By Jerry Cook, HanesBrands, Chair of USCIB’s Customs & Trade Facilitation Committee
“A new year means new opportunities, especially in the trade world. With the recently resurrected World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement seemingly back on track, and Trans-Pacific Partnership close to completion, 2015 should be the year of trade.”
Read the full column at American Shipper.
Attacks against small tankers off Southeast Asia’s coasts caused a rise in global ship hijackings, up to 21 in 2014 from 12 in 2013, despite piracy at sea falling to its lowest level in eight years, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has revealed. Pirates took 442 crewmembers hostage, compared with 304 in 2013.
IMB’s annual piracy report shows 245 incidents were recorded worldwide in 2014 – a 44% drop since Somali piracy peaked in 2011. Somali pirates were responsible for 11 attacks, all of which were thwarted. However, IMB warns shipmasters to follow the industry’s Best Management Practices, as the threat of Somali piracy has not been eliminated.
Worldwide, 21 vessels were hijacked last year, 183 were boarded, and 13 fired upon. Pirates killed four crewmembers, injured 13 and kidnapped nine from their vessels.
“The global increase in hijackings is due to a rise in attacks against coastal tankers in Southeast Asia,” said Pottengal Mukundan, director of IMB whose Piracy Reporting Centre has monitored world piracy since 1991. “Gangs of armed thieves have attacked small tankers in the region for their cargoes, many looking specifically for marine diesel and gas oil to steal and then sell.”
Citing the death of one crewmember shot on his bitumen tanker in December, the IMB report highlights the possibility of the hijackings becoming increasingly violent. Most of the 124 attacks in the region were aimed at low-level theft from vessels using guns and long knives.
IMB offers the latest piracy reports free of charge. To request a PDF version of the report by email, please click here.
USCIB and member representatives met with officials from the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on January 22 at USCIB’s New York office to give feedback on the OECD’s New Approach to Economic Challenges (NAEC), aimed at updating the organization’s instruments and policy analyses.
USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson met with the main authors of the NAEC report, Mathilde Mesnard and William Hynes, along with member representatives from Citigroup, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase.
The informal meeting gave USCIB an opportunity to provide member feedback and concerns at this stage of the NAEC project.
USCIB is the American affiliate of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC), which acts as the voice of business in the OECD and has provided structured input to the NAEC project.
The OECD’s final synthesis report on its NAEC work will be delivered to OECD ministers in June 2015.
The sheer scale of global health challenges, such as the recent Ebola crises and the growing incidences of non-communicable diseases which are responsible for 60 percent of the world’s premature deaths, require everyone to be on board to address world health.
The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations public health arm, recently issued a framework document on its engagement with non-state actors, the “NSA Framework”. USCIB and other associations are concerned that the framework is too stringent, as it would limit the WHO’s ability to fully benefit from the private sector’s practical expertise, resources and research.
Joining six other business associations whose memberships span every sector in every region of the world, USCIB signed a letter to U.S. Department of State officials highlighting the importance of strengthening private sector engagement with the WHO. The NSA Framework suggests that close engagement with the private sector would lead to conflicts of interest. Such concern is misplaced, as USCIB’s letter states:
“[T]he NSA Framework suggests that WHO engagement of private sector actors raises a unique potential for conflicts of interest, a premise that disregards the wide set of motives, including financial incentives, that drive NGO activity. In truth, engagement of for-profit entities and their representatives carries with it an inherent degree of transparency of interests that is not necessarily available regarding the motivations and interests of NGOs. Just as importantly, an examination of the motives of non-state actors is simply not necessary to an evidence-based review of the facts those actors may raise to the WHO’s attention.”
BusinessEurope, an association representing businesses in the European Union, sent a letter to EU representatives expressing similar concerns about the WHO’s NSA Framework.
Norine Kennedy, USCIB’s vice president for international engagement, energy and environment, added: “In an era where health crises become increasingly international, such as the recent Ebola outbreak, the WHO can only make full use of its leadership and resources by making global health responses a multi-stakeholder initiative in which the private sector has a vital role going forward.”
On Tuesday, January 13, the EU Commission released its final report on the online public consultation on investment protection and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). In response, USCIB issued a press release noting the importance of a strong investment chapter including ISDS in the agreement. USCIB also played a leading role in pulling together a group of 15 major business groups on both sides of the Atlantic to issue a joint statement that same day.
The commission launched the consultation in response to public concerns about whether the EU’s proposed approach for TTIP would achieve the right balance between protecting investors and safeguarding the EU’s ability to regulate in the public interest.
The commission – which issued a consultation questionnaire about 12 issues concerning investment protection and ISDS in TTIP – had received a total of nearly 150,000 replies by the July 13 deadline, with the vast majority (around 145,000, or 97%) submitted through various online platforms with pre-defined answers. Most replies were skeptical of investor protections and ISDS. In addition to these mass-produced responses, there were also submissions from more than 3,000 individual citizens, and about 450 organizations, including USCIB.
According to the report, the commission received responses in three broad categories: statements indicating opposition or concerns to TTIP in general, concerns or opposition with regard to investment protection and ISDS in TTIP, and specific views in relation to the various aspects presented under each question, often accompanied by concrete suggestions for the way forward.
“The commission has not made a clear recommendation on how to move ahead with the negotiations,” said Eva Hampl, USCIB’s Director for Investment, Trade and Financial Services. “That suggests the volume of responses opposing investor protections in TTIP has not gone unnoticed.”
Instead of prescribing a concrete way forward, the commission merely noted four areas where they urge further improvements to be explored:
“Though not unexpected, the Commission report confirms that TTIP, particularly for investment and ISDS, will continue to be an uphill battle,” said Hampl.
USCIB submitted comments in support of an ambitious investment chapter including strong investor protection and ISDS representing the views of the U.S. business community. USCIB also signed a joint statement with other U.S. and EU business associations upon the release of the report.
A high standard investment chapter including ISDS is crucial to a successful TTIP, and both the EU and the U.S. stand to gain significantly from a concluded agreement.
New York, N.Y., January 21, 2015 – How can governments and the business community work together to stimulate growth by reducing bottlenecks in cross-border trade? The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) will hold a major conference to address this topic next month in Miami.
USCIB will partner with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Paris-based world business organization for which it serves as the U.S. national committee, to hold the ICC and USCIB Customs & Trade Facilitation Symposium: Finding Solutions to Cross-Border Challenges, February 22-24 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami.
“International trade is critical to keeping the global economy moving forward,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson. “In a world of just-in-time delivery and highly integrated global supply chains, unnecessary and burdensome barriers to trade can cost companies and national economies billions of dollars. This symposium will help forge a path toward removing the red tape that can complicate cross-border commerce.”
The symposium will feature a strong lineup of policy makers and other speakers from around the world, including:
In November, members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) took a welcome step toward lifting some of the administrative burdens on traders when they agreed to implement the landmark WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Once implemented, the TFA is expected to spur global economic growth and create some 21 million new jobs – 18 million in developing countries – while adding $1 trillion to global GDP.
In addition to the TFA, the symposium will address work being done worldwide on “single window” initiatives, trusted-trader programs and the expansion of the Panama Canal, among other things. The full conference agenda is available at www.icc-uscib-customs-event.org.
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 leading international business organizations, including ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.
New York, N.Y., January 20, 2015 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) welcomed President Obama’s commitment to a pro-trade agenda and specifically to Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) in his State of the Union address to Congress this evening. USCIB said its member companies look forward to working with the Administration and the Congress on a bipartisan effort to advance America’s national interests in this key area.
TPA will give the president the necessary authority to negotiate strong U.S. trade agreements, making it easier for the United States to close deals to benefit American workers and companies, and then move trade agreements to Congress for their review and approval.
“Trade is an important tax-free engine for U.S. economic growth and jobs,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson. “TPA will provide a boost to U.S.-led efforts to open international markets and eliminate trade barriers.”
Robinson continued: “Ambassador Michael Froman and his skilled team of negotiators should not have to negotiate with one hand tied behind their back. The business community is encouraged that the president has committed to move forward on an aggressive trade agenda that will enhance America’s competitiveness, economic growth, and jobs.”
Last week USCIB sent a letter to President Obama urging him to highlight his administration’s trade agenda and to call for passage of TPA. The letter emphasized that a strong, coordinated push from the administration, Congress and the business community is needed to get TPA over the finish line.
USCIB also praised the work being done by the United States Trade Representative Ambassador Froman, leading the charge on TPA and the trade negotiations under way including the Trans-Pacific Partnership with Pacific-Rim countries, the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union and the Trade in Services Agreement.
A strong advocate for international trade and investment at home and around the world, USCIB is a member of the Trade Benefits America Coalition steering committee, an organization of American companies and business associations dedicated to getting the facts out about the benefits of TPA and U.S. trade agreements. International trade already supports over 38 million American jobs and TPA can help raise that number even higher.
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 leading international business organizations, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.
Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043, jhuneke@uscib.org
Passage of the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a free trade agreement between the United States and the European Union, would stimulate economic growth and create jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. The agreement has been criticized over the past several months by anti-trade groups, especially over investor protections such as investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS).
To counter this negative messaging, Shaun Donnelly, USCIB’s vice president for investment and financial services, has been traveling around Europe as an American speaker for TTIP on behalf of U.S. embassies, spreading the word about the benefits of a strong, comprehensive, high-standard TTIP for both the United States and the European Union.
Last week, Donnelly visited Austria and Slovenia and participated in speaking engagements, meetings and interviews with government officials, business leaders, journalists and student groups. Anti-TTIP groups refused to speak with Donnelly.
“Austria and Slovenia are among the more ýTTIP-skeptical of EU member states and anti-ISDS fever runs high,” said Donnelly. “Our U.S. embassies in each capital are working hard to get our side of the story out and I was glad to lend a hand with some key audiences.”
USCIB is working with its member companies to mobilize support for TTIP in Europe and is seeking opportunities to promote and explain the business case for TTIP.
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:
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.”