News Stories Archives

US Small Business Speaks Up for Global Trade

Published on October 18, 2016

tradematters_world_technologyInternational trade has gotten a bad rap in the U.S. electoral campaign and elsewhere around the world. Pushing back against the misconceptions around global trade is a key focus of the #TradeMatters campaign from the International Chamber of Commerce. A key feature of the campaign are testimonials from entrepreneurs and small business owners around the world explaining why trade matters to them, and how governments could make cross-border trade easier for small business.

World Technology Corporation, a New York-based exporter of environmentally friendly technologies, was recently featured in the campaign. Peter Tierney, the company’s managing director, said in his contribution to the campaign: “Exporting has helped our company stabilize its sales and provided a financial cushion during the last recession. People say what we do – exporting – is risky. We believe that not exporting in today’s global economy is a much riskier position to take.”

You can view World Technology’s posting on the ICC website here.

How Technology Can Catalyze Sustainable Development

Published on October 18, 2016

Global Communications. 3D rendering.

Too often, new technologies are regarded as only benefiting high-tech businesses or improving lifestyles for those in developed countries — a common misconception that could limit the potential benefits of these innovations for developing economies.

A new paper by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on “the Internet of Everything” brings to light how new technology can be leveraged by developing countries to address fundamental sustainable development issues and needs.

To learn how emerging technologies work in practice and the policy conditions needed to realize the societal benefits they have to offer, we sat down with Joseph Alhadeff (Oracle), chair of the ICC Commission on the Digital Economy, on the sidelines of the 4th Africa Information and Communication Technologies Alliance summit, which took place last week in Windhoek, Namibia.

You can read the full interview on ICC’s website. Click here to download the ICC paper.

 

BIAC Annual Report Showcases Role of Business at OECD

Published on October 17, 2016

biac_annual_reportBIAC, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, for which USCIB serves as the American member federation, has just released its 2016 annual report. The report showcases the breadth and depth of business (including American business) involvement at the 35-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The 2016 annual report also marks the launch of a new BIAC logo aimed at solidifying the organization’s role as the voice of “Business at the OECD.”

BIAC Chairman Phil O’Reilly and BIAC Secretary General Bernhard Welschke write in the report’s introduction: “Productivity and inclusive growth have been guiding themes at the OECD in 2016. Throughout the year, and in hundreds of topical consultations, Business at OECD advocated measures that would strengthen the competitive environment in markets and enable the participation of all in our economies. We also contributed to the debates that helped shape international agreements such as the G20 Action Plan on BEPS, climate change and COP 21, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

Download the 2016 BIAC annual report here.

Business for 2030 Website Crosses a Key Threshold

Published on October 14, 2016

Business for 2030 logo

Last month, the Business for 2030 website, which was launched in 2015 as a platform to demonstrate private-sector support for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, registered its 20,000th visitor.

“We’re really pleased with the growth thus far, and we know we’ve only uncovered the very tip of the iceberg of corporate activity related to the SDGs,” said USCIB Vice President Ariel Meyerstein, who conceived the website and has developed it in collaboration with numerous USCIB member companies and partner organizations. “It demonstrates the eagerness with which the private and public sectors are looking for ways to work together to achieve these critical global goals.”

The Business for 2030 portal features hundreds of real-world examples of company initiatives and public-private partnerships, organized in relation to over 50 of the business-relevant SDG targets.

The initiative picks up on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon‘s exhortation for the private sector “to take its place at the table and plot a path forward for the next 15 years, reaffirming once again that responsible business is a force for good.”

Business for 2030 now covers 81 of the 169 targets with one or more initiative – for a total of 165 initiatives from 47 companies and organizations, in more than 150 countries. You can track future development of the initiative at www.businessfor2030.org/progress.

12 Reasons to Attend ICC’s Miami Arbitration Conference

Published on October 14, 2016

Miami

Hundreds of legal professionals from the United States and Latin America are set to converge in Miami next month for the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Miami Conference on International Arbitration.

Originally launched 14 years ago with just 60 participants, the annual event now attracts around 550 practicing lawyers, arbitrators, mediators, corporate counsel and academics for debate, discussion and insight into the latest trends and developments in international arbitration

The Miami Conference was the first of many ICC regional arbitration conferences that take place worldwide today and with even more participants expected this year.

We bring you 12 highlights of the event to get you geared up to attend. See all 12 on ICC’s website.

Talking Responsibly About Trade and Investment

Published on October 14, 2016

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The recently launched OECD interim Economic Outlook reveals global GDP growth is projected to slow marginally to 2.9 percent in 2016, and acknowledges trade as an important driver of productivity growth — enhancing competitiveness, enabling greater specialization and facilitating knowledge transfer. Against this background, Bernhard Welschke, secretary general of Business at OECD, called on the OECD and member governments to communicate the benefits of trade more responsibly.

Read Welschke’s posting in the OECD Insights blog.

U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia Honored for Commercial Diplomacy

Published on October 7, 2016
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Winners of the Benjamin Joy Award

The U.S. Departments of State and Commerce have for the first time ever recognized one overseas commercial diplomacy team whose effective cooperation has advanced U.S. commercial and economic objectives. The award was presented jointly in a ceremony at the State Department on September 29 by Commerce Department Assistant Secretary Arun Kumar and State Department Assistant Secretary Charles Rivkin to a team from the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Benjamin Joy Award was created to highlight and promote inter-agency collaboration and honor commercial diplomacy excellence. The winning team, led by former U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Patricia M. Haslach, includes Deputy Chief of Mission Peter H. Vrooman, Senior Foreign Commercial Service Officer Tanya Cole, Trade and Investment Promotion Officer Gaia Self, Commercial Specialist Tewodros Tefera, and Advocacy Center Regional Manager Nnaji Campbell. The embassy’s leadership and innovation advanced U.S. business interests in Ethiopia and created a model for U.S. missions to support fair competition and increase U.S. exports in Africa.

USCIB Vice President Shaun Donnelly, a retired U.S. ambassador who has also worked recently with Commerce and State on commercial diplomacy policy under the auspices of the American Academy of Diplomacy, represented USCIB at the awards ceremony.  Several leading USCIB member companies also attended.

The winner was selected from 43 nominations from U.S. embassies and consulates around the world. The award’s namesake, Benjamin Joy, was an early exemplar of U.S. commercial and economic diplomacy, appointed in 1792 by President George Washington as the first American consul and commercial agent to India. Today, there are more than 200 diplomatic outposts helping to strengthen America’s economic reach and positive economic impact.

More details on the award are available in the State Department press release and in the remarks at the ceremony by Assistant Secretary Rivkin.

Execs Meet With Labor Secretary to Promote Apprenticeships

Published on October 7, 2016
US Labor Secretary Thomas Perez (second from right) at the Global Apprenticeships Network board meeting in Washington, D.C.
US Labor Secretary Thomas Perez (second from right) at the Global Apprenticeships Network board meeting in Washington, D.C.

Youth unemployment worldwide has reached crisis proportions. Businesses are often unable to find the skills they need among new graduates, and around the world 621 million youth are not engaged in employment, education or training. What’s more, 51 percent of millennials are underemployed, and student debt is growing.

Obtaining an apprenticeship as a first job allows the young person to benefit from “earning while learning,” which can lead to a lifetime of productive employment. U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez has called apprenticeship “the other college, except without the debt.”

A business-led coalition spearheaded by CEOs representing some of the world’s largest companies, employer associations, and major international organizations have come together through the Global Apprenticeships Network (GAN) to create skills for business and jobs for youth.

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Secretary Perez (front row, center) met with CEOs and other private-sector representatives, including USCIB President Peter Robinson and IOE Secretary General Linda Kromjong (first row, far right), and BIAC Secretary General Bernhard Welschke (second row, second from right).

USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson joined GAN CEOs and Secretary Perez at a series of events on October 6 at the White House in Washington, D.C. Also present were Linda Kromjong, secretary general of the International Organization of Employers, and Bernhard Welschke, secretary general of Business at OECD.

Coincident with the GAN meetings in Washington, Adecco Group CEO Alain Dehaze published a column on LinkedIn entitled “Employment: A Call to Action for the Next President of the United States.”

Click here to read more about the days events. You can also view a recap on the GAN’s website.

 

New Survey Finds Worsening Global Shortage of Trade Finance

Published on October 7, 2016

2016 ICC Global Survey on Trade Finance shortfall_sourceBusiness executives have identified a sharp decrease in the availability of financing for cross-border trade, according to the latest annual survey of global trade finance from the International Chamber of Commerce. According to the survey — which received 357 responses from 109 countries worldwide — 61 percent of respondents reported a global shortage of trade finance . Only 52 percent of respondents reported an increase in trade finance activity, compared to 63 percent in 2015 and 80 percent in 2012. Furthermore, the perceived shortfall came predominantly from regional and global banks — 78 percent and 56 percent respectively, compared to 41 percent of national banks.

ICC Secretary General John Danilovich said: “We must emphasize the importance of trade finance. It is often forgotten – trade finance has dropped off the international agenda. We need to do more to communicate its central importance to the global economy.”

Read more and download the survey on the ICC website.

 

USCIB Welcomes Selection of Guterres as New UN Secretary General

Published on October 7, 2016
Mr. Antonio Guterres former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees addressed the press at the stakeout after the casual meeting with member states
Antonio Guterres of Portugal. UN Photo/Manuel Elias

New York, N.Y., October 7, 2016 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents American business views to the United Nations and other international bodies, applauded the selection of Antonio Guterres of Portugal as the next UN secretary general, succeeding Ban Ki-moon.

“The selection of Prime Minister Guterres is a welcome signal of agreement among Security Council members on the urgent need to address the refugee crisis and other pressing global issues, many of which will require significant input and assistance from the private sector,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson. “His leadership at the helm of the United Nations will be essential to developing robust international frameworks that business needs in order to innovate and thrive.”

The Security Council’s selection of Guterres, the former Portuguese prime minister who served for 10 years as UN high commissioner for refugees, will be formally voted on by the UN General Assembly next week.

USCIB Chairman Harold McGraw III, who also serves as honorary chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce, added: “The American business community understands the importance of multilateral cooperation, whether on trade, investment or climate change, and we know the UN system is the anchor for this essential collaboration. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the UN to successfully address global problems to provide increased economic growth and prosperity across the world.”

Robinson also expressed appreciation for the outgoing UN secretary general’s achievements and dedication to partnering with business. “Throughout the UN deliberations on sustainability and climate change, Secretary General Ban has consistently sought to work with the private sector, recognizing that today’s economic and environmental challenges require private sector solutions and investment,” he said.

Companies of all sizes and from all sectors have already pledged to respond to the refugee crisis through a series of initiatives – from funding campaigns to delivering essential training programs. USCIB’s global network is encouraging companies to do more where they can, based on their own assets and capabilities.

Separately, USCIB welcomed the entry into force of the Paris Agreement, the global pact on climate agreed at last year’s COP21 summit. USCIB and its global business network have provided significant substantive input to the UN climate negotiations since their inception, and they are working to develop a formal channel for private-sector views and solutions to the agreement going forward.

About USCIB:
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. With a unique global network encompassing the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers, and Business at OECD, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More information is available at www.uscib.org.

Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, VP communications, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org