USCIB Members Turn Out for World Trade Week
May 21-25 was World Trade Week in cities around the country, an occasion for pro-trade groups like USCIB to marshal their resources in support of enhanced awareness of trade’s importance to America’s prosperity. We thank all the USCIB members and friends around the country who helped make the week’s events such a big success.
In New York, the theme was “Small Business Success in the Global Marketplace.” USCIB joined with several other groups in organizing an array of events, discussions and get-togethers. A kickoff award breakfast recognized New York companies that have scored major successes in overseas markets. In another event, USCIB Senior Vice President Cindy Duncan led a discussion of the ATA Carnet service for temporary exports
At a packed panel discussion of new tools for doing business in China, George Pohle of IBM’s Institute for Business Value gave an incisive presentation of new study on China’s new mass markets. Foreign companies, he said, must alter their business models and operations to tap China’s rapidly growing middle class.
Mr. Pohle noted that prosperity outside of major coastal cities, coupled with fierce competition, will drive more companies to develop innovative, low-cost business models to reach new markets and customers across diverse regions of China. Companies will need to transform key areas of their businesses – including sales channels, distribution, R&D, procurement and human resources – to capture this opportunity. Click here to access a copy of the IBM study.
New ICC Representative to the United Nations – We are delighted to welcome Louise Kantrow as the International Chamber of Commerce’s new permanent representative to the United Nations. In April, Ms. Kantrow succeeded William J. Stibravy, ICC’s longtime UN representative, who retired after more than a quarter-century representing business in the world body. Like him, she will be based in USCIB’s Midtown Manhattan offices.
Ms. Kantrow most recently served as executive director of the International League for Human Rights, one of the oldest human rights organizations in the world. She has also held senior positions in UN Association of the USA, the United Nations Population Fund and the Population Council, and worked for many years as economic affairs officer in the UN Department of Economic and Social Development.
In March, USCIB members and friends, along with a host of current and former UN official and delegates, joined in celebrating Mr. Stibravy’s years of service and record of accomplishment. “A lot of the credit for the UN’s more positive attitude toward business in recent years can go to Bill Stibravy,” noted USCIB President Peter M. Robinson.
More Comings and Goings – USCIB Vice Chair Thomas Niles paid a visit to Finland in April at the invitation of ICC Finland. Mr. Niles, the former assistant secretary of state for European affairs who served as U.S. ambassador to several countries, met with business and government leaders, as well as the press, to discuss the current state of transatlantic relations. … USCIB President Peter M. Robinson has joined the U.S. Trade Representative’s Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee, which provides expert advice to U.S. trade negotiators on environmental matters. … David Lewis has retired as vice president of government affairs with LENNOX International and stepped down as chair of USCIB’s Climate Change Working Group, a position he had for seven years.
USCIB Trustee Thomas Gottschalk has retired from his position as general counsel with GM, and taken a position with law firm Kirkland & Ellis. … Mark Beckett of Latham & Watkins is the new chair of USCIB’s Arbitration Committee on June 1, succeeding Louis Kimmelman of Allen & Overy.
Welcome New Members! – We are proud to welcome the following new USCIB members: General Mills, Inc., Kilpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP, Littler Mendelson, P.C., Scott & Scott LLP, Entertainment Software Association and the Managed Funds Association.
New Faces at USCIB Headquarters – A warm welcome to Lea Felluss, the new executive assistant supporting ICC’s liaison team in New York, which handles both commercial arbitration and outreach to the United Nations. Lea is a graduate of Berkeley College. … We are also pleased to welcome Alix Anfang as program assistant, supporting our Environment, Intellectual Property and Competition Committees among other areas. Alix is a graduate of Georgetown University. … Finally, Kirsten Robinson has joined us for the summer as receptionist and administrative assistant. Kirsten will be a junior at James Madison University in the fall.
