Member Staff News Archives

USCIB Announces Leadership Change in Customs, Trade Facilitation Work

Published on June 29, 2020
Jerry Cook (left) alongside Former Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan and USCIB President & CEO Peter Robinson

USCIB has announced that Vice President for Government Relations at Hanesbrands Jerry Cook is stepping down from the chairmanship of USCIB’s Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee as of July 1.

For over ten years, Cook has led the multi-sectoral Committee in strengthening USCIB’s content practice in customs and trade facilitation field and helped position the organization with the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security (including Customs and Border Protection), Treasury, and Commerce, as well as the United States Trade Representative, the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Customs Organization, among others.

After over ten years of chairmanship, Cook noted that it is time for a change.

“While serving as Chair, I have witnessed much growth in this practice and am truly proud of the progress and accomplishments the membership has jointly achieved,” said Cook. “I appreciate the opportunity to have worked with all for achieving many consensus positions and efforts and being a part of such a strong and dedicated team. I will continue to look forward to seeing the continued success of USCIB, and the work I have been proud to lead.”

USCIB expresses its gratitude to Cook for his service and will announce successor leadership in the near future.

USCIB Board of Directors Welcomes New Vice Chair and Secretary

Published on May 21, 2020
L-R: Michele Parmelee, Robert DeLaMater

USCIB is pleased to announce the addition of two new Officers: Deloitte’s Global Chief People and Purpose Officer Michele Parmelee as Vice Chair and  Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Partner Robert DeLaMater as Secretary. The USCIB Board of Directors unanimously voted in its officer slate for the next two-year term at its recent meeting on May 12. Parmelee and DeLaMater join Chairman Harold McGraw III, Vice Chair (and former USCIB President) Thomas Niles and Treasurer Donald Monks.

Parmelee becomes the first woman to hold a USCIB Vice Chair position. As a twenty-year veteran at Deloitte, Parmelee leads talent, brand and communications, connecting a broad portfolio of programs to enhance its global brand, reputation and talent experience in support of Deloitte’s global strategy. She leads the office of the Deloitte Global CEO and Deloitte Global Programs and is a member of the Deloitte Global Executive Committee. Prior to joining Deloitte Global in June 2015, Parmelee was the secretary of the board of directors in the United States and led the Office of the Chairman in the U.S. She has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA magna cum laude with honors from Brown University.

DeLaMater has been a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell for more than twenty-eight years and takes over the role of USCIB Secretary last held by the late John Merow, former Sullivan & Cromwell chairman. DeLaMater has advised corporate clients and their financial advisers on mergers, takeover bids, joint ventures, divestitures and other M&A transactions, as well as on securities offerings, privatizations and other corporate financial matters. DeLaMater has been a USCIB director since 2015. In addition to his work in the New York office, DeLaMater has served Sullivan & Cromwell’s clients in its Tokyo, London and Hong Kong offices. He attended Harvard University and Columbia Law School.

USCIB’s Donnelly Retires; Will Take on a Consulting Role 

Published on April 1, 2020
Shaun Donnelly

Vice President for Investment Policy and Financial Services Shaun Donnelly is retiring April 3 after eight and half years at USCIB.

Donnelly came to USCIB in 2011, after an impressive 36-year career as a Department of State Foreign Service Officer followed by shorter stints at two other leading Washington trade associations. Throughout his time at USCIB, Donnelly has been a leading voice for the U.S. and international business communities on a wide range of investment policy issues, speaking out forcefully and publicly, as well as privately, to the U.S. Administration, Congress and in international fora, from the OECD and World Trade Organization (WTO) to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

Donnelly has also been a sought-after and a provocative speaker at investment conferences and seminars around Washington and around the globe.  But most importantly, Donnelly has always been willing and able to put his experience, his expertise and his rolodex to use to assist USCIB members, collectively and individually.

“It has been a real privilege to have Shaun as part of the USCIB team, and I’m delighted that he will continue on in an advisory role,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson. “Shaun is a global regulatory diplomat par excellence, never hesitating to stand up for private sector interests in a forceful, rational and compelling way.”

In the State Department’s Foreign Service, Donnelly served eight years as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (DAS) in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, at various times leading policy on Trade, Energy and Economic sanctions.  For almost five of those years he was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, the Department’s #3 economic policy official. Donnelly also served as U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives and as Deputy Ambassador to Tunisia and Mali. In his final U.S. government assignment, Donnelly was detailed to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) as Assistant USTR in charge of Europe and the Middle East, running USTR’s largest regional office.  He retired from the Foreign Service with the personal rank of Career Minister, roughly equivalent to that of three-star general.

“Simply put, it’s time,” Donnelly said.  “It’s been a great run and I have really appreciated the opportunity to work with so many great colleagues at USCIB and in our member companies.”

For us at USCIB, the good news is that Donnelly has agreed to stay on in a consulting role, serving as a senior advisor to Robinson and USCIB Senior Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs Rob Mulligan, as well as to take on a few special projects.

“I look forward to staying involved behind the scenes with USCIB and helping where I can,” said Donnelly. “It’s a great organization and there is still a lot of important, challenging work to do.”

USCIB Welcomes New Vice-Chair of Anti-Illicit Trade Committee

Published on January 27, 2020
Fernando Peña

Director of Customs and Regulatory Affairs for DHL in the Americas Region Fernando Peña has been appointed vice-chair of USCIB’s Anti-Illicit Trade Committee (AITC).  Illicit trade is a major threat to the U.S. economy and profoundly harms American businesses and citizens.Today’s global illicit markets generate trillions of U.S. dollars every year for organized crime, corrupt facilitators and other bad actors.  Counterfeits, illegal goods and other contraband are sold on our main streets, social media, online marketplaces and the dark web. USCIB Is committed to fight illicit trade globally.

According to Megan Giblin, who leads USCIB’s work on customs, the AITC takes a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to elevating the fight against illicit trade, particularly as it relates to the work of the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade, the Asia Pacific and Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Customs Organization (WCO) and other international organizations.

Peña joins AITC chair, David M. Luna, president and CEO of Luna Global Networks & Convergence Strategies LLC, in providing leadership of the Committee and its critical work such as engagement of China and other Source Markets of Fakes, targeted Action on Illicit Trade including Counterfeit and Pirated Goods, AIT Enforcement at Free Trade Zones (FTZs), strengthening Information sharing across sectors and markets as well as addressing “small parcels” trade in contraband and illicit commodities.

“We are very excited that Fernando has accepted a role in leading USCIB’s efforts to elevate the fight against illicit trade” said USCIB Senior Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs Rob Mulligan. “Fernando will be a valuable asset to the AITC objectives and strategic planning.  His wealth of private and public sector experience, including working for U.S. Customs & Border Protection, knowledge of international organizations, focus on Americas region for DHL and his overall understanding of the small parcels environment will be an asset to the work of the Committee.”

“Business has a critical role in mobilizing collective action to counter illicit trade” said Luna. “DHL and other USCIB AITC members can partner with governments to effectively disrupt illicit economies and criminals’ exploitation of global supply chains and FTZs.”

P&G, Pepsi Receive Prestigious State Department ACE Awards

Published on November 5, 2019
P&G’s Selina Jackson accepts ACE Award for Women’s Economic Engagement

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo presented the State Department’s annual Awards for Corporate Excellence (ACE Awards) for 2019 at an impressive public ceremony at the Department on October 31. As in most years, USCIB member companies swept the large multinational company categories.

Procter & Gamble Vice President of Global Government Relations and Public Policy Selina Jackson accepted the ACE Award for Women’s Economic Empowerment on behalf of P&G Asia Pacific for its impressive program to develop and promote women executives and managers through that key region.

PepsiCo’s Phil Myers accepts ACE Award for Sustainable Operations

PepsiCo Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs and Public Policy, Phil Myers accepted the ACE for Sustainable Operations on behalf of PepsiCo India, recognizing its path-breaking work on water conservation and quality in India. Both recipients, as well as the winners in the parallel Small and Medium Enterprise categories, delivered gracious remarks to the crowd of U.S. government officials, foreign diplomats and business leaders.

PepsiCo and P&G were selected from impressive cohorts of nominations by U.S. Ambassadors around the world, each nominating particularly outstanding corporate citizens in the local U.S. business community.  P&G is a repeat winner, having won a 2011 ACE for its work in Nigeria and Pakistan. USCIB Vice President and former U.S. Ambassador Shaun Donnelly represented USCIB at the ceremony and congratulated USCIB member company winners.

“It seems almost every year, USCIB member companies win one or both of these prestigious ACE Awards,” Donnelly said.  “Our member companies, typified by P&G and PepsiCo, are widely recognized as leaders in all areas or corporate responsibility and sustainability in a wide range of foreign countries, developed and developing, including in some very challenging environments. We are very proud to see them recognized.”

For a list of previous ACE Award winners, see here.

 

USCIB Member Reports on Recent UN International Trade Law Meetings

Published on November 5, 2019

Lauren Mandell, an international investment expert from the Washington DC office of USCIB member WilmerHale and a former deputy assistant U.S. Trade Representative for investment policy, represented USCIB at the October 14-18 meeting of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group III in Vienna. Mandell was one of a small handful of business and arbitration community observers at this semiannual meeting.

UNCITRAL’s Working Group III is focused on “reforming” the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) arbitration system, which is widely used to resolve investment disputes between host governments and foreign investors. Some governments and civil society activists have long criticized the ISDS system. In recent years the European Union has jumped on board, aggressively pushing its proposal for a government-dominated multilateral investment court and appellate mechanism to replace traditional ISDS. According to Mandell, even long-standing U.S. government policy supporting a high-standard ISDS system has wavered.

Photo source: UNCITRAL.org

“It was very valuable to have an experienced, eloquent investment policy expert like Lauren participating in this important investment policy body,” said USCIB Vice President for Investment Policy Shaun Donnelly. “Although UNCITRAL may be, to some, an obscure UN agency, it’s where the action is these days on international investment policy and, specifically, on ISDS. We at USCIB and many of our member companies see ISDS as a key pillar for global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) decisions. We will continue to work with Lauren, the U.S. government and our members in UNCITRAL and beyond to defend strong investment protections.”

The next meeting of UNCITRAL Working Group III, scheduled January 20-24, 2020, will be critically important for the business community because the meeting will focus on the EU’s proposed multilateral investment court. For more information, contact Shaun Donnelly or Lauren Mandell (lauren.mandell@wilmerhale.com) for further information.

Robinson Speaks at ILO Conference, ICC-UK

Published on July 1, 2019
USCIB’s Peter Robinson (far left) speaks at the annual meeting of ICC United Kingdom, chaired by ICC-UK Chairman Sir Michael Rake (center).

USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson took part in high-level panel discussions at the recent International Labor Conference, the ILO’s annual high-level gathering, as well as the annual general meeting of ICC-UK, the International Chamber of Commerce‘s chapter in the United Kingdom. At both events, he discussed new challenges of multilateralism in an era when some observers have called the multilateral model’s viability into question.

At the ILO, Robinson took part in a discussion of multilateral institutions and the future of work, alongside ILO Director General Guy Ryder, WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo, OECD Chief of Staff Gabriela Ramos and Sharan Burrow, secretary general of the International Trade Union Confederation, among others. He said that, from the perspective of employers, it is clear that businesses do well in stable and prosperous societies where inequality is not as rampant.

“The real question is whether governments, who are the ones to tackle inequality, are able to create the right kind of legal and regulatory frameworks to do so,” Robinson observed. “Global institutions need to continue to help governments by providing appropriate research and statistics and policy prescriptions – the OECD and ILO play important roles in those areas.”

The USCIB president called for an “inclusive multilateralism,” where all stakeholders are present and a climate of trust prevails. “Business wants to be part of the solution,” he said. “But we need to feel like we are listened to, and that we have a seat at the table. Just as we need more inclusive forms of economic growth, so we also need a more inclusive model of multilateralism, one that draws on the best ideas from broadly representative groups in civil society, including business and employers’ organizations.”

At the ICC-UK meeting, Robinson joined a panel on the future of the WTO and the multilateral trading system. He recalled recent USCIB papers on WTO modernization as well as the ongoing e-commerce negotiations. USCIB’s vision for the WTO, he said, “focuses not only on strengthening existing agreements, but also on addressing subsidies and other market-distorting support provided to state-owned enterprises, the establishment of new rules for current issues such as digital trade and customs processes on electronic transmissions, and ensuring a properly functioning appellate body, among other issues. The U.S. has been a major beneficiary of the WTO’s dispute settlement system, bringing and winning more cases than any other WTO member.”

Robinson was also a guest at ICC-UK’s board meeting (as was Crispin Conroy, ICC’s new Geneva representative), where he provided an overview of USCIB/ICC-USA priorities.

Remembering John Kloosterman, Labor Standards Expert

Published on June 11, 2019
John Kloosterman (2nd from left) relaxed prior to the 2016 ILO conference with (L-R) then-USCIB International Labor Counsel Ed Potter, USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson, and USCIB Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Committee Chair Laura Chapman Rubbo (Disney).

USCIB members, staff and friends mourn the passing of John Kloosterman, a widely respected labor and employment lawyer who was an active member of USCIB’s Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Committee, and who served on many U.S. employer delegations to the International Labor Organization (ILO). John passed away tragically in a traffic accident on May 28, and will be greatly missed by USCIB and our members.

In particular, John’s contributions to the work of the ILO’s Committee on the Application of Standards, an important part of the ILO’s supervisory mechanism on which he served from 2012 to 2017, were recognized and appreciated by his peers in the global employer community.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to John’s family, especially his wife Jamie. The couple were serial adopters of large, lovable shelter dogs. In lieu of flowers or food, Jamie has asked that donations be made in John’s name to the San Francisco SPCA.

In 2018, John joined the Canadian law firm of Hicks Morley. Read more about his career and legacy in this tribute on the firm’s website.

Job Opening: Membership Associate – NYC

Published on March 21, 2019

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position: Membership Associate

Organization: United States Council for International Business

Location: New York, NY

Reports to: Vice President, Membership

General Description: Unique opportunity to gain experience in a global business association by assisting the Business Development Department in the full range of membership development, including attracting new corporate members and retaining and developing current membership base. Particular emphasis is required on the process of identifying prospective members, conducting research, servicing their needs and ensuring their participation upon joining. Organizes preparation of membership reports, and completes general day-to-day administrative tasks for the Membership and Business Development Departments.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required as well as excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Must be detail oriented and have strong interpersonal, administrative and organization skills. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, WordPress, content management systems and other computer and web-based programs. Interest in international business policy issues or non-profit management/fundraising a plus.

Responsibilities:

  1. Prospect Research
    • Research new member targets to build the prospect pipeline; develop prospect profiles.
    • Manage and track prospect follow-up process.
  2. Member Participation
    • Respond to companies requesting information about membership.
    • Review company annual reports to identify member issues areas of interest.
    • Coordinate with Policy Staff to schedule committee reviews on participation.
    • Chart and monitor quarterly participation reports.
    • Maintain the list of Members At Risk (MARS).
    • Schedule member briefings for Membership Department and policy staff with member contacts.
  3. Business Development/Foundation
    • Assist with USCIB International Leadership Award Dinner; maintain sponsorship outreach list, invitation lists; provide logistical support; assist in interface with attendees.
    • Support The USCIB Foundation-related activities; schedule and attend BOD meetings.
    • Manage logistics on Foundation related meetings and events.
  4. Marketing
    • Manage schedules and travel for promotional trips to meet prospects and members.
    • Maintain the membership section of the website.
  5. Financial
    • Assist in preparation of annual membership fee billings; prepares, and mails invoices with renewal letters; assist in producing and updating monthly financial reports.
  6. Administrative
    • Maintain member records in the CRM database (NetForum).
    • Prepare updated membership lists quarterly; circulate to staff.
    • Keep Membership Rosters and Participation History reports updated.
    • Provide meeting support as necessary when events are held at USCIB offices.

To apply for this position, please send your cover letter and resume to resume@uscib.org.

08/19

USCIB International Business Magazine: Winter 2018 Issue

Published on December 13, 2018

The Winter 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, “Upholding Human Rights Requires Strong Partnerships.” The issue also features news stories on USCIB’s leadership in promoting food security and nutrition partnerships, the U.S.-China trade conflict, and USCIB’s artificial intelligence priorities, 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.