News Stories Archives

BIAC Calls on OECD to Build a Compelling Case for Private Sector-led Growth

Published on January 19, 2015

At BIAC’s (Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD) annual consultation with OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Ambassadors, BIAC’s chair Phil O’Reilly presented the private sector’s growth agenda for 2015, focusing on investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

“Considering the uneven recovery of OECD economies and serious imbalances in world markets, private sector-led growth has to be a top priority”, said O’Reilly.

Presenting the three pillars of the private sector’s growth agenda for 2015: Investment, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, O’Reilly added that: “Theagenda for growth can only succeed if there is trust. Trust in business, trust in governments, and trust in the OECD. More needs to be done by all of these parties to show that, with the right conditions in place, business can be a dynamic force for the success of our economies and the wellbeing of citizens.”

Economies rely on private sector business activities and competitive markets. With the right conditions in place, business can be a dynamic force for the success of our economies and the wellbeing of citizens, investing in people, jobs, technologies and infrastructures, serving billions of consumers daily, and paying taxes that supply government spending and support public services.

BIAC is therefore calling upon the OECD to:

  • Address protectionism in global markets and build an enabling environment for investment, at local levels and across borders;
  • Deliver advice for integrated policies across sectors that foster innovation and support sustainable growth and employment in the digital economy;
  • Establish a better understanding of the potential of SMEs and entrepreneurship, with due focus on less and smart regulation, skills, access to finance, and women’s entrepreneurship.

IOE Leaders Among Worlds Top 50 Most Influential African Women

Published on January 15, 2015

Three leaders of the International Organization of Employers (IOE) member federations in Africa, Miriem Bensaleh, president of CGEM (Morocco), Ouided Bouchamoui, president of UTICA (Tunisia) and Jacqueline Mugo, executive director of the Federation of Kenya Employers feature in the list of the Top 50 Most Influential African Women in the World, published by leading African publication Jeune Afrique this week.

Noting the growing number of influential women on the continent, Jeune Afrique honors the qualities of the IOE member laureates, including their expertise, tireless dedication, strength of conviction and determination. Also highlighted is the respect these women command as they undertake their mission to foster an enabling environment for business and entrepreneurship.

“Promoting women’s empowerment is a key area of the IOE’s work and we are very proud to have Bensalah, Bouchamoui and Mugo in key roles in our member organizations in their countries,” said IOE Secretary General Brent Wilton as he extended his congratulations to the three business leaders. “We are also privileged to have Jacqueline Mugo on the IOE Management Board, as well as leading, in her role as secretary general, the IOE’s 42 African members that make up Business Africa.”

ICC and WCO Secretaries General Meet to Talk Business and Customs

Published on January 13, 2015
L-R: John Danilovich (ICC), Kunio Mikuriya (WCO) and Norman Shenk (UPS).
L-R: John Danilovich (ICC), Kunio Mikuriya (WCO) and Norman Shenk (UPS).

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Secretary General John Danilovich met with World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya at WCO Headquarters in Brussels earlier this week to discuss ways to strengthen the relationship between the world business community and the WCO to facilitate cross-border trade.

Joined by Norman Shenk, chair of the ICC Commission on Customs and Trade Facilitation and UPS vice president of global customs policy and public affairs, Danilovich highlighted the role of the ICC World Chambers Federation in co-administering the ATA Carnet System and cooperating with the WCO in the area of Certificates of Origin.

ICC also supports the WCO with the Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) initiative to stop counterfeited goods at borders and prevent free trade zones from becoming hotspots for illicit trade and organized crime groups.

Discussions included specific challenges that small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) encounter when trading across borders, customs valuation ceilings for goods known as de minimis, rules of origin and the increasing importance of e-commerce and global value chains.

Thanking Mikuriya for making the customs-business cooperation a priority, Danilovich also reaffirmed ICC’s ongoing support for the WCO’s work on trade facilitation and in particular for the implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) that aims to enhance trade flows.

“Given that the agreement deals almost entirely with Customs-related topics, trade ministries, Customs and business must all be involved at country-level to ensure the TFA’s successful implementation,” Danilovich said.

Mikuriya has emphasized on many occasions that Customs and business are natural allies in trade facilitation. Both he and Danilovich will speak at the upcoming Customs and Trade Facilitation Symposium, hosted by ICC and USCIB in Miami from February 22 to 24.

USCIB Letter to President Obama on U.S. Trade Agenda

Published on January 13, 2015

Ahead of President Obama’s State of the Union address, USCIB sent a letter to the president urging him to highlight the U.S trade agenda and call for passage of Trade Promotion Authority. The letter emphasizes that a strong push from the Administration, Congress and the business community is needed to get TPA over the finish line.

“This year will present opportunities for the U.S. to conclude trade and investment agreements that will ensure that the United States grows its economy, creates jobs and opens markets to U.S. goods and services reaching customers around the world,” wrote USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson in the letter to President Obama. “TPA would provide a critical boost to achieving these shared goals among U.S. workers, companies and citizens.”

In addition, the Trade Benefits America Coalition, of which USCIB is a member, also sent a letter to House and Senate leadership urging Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to modernize TPA early this year.

The Trade Benefits America Coalition includes a wide range of associations and companies that are dedicated to the pursuit of U.S. international trade agreements that benefit American businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers. The Coalition believes that passage of modernized TPA legislation is important to help ensure America continues to benefit from trade.

USCIB Looks Ahead to Int’l Conference on Chemicals Management

Published on January 10, 2015
Helen Medina (USCIB) speaks at the second meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of ICCM in Geneva on December 16. (Credit: International Institute for Sustainable Development)
Helen Medina (USCIB) speaks at the second meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of ICCM in Geneva on December 16. (Credit: International Institute for Sustainable Development)

Central to the modern economy, chemicals are traded widely across borders and are used in the production of thousands of different products, from pharmaceuticals to computer microchips.

The International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) is an inter-governmental ministerial that convenes UN member delegates and stakeholders for discussions on chemicals management. Adopted by the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in 2006, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a policy framework aimed to foster the safe and sound management of chemicals.

In December, Helen Medina, USCIB’s senior director for product policy and innovation, attended the Second Open-Ended Working Group of ICCM in Geneva to represent American business interests in the lead-up to the next ICCM ministerial, scheduled to take place in late September 2015.

Approximately 335 delegates attended the working group, representing 105 governments, five UN agencies, 12 intergovernmental organizations, and 38 non-governmental and industry organizations. At the meeting USCIB shared its concerns about SAICM’s Chemicals in Products program (CiP), a voluntary initiative designed to give guidance on how to share relevant information on chemicals in products along the supply chain and throughout their life cycle. Industry representatives argued that elements of the CiP draft text were too prescriptive, and that efforts should be made to make the document more attractive to business.

USCIB will continue to monitor work on SAICM and provide regular updates to members. Medina will attend the fourth International Conference on Chemicals Management in September 2015.

OECD Takes New Approach to Measuring Development Assistance

Published on January 9, 2015

4927_image002Business cares about how finance for development is measured. The OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperate and Development) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) recently agreed to modernize its development finance measurement framework to ensure that it is credible and practicable in today’s global context.

This decision and the actions taken at the DAC’s 2014 High Level Meeting on December 15 and 16 in Paris will enable OECD members to make an important contribution to future monitoring of the financing framework underpinning the United Nations’ forthcoming Sustainable Development Goals.

“Today the world’s leading donors have made a commendable step towards using aid more efficiently and effectively while at the same time catalyzing more private investment into developing countries”, said Thomas de Man, chair of the BIAC (Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD) Development Task Force, at the High Level Meeting of the DAC. “This is a crucial element of the Post-2015 development agenda”, he added.

To date, private-sector instruments such as credit guarantees have not been properly captured in official development statistics. Now new methodologies will be adopted to reveal the budgetary effort involved in using these instruments.

“While many businesses can welcome the modernization of the development finance statistical frameworks, reaching agreement on the details will now be of critical importance”, said de Man. 

The DAC improves global access to reliable statistics on different types of financing into developing countries. This work sheds light on the full range of financial options available to these countries and helps them to plan their development strategies.

In October 2014, BIAC submitted a paper to the DAC presenting private sector views on the mobilization of development finance. It emphasizes the creation of enabling environments for private investment, efficient use of donors’ development finance, and means to incentivize the use of credit guarantees that result in positive impacts on countries’ development. 

Full House ICC Conference Elucidates New EU Rules on Genetic Resources

Published on January 8, 2015

4926_image002The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) hosted a conference in Paris on November 24 and 25 which shed light on the new European Union (EU) regulation regarding Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS). ABS refers to the way in which genetic resources such as plant and animal products may be legally accessed, and how users and providers reach agreement on the fair sharing of the benefits that arise from the use of these products.

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity concluded the Nagoya Protocol in 2010, which provides an international framework for establishing national regimes on ABS.

Featuring a panel of high-level speakers representing government agencies and the private sector, ICC’s sold-out event brought together executives and policymakers to discuss how the new regulation affects their daily operations. The two-day conference convened over 120 participants from 16 countries representing a wide variety of sectors including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, plant and animal breeding, collections and museums, as well as government representatives.

“It is very important to get to know better the new EU regulation as it may affect any professional involved in the manufacturing, development and distribution of genetic resources,” said Alicja Kozlowska, ABS policy officer of the European Commission.“The conference was a unique opportunity to throw some light on the scope of the obligations flowing from the regulation.”

The first day of the event featured an overview of the new EU ABS regulation covering topics such as scope and due diligence requirements under national and international regimes.The second day featured a program of technical workshops on tools to facilitate compliance, as well as commercialization and transactions with customers and licensees inside and outside the EU. Afternoon sessions highlighted industry best practices with panelists who shared their best practices.

ICC played an active role coordinating business participation in the Nagoya Protocol negotiations and continues to coordinate business input in the process of national implementation of the protocol.

 

Alexis Mourre Nominated to Lead ICC’s International Court of Arbitration

Published on January 5, 2015
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Alexis Mourre

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Executive Board has recommended that Alexis Mourre be appointed to succeed John Beechey as President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration®. Mourre’s presidency will begin on July 1, 2015. The recommendation will be submitted to the ICC World Council for approval at its meeting in Turin, Italy in June 2015.

The International Court of Arbitration® is the world’s leading body for the resolution of international disputes by arbitration. Each year, numerous parties, arbitrators and lawyers from countries of every economic, political and social system are present in ICC arbitrations.

“It is for me a great honor and privilege to have been selected to succeed John Beechey,” said Mourre. “I warmly thank the Selection Committee, the ICC Executive Board and the ICC Chairmanship for their trust. I look forward to building on the successes of the outgoing presidency to continue improving the quality and efficiency of the services provided by the ICC International Court of Arbitration®.”

A vice president of the ICC Court, Mourre is a member of the Paris Bar and the founding partner of Castaldi Mourre & Partners, a leading boutique international arbitration and litigation practice. Mourre’s longstanding links with ICC also include service as a vice president of the ICC Institute of World Business Law.

The USCIB International Bookstore offers titles derived from the acclaimed work of the ICC’s commissions and institutions, including the International Court of Arbitration®.

USCIB, NYU Host Dialogue About U.S. Plan on Responsible Business Conduct

Published on December 22, 2014
Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens, U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council, speaking at the NAP dialogue on December 15 at NYU Stern’s campus.
Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens, U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council, speaking at the NAP dialogue on December 15 at NYU Stern’s campus.

In September, President Obama said the administration would develop a U.S. National Action Plan (NAP) to promote responsible business conduct abroad consistent with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

As part of the consultative process leading up to the development of the action plan, U.S. officials will attend a series of open dialogues hosted by independent organizations where stakeholders can provide input on the NAP process and content.

USCIB and New York University’s Stern School of Business hosted the first event in this series on December 15 on the NYU campus.

Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens, U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council, speaking at the NAP dialogue on December 15 at NYU Stern’s campus.

U.S. government representatives from the Department of Labor, Department of State and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations came together at the open dialogue to gather input from the private sector and other stakeholders that promote respect for human rights internationally.

“There is in fact a huge new appreciation for the role of the private sector and business generally,” said Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens, U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council. “And what business can do, together with communities and civil society, to contribute to development and human rights.”

The dialogue began with a plenary session, where Ariel Meyerstein, USCIB’s vice president for labor affairs, corporate responsibility and corporate governance, moderated a panel with representatives from the State and Labor Departments on the development of the U.S. National Action Plan. The plenary was followed by small workshop discussions on a range of topics related to responsible business conduct.

The NAP will aim to unify government efforts in promoting best practices in the areas of human rights, labor rights, corruption and transparency abroad, with clear and predictable guidelines.

More about the National Action Plan can be found in the White House’s fact sheet and on the Business and Human Rights Resource Center website.

 

China Commits to Stronger IPR Protection at US-China Trade Meeting

Published on December 22, 2014

The 25th US-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) concluded last week in Chicago after two days of talks and negotiations. The JCCT is the primary forum for addressing bilateral trade and investment issues and promoting commercial opportunities between the United States and China. At the forum, United States Trade Representative Michael Froman and Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and the Chinese delegation met with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang to discuss economic relations between the United States and China.

Officials from both countries made progress on agriculture market access. China committed to import American soybeans and dairy products, and announced that it would pursue dialogue with the United States on biotechnology in agriculture.

China made commitments on Intellectual Property Rights protection, agreeing to protect American companies’ trade secrets and to work on new trade secrets law to enhance protection. China also agreed to streamline China’s regulatory processes and cut red tape for American imports of new, innovative pharmaceuticals and medical devices, which should lead to increases in U.S. exports and jobs in these sectors. And on China’s anti-monopoly law, China committed to treat both domestic and foreign companies equally, and to provide increased transparency for companies under investigation.

With regard to the U.S.-China Bilateral Investment Treaty, USCIB joined several other business organizations in signing a letter to Vice Premier Wang Yang in anticipation of his participation in the JCCT to signal to the Chinese government the U.S. business community’s strong support for a high-standard BIT.

Staff contacts: Justine Badimon and Eva Hampl

More on USCIB’s China Committee

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee