nuts and bolts of reporting under the UN climate agreement will determine how reliably we can assess comparability of effort between countries, so we appreciate the Administration’s continuing focus on clear rigorous rules for reporting such governmental actions across every nation.”