News Stories Archives

UN 2030 Development Agenda Week

Published on April 18, 2016
Norine Kennedy and Peter Robinson speak at a press conference on December 9 at COP21 in Paris.Norine Kennedy and Peter Robinson speak at a press conference on December 9 at COP21 in Paris.

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Norine Kennedy and Peter Robinson speak at a press conference on December 9 at COP21 in Paris.

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L-R: Amina Mohammed (UN), Peter Robinson (USCIB), Alex Thier (USAID). Shawn Miles (MasterCard) and moderator Matthew Bishop (The Economist).

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Ronnie Goldberg unveils the Business for 2030 website at the Global Employers’ Summit in Bahrain.

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Business & Climate Summit 2015, ICC Secretary General John Danilovich.

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Business & Climate Summit 2015, ICC and USCIB Chairman Terry McGraw.

L-R: John Danilovich (ICC), Christiana Figueres (the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) and Terry McGraw (ICC).L-R: John Danilovich (ICC), Christiana Figueres (the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) and Terry McGraw (ICC).

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L-R: John Danilovich (ICC), Christiana Figueres (the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) and Terry McGraw (ICC).

As United Nations members gather in New York to sign the Paris Climate Agreement and discuss follow-up on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed last year, we thought it timely to recap some of the activities USCIB and its global network undertook in 2015 in support of these pivotal initiatives:

Read USCIB’s Statement: “Setting the 2015 Sustainability Agenda In Motion”

North American Regional Consultation on Climate Change

USCIB convened the North American Business Consultation  on Climate Change on June 23 in Washington, D.C.; this session, organized with the International Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the International Emissions Trading Association, highlighted U.S. and Canadian business priorities for the U.N. climate agreement to be finalized in Paris this December.

In his opening comments to the day-long conference, with over 80 participants including government officials, business leaders, United Nations delegates, and academics, USCIB’s President and CEO, Peter Robinson stated: “USCIB has followed climate change for 20 plus years, and while the issues have evolved, become broader, been through ups and downs in the U.N. negotiations, it has remained a priority for member companies.  And en route to Paris, we see it evolving again, to include a strong element of corporate citizenship and social equity.”

Financing the Sustainable Development Goals

Last year, the United Nations agreed to an ambitious 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, a grand vision for sustainability that will reshape the practice of development globally, as well as the private sector’s role in building a more prosperous, healthy world. USCIB is deeply engaged in all aspects of Agenda 2030, advocating for good governance and the rule of law, inclusive economic growth, investment in infrastructure, enabling environments to foster innovation, strong public-private partnerships and above all, an open channel for business input into policy negotiations and implementation at the international and national levels.

USCIB has played a central role in marshaling business input into the UN’s Financing for Development process, having worked actively with members and our global network to ensure that the private sector’s voice was heard at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development last July, where UN member states established a new financing framework to support sustainable development for the next 15 years – the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. The new financing framework is generally positive for business, with policies that include an emphasis on governance and domestic resource mobilization, support for blended finance and a move away from an overly-narrow focus on official development assistance. USCIB is also actively engaged in the first follow-up and review of this new framework Financing for Development conference, participating in several high-level events during the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development in New York, April 18-21. USCIB also raised and continues to monitor intellectual property and tax concerns as part of the financing for development process.

Business for 2030

In September 2015, USCIB officially launched its well-received Business for 2030 web portal, a catalog of business engagement that showcases the private sector’s contributions to the SDGs. Business for 2030 features over 140 initiatives from 35 companies in over 150 countries of how businesses are helping to achieve 72 of the 169 SDG targets. In addition to educating the business community about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, the website highlights concrete initiatives and public-private partnerships to inspire renewed trust in the private sector, and to catalyze sustained and active business engagement in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through its blog and Twitter presence, the site also targets business perspectives to the UN community to sensitize them to business perspectives on SDG priorities and implementation.

USCIB Represents Business at Cool Earth Forum in Tokyo

USCIB attended the 2nd Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF2) on October 6-7 in Tokyo.  ICEF2, convened at the initiative of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, focused on promoting technological innovation as a means to address climate change. The two-day forum brought together 1,000 researchers, business representatives and policymakers from around the globe to present a broad range of innovative technologies, and discuss what innovative measures should be developed, how the innovation should be promoted, and how cooperation and public private partnership should be enhanced.

At High-Level Summit, Business Representatives Urge Ambitious Climate Pact

Private-sector representatives from around the world endorsed the conclusion of an ambitious and comprehensive worldwide agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience, while advancing energy access and security in the context of sustainable development.

During a December meeting at the headquarters of the French business federation. MEDEF, company executives and business federation officials from more than 20 countries agreed on a joint declaration stating: “Climate change is a common responsibility for all stakeholders, including for businesses in every part of the world, of every sector and every size, large groups and SMEs.”

United Nations Paris Climate Agreement (COP21) 

In December 2015, the United Nations concluded what was possibly the most important environmental meeting in history, when 194 countries agreed to a long-term climate treaty designed to curb global greenhouse gas emissions. The climate negotiations in Paris (COP21) saw unprecedented support and involvement from the business community, with USCIB and member companies on the ground at COP21 to demonstrate their commitment and stake in the accord.

Thanks to sustained advocacy from USCIB and other business organizations, the final climate agreement recognizes the need for enabling investment frameworks in global markets, as well as policies necessary to mobilize business innovation across all borders. Innovation, enabling frameworks for cost effective and scientifically sound policy design, and the need to work with business in partnerships are priorities for USCIB’s ongoing involvement in UN environmental work.

IOE Calls for Structural Reforms at DC B20 Gathering

Published on April 18, 2016

worker_femaleInternational Organization of Employers (IOE) President Daniel Funes delivered a strong message in Washington over the weekend at several meetings of the B20, whose deliberations followed those of the G20 Finance Ministers.

While the final communiqué issued by the finance minsters expressed concern over “modest global growth,” Funes went further, saying that persistent delay to structural reforms in G20 labor markets risked turning an already serious employment challenge into a “huge social crisis”.

“What we really need are structural reforms that create an enabling environment for companies, especially SMEs, to hire more easily.”

He expressed the disappointment of the B20 Employment Task Force that the G20 had yet to prove itself the engine of reform it had promised to be.  This, he said, was a direct result of G20 governments failing to implement their commitments at the national level, consistently falling short of tackling the “the core issues to make labor markets more flexible and dynamic”.

Giving his reaction to the new multi-annual work plan of the G20 Employment Working Group, to be adopted at the end of the month in Shanghai, he noted that language around structural reform was conspicuous by its absence: “What we really need are structural reforms that create an enabling environment for companies, especially SMEs, to hire more easily.”  Additional urgent reforms were needed to help job growth catch up with GDP growth, such as better aligning education and training systems to labor market needs. “Employment opportunities for young workers are not keeping pace with demand,” said Funes, “This is a major concern and could impact social stability.”

He concluded by saying that the IOE would continue to support the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in producing an annual scorecard, mapping the extent to which the G20 was delivering on its commitments and that the IOE, in collaboration with the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, would be paying particular attention to the level of ambition of G20 employment plans, as well as progress in their implementation.

Funes met with B20 leadership, spoke in the B20 plenary, and made an intervention in his capacity as co-chair at the B20 Employment Task Force session in a series of meetings on April 16 and 17.

Obama Appoints USCIB Members to National Cybersecurity Commission

Published on April 14, 2016

White_HouseGiven society’s increasing reliance on computer systems and information and communication technologies (ICTs), cybersecurity must lie at the heart of any national security strategy. To that end, President Obama announced today his appointees to the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, a new office established within the Department of Commerce to raise awareness about digital security in the United States.

“I have charged the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity with the critically-important task of identifying the steps that our nation must take to ensure our cybersecurity in an increasingly digital world,” President Obama said in a White House press release. “These dedicated individuals bring a wealth of experience and talent to this important role, and I look forward to receiving the Commission’s recommendations.”

Two USCIB members were appointed to the 12-member commission: Ajay Banga, CEO of Mastercard, and Peter Lee, corporate vice president of Microsoft Research. USCIB’s ICT Policy Committee has actively shaped the development of a model cybersecurity framework in the OECD, as well as an International Chamber of Commerce practical business guide to implement the OECD security guidelines. USCIB also contributes regularly to the U.S. government’s calls for public comments on cybsercurity challenges.

OECD Chief Economist Discusses Global Economic Trends at USCIB

Published on April 14, 2016
Mann
Catherine Mann

Dr. Catherine Mann, chief economist and head of the Economics Department at the OECD came to USCIB on April 13 for wide-ranging discussion with members and staff.  Mann, one of the most senior U.S. citizens in the OECD secretariat, has extensive experience in Washington from her earlier positions at the Federal Reserve, the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, and at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Her presentation covered global trends in economic growth, productivity, and trade and investment, identifying some challenging issues ahead, and interesting work underway at the OECD in those areas. In that context, she had some particularly interesting observations on the Chinese economy and China’s economic relationships with the world. Mann is very interested in finding ways to strengthen private sector input into OECD’s work on economics and in other important areas.  Her very candid and thought-provoking observations gave members some interesting issues to ponder.

Business Welcomes Revised OECD e-Commerce Recommendation

Published on March 31, 2016

Smartphone_mobile_globeThe revision of the 1999 OECD Guidelines for Consumer Protection in the Context of Electronic Commerce (1999), which was initiated in 2014, came to a conclusion with the adoption by the OECD Council on March 24 of a revised Recommendation.

The Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD welcomes the update which takes account of significant evolutions in the technical landscape as well as in consumer habits. From the onset, the BIAC Consumer Policy Task Force contributed actively to the works of the OECD Committee on Consumer Policy, pointing to the benefits of e-commerce and recommending a flexible approach rather than focusing on challenges.

The revised Recommendation will be discussed by ministers and high level experts during the consumer trust panel at the OECD Ministerial on the Digital Economy on June 22 in Cancun, Mexico.

Strong Business Participation at OECD Integrity Week

Published on March 31, 2016

scalesA strong business delegation will participate in the OECD Integrity Forum on April 19-20, which this year will focus on Global Trade Without Corruption. The Forum will bring together different policy communities as well as the private sector, civil society organizations and academia, and will encourage discussion on key issues, such as preventing corruption in customs, protecting supply chains, improving business in emerging markets and countering illicit trade.

The Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD policy group leadership and experts will also be represented as speakers at the Forum. The BIAC Task Force on Anti-Bribery/Corruption will organize a preparatory meeting on the evening of April 18. BIAC will furthermore participate in the Working Party of Senior Public Integrity Officials and in a Symposium on Building integrity for inclusive growth: translating the vision into action which will take place during the OECD Public Governance Committee meeting the same week.

Back-to-back with the Forum, the OECD is organizing a seminar on Enhancing Integrity for Business Development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region on April 18 to identify good practices in improving business integrity and actions required to level the playing field for companies, and identify priorities for the OECD MENA work going forward. Please click here for more detailed information.

Brazil Ratifies Trade Facilitation Agreement

Published on March 30, 2016
Brazil ratifies WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (Credit WTO)
Brazil ratifies WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (Credit WTO)

Ratification of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement, which is estimated to create 21 million jobs and increase global GDP by $1 trillion over the next decade, is a top priority for USCIB. On March 29, Brazil became the 72nd WTO member to ratify the TFA, an agreement that was forged under the leadership of Brazilian WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo, whom USCIB honored with its 2014 International Leadership Award.

In order for the TFA to enter into force, 108 WTO members must ratify the agreement. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff signed the Trade Facilitation Agreement during a high-level ceremony at the Palacio do Planalto in Brasilia with the attendance of Roberto Azevedo, who is visiting Brazil this week.

During his stay in the country, Roberto Azevedo will visit ICC Brazil – the ICC Brazilian Committee hosted by the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI) headquarters in Sao Paulo – and meet with CEOs from various sectors to analyze the potential benefits of the Agreement for Brazil.

Applauding this breakthrough development for trade facilitation, ICC Secretary General John Danilovich said: “Implementing the TFA gives Brazil, once one of the world’s fastest growing emerging market, an opportunity to reboot its economy by creating significant export diversification gains and reducing trade costs.”

Read the USCIB Customs Committee TFA one-pager.

The Future of Manufacturing: Spotlight on Investment

Published on March 29, 2016

ITA_manufacturingWhile economists debate whether the U.S. manufacturing industry has hit a recession or a temporary stall due to low energy prices, one thing appears clear – the future of U.S. manufacturing hinges on its ability to evolve and rethink operating models. In a recent study by Morgan Stanley, nearly 75 percent of U.S. plants are more than 20 years old. With such aging infrastructure, the question must be asked, how will the U.S. regain its place as the leader in manufacturing, and what will future manufacturing plants look like?

Bloomberg will convene federal and state policy makers, and leaders of the manufacturing industry to discuss the imperative facing the U.S. manufacturing industry to innovate and evolve their businesses, and to develop an understanding of the benefits and costs of such efforts.

The Future of Manufacturing: Spotlight on Investment

Tuesday, April 19 | Bloomberg, 1101 K Street NW, Suite 500 | Washington, D.C.

REGISTER NOW
INVITATION CODE: VIPGUEST

Speakers to include Marion C. Blakey, Chairman, President and CEO, Rolls-Royce North America Inc.; Shaun Donnelly, Vice President, Investment and Financial Services, United States Council for International Business; Marcus D. Jadotte, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry & Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce; Vinai Thummalapally, Executive Director, SelectUSA, U.S. Department of Commerce; Jay Timmons, President and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers; and more.

The day’s discussion will examine the most important priorities and opportunities facing American manufacturing. We’ll focus on:

  • how policymakers can drive industry success
  • fostering STEM education and workforce development
  • reinforcing sustainable practices
  • attracting foreign investment and cooperation

Will Trade Overtake Antitrust as the Protector of Due Process?

Published on March 24, 2016

washington-Lincoln-MemorialsThe next meeting of the USCIB Competition Committee will be held in advance of the ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting. In addition to Committee business, the meeting will include an expert panel discussion on the role of trade in antitrust due process issues.

SPEAKERS:

Randolph W. Tritell
Director, Office of International Affairs
Federal Trade Commission

Daniel Watson
Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for North America
Office of the United States Trade Representative

DATE/TIME:

Monday, April 4, 2016
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT

LOCATION:

Baker Botts LLP
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004

RSVP:

Eva Hampl
ehampl@uscib.org

Dial-in information provided upon request.

Boao Forum Focuses on G20 Policy Agenda

Published on March 24, 2016

jdboao_sourceWith less than six months to go to the 2016 G20 Summit, a special session of the Boao Forum for Asia brought together leaders from both business and government to discuss policy priorities to support growth and job creation.

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Secretary General John Danilovich moderated the high-level roundtable, which featured keynote addresses from Wang Shouwen, China’s vice minister of commerce and Thomas Lembong, Indonesia’s minister for trade. A major theme of the discussions was the importance of public-private partnership and dialogue to address key global challenges ranging from weak global growth to climate change.

Commenting at the roundtable on the strategic importance of this year’s G20 process, Danilovich said: “It’s vital that this year’s G20 process develops a comprehensive and credible strategy to reinvigorate trade and global growth… As business, we also look to the G20 to drive forward implementation of the landmark UN agreements which were forged last year on sustainable development and climate change.”

The roundtable explored recommendations being developed by the five B20 task forces on trade and investment, infrastructure, employment, financing and small business (SME) development. The issue of SME growth remains a particular priority for ICC’s global outreach, building on engagement throughout last year’s B20 process which lead to the creation of the World SME Forum.

 Read more from ICC