News Stories Archives

USCIB Talks Intellectual Property Rights at State Department 

Published on March 26, 2019

USCIB Vice Presidents Mike Michener and Shaun Donnelly met with the U.S. Department of State team handling Intellectual Property rights (IPR), counterfeiting and piracy and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on March 21 in Washington DC.  Department of State experts from both the Economic and Business (EB) Bureau and the International Organizations (IO) Bureau reviewed U.S. government policy priorities, management concerns and upcoming challenges across the IPR agenda.

EB’s Office of Intellectual Property Enforcement focuses on substantive IPR issues, including a lot of interagency coordination.  The IO Bureau’s Office of Specialized and Technical Agencies focuses more specifically on the institutional, budget and management issues around WIPO.

“WIPO remains a mixed bag for the U.S. government as it does for industry – some useful work but also some deep frustrations whether WIPO is really a strong advocate and enforcer of IPR policies or more of ‘development organization’ more intent on justifying exceptions to strong IPR rules and regulations,” noted Donnelly.

At the meeting, Michener, who leads USCIB’s policy work on intellectual property and innovation, discussed USCIB’s priorities on IPR issues and plans to take a team of member companies for a series of high level meetings at WIPO as part of USCIB’s “Geneva Week”  May 6-10.

“USCIB and especially our IPR Committee will stay in close touch with State and other key U.S. government agencies on the full range of important issues,” said Michener.

USCIB Members Visit National IPR Center to Discuss Anti-Illicit Trade

Published on March 22, 2019

The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (National IPR Center) hosted USCIB members from the Anti-Illicit Trade (AIT), Customs and Trade Facilitation, and the Intellectual Property and Innovation Committees on March 12 to discuss intellectual property issues related to trade. Twenty-four participants ranging from USCIB members and staff to representatives from multiple U.S. government agencies (e.g., DHS, HSI, DOJ, FBI) and other government agencies (e.g., Mexico SAT) attended the meeting.

The National IPR Center National Program Manager, Charles Jackson, led an in-depth briefing on the approaches the IPR Center is taking to fight illicit trade, counterfeit and pirated goods and all related crimes. Through a wide spread global footprint, the IPR center is able to facilitate specific operations to focus on their three primary areas of concern: public health and safety, warfighters and the U.S. economy. Operation Chain Reaction and Operation Ingenuity are just two examples of projects that are utilized to target counterfeit items entering the U.S. military and automotive industry supply chains. The IPR Center applauded USCIB for establishing the new AIT Committee and its leadership in the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade.

The meeting provided a unique opportunity for USCIB to review the AIT Committee priorities and plan of action, and members to learn about the work of the National IPR Center and specific areas of focus, express views, voice concerns, as well as express interest in including cross-sectoral cooperation and information-sharing going forward.

“This is another step in strengthening public-private partnerships across sectors and promote engagement for future projects on this crucial issue,” noted Director for Customs and Trade Facilitation Megan Giblin.

At ILO, USCIB Advocates for Inclusive Workplace Protections

Published on March 22, 2019

USCIB Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs, Gabriella Rigg Herzog took part in informal consultations on March 14-15 at the International Labor Organization (ILO) on the proposed standard on violence and harassment in the workplace. Held in Geneva, the meeting was part of ongoing negotiations that may result in a new, legally binding labor standard on this important workplace issue.

The aim of the informal consultation was to identify potential areas of consensus, particularly with regard to the definition of violence and harassment, the persons covered under the standard, the scope of the “world of work” and the inclusion of a list of groups disproportionately affected by violence and harassment.

“While the discussions were informal, the group agreed to review the possible text revisions discussed and reflect upon them in the lead up to the final round of negotiations this June at the ILO’s 2019 International Labor Conference (ILC),” said Herzog.

According to Herzog, given that 2019 marks the centenary anniversary of the ILO’s founding, the stakes will be especially high for the ILO and its tripartite constituents—government, employers and workers—to try to find agreement on a text this June.

Reflecting on the negotiations to date, Herzog also noted, “We have an historic opportunity to combat violence and harassment in workplaces around the world via these deliberations. USCIB will continue to actively participate in the negotiations and work with other global employers to advocate for a meaningful, clear and inclusive text that advances workplace protections for everyone – including workers, public employers, private employers and LGBTI persons.

OECD Focus on “National Security” as Factor in Inward Investment Reviews

Published on March 19, 2019

After its opening all-day Foreign Investment Treaties conference (reported in USCIB’s International Business Weekly report last week) on “level-playing fields” in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the OECD committee devoted a full-day of its meeting last week to a wide-ranging discussion of increasing reliance on “national security” factors in reviews of inward FDI flows by many OECD member and other governments.

“Business at OECD” representatives were  active participants in all those discussions, with USCIB Vice President for Investment Policy Shaun Donnelly among the business speakers.  David Fagan, a partner in USCIB member firm Covington and Burling’s Washington office and a leading FDI/investment security lawyer, was a featured expert speaker during the discussion where the U.S. Government’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. or “CFIUS” and the recently enacted Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act  (“FIRRMA”) of 2017 were much-discussed.

“David did a great job of explaining recent development in US policy on reviewing FDI,” according to Donnelly. “Our Business at OECD team was able to get across our key messages on the importance of closely delineating national security investment reviews around the world to specific, legitimate security issues and avoiding opening the door to abuse of “national security” provisions for blatantly projectionist discrimination against foreign investors around the world.”

Wanner Shares Perspectives on OECD Going Digital Summit

Published on March 18, 2019

USCIB and nearly 20 member company representatives, under the aegis of Business at OECD (BIAC), joined 600+ OECD members and stakeholders at the Going Digital Summit, March 11-12 in Paris, which showcased a two-year project to examine digital transformation across all sectors of the economy. This ambitious horizontal endeavor, involving 14 OECD committees, undertook a largely evidence-based and holistic approach to considering both the economic and societal benefits and challenges of the evolving digital ecosystem.

The Summit presented the main findings and policy messages included in the final synthesis report, Going Digital: Shaping Policies, Improving Lives, an accompanying measurement report, Measuring the Digital Transformation: A Roadmap for the Future, and offered a first look at the Going Digital Toolkit web portal. The latter is designed “for policy and diagnosis,” in the words of OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria, to help countries assess their state of digital economic development and formulate appropriate policy responses.

The event was organized to reflect the seven pillars of the OECD’s Going Digital integrated policy framework, i.e., enhancing access, increasing effective use, unleashing innovation, ensuring jobs, promoting social prosperity, strengthening trust, and fostering market openness.

“During the past year, USCIB members and BIAC colleagues played an influential role shaping development and refinement of this integrated policy framework, which highlights the inter-related nature of the policy dimensions and underscores the need for coordination to make digital transformation work for prosperity,” said USCIB Vice President for ICT Policy Barbara Wanner who attended the meetings in Paris.

At B20, Robinson Stresses Need for International Cooperation

Published on March 15, 2019
Peter Robinson at the B20 in Japan

USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson was in Japan the week of March 11 for the B20 Summit, alongside other business leaders such as John Denton, secretary general and Paul Polman, chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, Phil O’Reilly, chair and Russell Mills, secretary general of Business at OECD, as well as Erol Kiresepi, chairman of the International Organization of Employers.

Robinson spoke on a panel titled, “Global Economy for All: International Cooperation for Global Governance.” In his remarks, Robinson proposed looking at international cooperation from two perspectives: strengthening global institutions and rules, while also encouraging bottom-up approaches and a general spirit of cooperation, rather than confrontation, in international economic relations.

“For the foreseeable future, we will need to accept that many electorates and governments view the world through a more nationalistic, mercantilist lens,” said Robinson. “We need to demonstrate the value in international cooperation, not just through new binding rules and official structures, but through voluntary, bottom-up initiatives. Efforts such as the Paris Climate Agreement, or the plurilateral agreements being pursued by WTO members on several issues including digital trade, should be welcomed and encouraged.”

Throughout the course of the panel, Robinson also touched upon trade conflicts with China, WTO modernization, and the need to radically reform education, job training and retraining approaches around the world.

Robinson also called out climate change as being a crucial long-term global challenge. “Climate impacts everything – economic growth, jobs, health care, where people live,” stressed Robinson. “We therefore need to view climate and energy policy in a more holistic manner.”

The Japan Times covered the B20 and quoted Robinson in their piece, “At B20 in Tokyo, World Business Leaders Urge Stronger Cooperation on Looming Challenges.” The Japan Times quoted Robinson emphasizing that “The American business community still believes in open trade, globalization and multilateralism.”

Robinson also applauded the B20’s prioritization of adoption and dissemination of artificial intelligence to ensure that AI development deployment remains “human-centric”. This issue will be a big focus of the digital economy conference that USCIB is organizing with Business at OECD (BIAC) and the OECD on March 25 in Washington, DC.

USCIB to Hold Meeting on APEC Essentials

Published on March 12, 2019

You have heard about the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation regional forum, also known as APEC, but you are not entirely sure of the format, or how your company or business association would benefit from participation.  Here is a rare opportunity to have all of your APEC questions answered, and to bring you up to speed on recent developments at the most recent Senior Officials’ Meeting under this year’s leadership of Chile.

On March 27, USCIB will join with the National Center for APEC (NCAPEC) and C&M International to host APEC Essentials, a workshop to help participants understand the fundamentals of APEC including its history, objectives and opportunities. Learn from practical case studies led by industry discussants on how several sectors approach priority issues and leverage the APEC platform.

Besides USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson, the program will also feature His Excellency Alfonso Silva Navarro, ambassador of Chile to the United States; Emily Fischer, principal APEC coordinator, economic policy advisor, U.S. Department of State; Jillian DeLuna, director for APEC affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; Monica Hardy Whaley, president, National Center for APEC; and Ambassador Robert Holleyman, president and chief executive, Crowell & Moring International; Partner, Crowell & Moring; former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative.

Private sector participation in APEC is organized under the leadership of the NCAPEC, which serves as the designated 2019 U.S. Strategic Partner for the CEO Summit, Secretariat to the U.S. members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and as Chair and Secretariat of the U.S. APEC Business Coalition.

USCIB joined with ABAC and APEC Business Coalition partners to advance common objectives during last year’s APEC leadership by Papua New Guinea. Throughout 2018, USCIB addressed a number of issues through APEC to advance discussions across a range of issue. These include chemicals regulation, advertising self-regulation, data privacy, customs, and digital trade. USCIB members and staff have engaged in several APEC working groups, including the Chemical Dialogue, APEC Business-Customs Dialogue, Customs Procedures Virtual Working Group, Alliance for Supply Chain Connectivity, the Electronic Commerce Steering Group and Data Privacy Subgroup.

“USCIB looks forward to the APEC Essentials workshop and we thank Crowell & Moring for hosting this event,” said Vice President of Product Policy and Innovation Mike Michener, who leads USCIB’s work on APEC.  “USCIB appreciates the numerous committed partnerships that APEC has established with the private sector.  These partnerships are addressing many economic opportunities, particularly on trade and regulatory issues, that will help foster greater economic integration among APEC’s twenty-one member economies.”

Donnelly Visits Google During Trade Tour in Switzerland

Published on March 11, 2019

USCIB Vice President for Investment and Financial Services Shaun Donnelly spent the week of March 4 as the business representative on a Washington Think Tank study tour of Switzerland, focusing on trade issues and possibilities for a potential U.S.-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

While in Zurich, Donnelly and the 12-member study tour visited Google Switzerland’s major operations and R&D center. Google’s Zurich operations are the company’s third-largest R&D operation globally and their largest outside the United States. Google opened its first office in Zurich only fifteen years ago and it has quickly grown into one of the largest and most respected employers in the city.

Coincident with the study tour’s visit, Google invited the leadership of economiesuisse, Switzerland’s largest and most influential business association to a luncheon meeting with the visiting Washington team. Economiesuisse is USCIB’s Swiss counterpart and partner in Business at OECD, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and other international business fora.

USCIB Speaks at Annual OECD Investment Treaties Conference

Published on March 11, 2019
Shaun Donnelly (USCIB) speaks at the 2019 OECD Investment Treaties Conference in Paris

OECD’s annual all-day conference in Paris on International Investment Treaties had a distinctly USCIB flavor this year.  The conference, held on March 11, included leading academics, lawyers, civil society and business representatives under the auspices of the Business at OECD (BIAC) team in addition to the government experts delegates in Paris for the OECD Investment Committee meetings.

This year’s conference theme was a “Level Playing Field for Foreign Direct Investment.” USCIB Vice President for Investment Policy Shaun Donnelly led the Business at OECD team, serving as a panelist during the discussion on addressing State-Owned-Enterprises (SOE) Investment Issues and again as the business representative on the final wrap-up panel.  In addition, USCIB member lawyers and leading international arbitrators Jeremy Sharpe of Shearman and Sterling and a former chief of investment arbitration in the State Department Legal Advisor’s Office, as well as David Rivkin of Debevoise and Plimpton, formerly president of the International Bar Association, spoke on different panels.  Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Investment Policy Lauren Mandell was also a panelist.

“Investment policy issues, investment treaties and especially ‘ISDS’ international arbitration to resolve investment disputes are increasingly under political attack internationally so the conference did spark some interesting debate,” said Donnelly. “USCIB will be on the front lines defending strong investment treaties, including effective dispute settlement disciplines and arbitration provisions.”

IOE Secretary General Shares Global Priorities With USCIB

Published on March 6, 2019
L-R: Gabriella Rigg Herzog (USCIB), Peter Robinson (USCIB), Ronnie Goldberg (USCIB), Roberto Suarez Santos (IOE)

On March 1, Roberto Suarez Santos, secretary general of the International Organization of Employers (IOE), visited USCIB’s New York headquarters to discuss the group’s global priorities and evolution as it gets ready to mark its centennial next year.

The IOE, based in Geneva, is part of USCIB’s global network and serves as the voice of the private sector on employment, labor and social affairs in the International Labor Organization (ILO), as well as a number of other multilateral bodies.

Suarez Santos met with USCIB staff and members (with help from a video link to our Washington, DC office), led by USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson, who serves on the IOE management board and as an IOE regional vice president for North America. The IOE secretary general outlined the organization’s recent growth, now up to 30 staff members, and its engagement beyond its traditional ILO role, especially in the area of sustainability, business and human rights, and broader responsible business conduct policy and practice.

Suarez Santos also noted the IOE’s longstanding complaints against the government of Venezuela due to its harassment of the Venezuelan employers federation Fedecamaras, which has resulted in the creation of an ILO commission of inquiry – the ILO’s highest level investigative procedure. USCIB and its fellow IOE members remain concerned about the situation for employers in Venezuela and will follow this ILO procedure closely.