Communication Department Archives

USCIB and Roanoke Meet With Rock-IT Global to Discuss Benefits of Digital Carnet

Published on August 17, 2023

L-R: Jacob Fisher (Rock-IT Global); Louis Kerpan (Rock-IT Global); Amanda Barlow (Roanoke Insurance Group); Declan Daly (USCIB); Cassie McCarter (Rock-IT Global); Candece Perry (Roanoke Insurance Group)

USCIB Chief Operating Officer Declan Daly was recently in Los Angeles, along with Amanda Barlow, Senior VP, Client Experience and Candece Perry from Roanoke Insurance Group, which serves as USCIB’s authorized service provider for the ATA Carnet, to meet with one of USCIB’s largest carnet users in the U.S.—Rock-IT Global. Daly met with Rock-IT VP and General Counsel Jacob Fisher, VP Customs Brokerage and Division Head Fairs and Exhibitions Louis Kerpan and ATA Carnet Service Manager Cassie McCarter.

This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the ATA Carnet, a unified customs document that is used by approximately 80 countries and territories. While celebrating the long-term value that the Carnet has brought to the business community, USCIB has also been involved in a global process with the International Chamber of Commerce World Chamber Federations (ICC WCF) to modernize the Carnet by making it entirely digital (e-ATA).

Daly presented the progress and development of the e-ATA and the benefits it will bring to Rock-IT’s operations. According to Daly, Rock-IT has agreed to participate in testing the digital system once it’s ready to launch.

“We’re thrilled that Rock-IT will be participating in testing the new system,” said Daly. “Rock-IT has been using Carnets for a long time and we hope they will be one of the first in the U.S. to experience the efficiency and improvement that will come with a digitized Carnet.”

USCIB Advances Priorities for OECD Accession Candidate Countries

Published on August 16, 2023

We’re pleased to share USCIB’s updated advocacy paper outlining the market access concerns that USCIB members have identified as priorities for the OECD accession candidates. The paper has been shared with key policymakers in Paris and Washington, DC, to use in leveraging policy reforms. Visit our dedicated page on OECD activities for any upcoming updates.

The document outlines policy changes members would like adopted by the five OECD candidates – Brazil, Peru, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania – in areas such as agriculture, chemicals, regulatory reform, intellectual property and tax. Laws, regulations and practices in Brazil draw the most attention from members because of their large market impact, noted Alice Slayton Clark, VP for International Investment and Trade Policy. Specifically, members are seeking policy reform in Brazil with respect to connectivity in rural areas, digitalization of trade, regulatory streamlining, restrictive government pricing, and regressive taxes on medicines, among other concerns.

The OECD accession process will be rigorous and time consuming; nations that do not follow-through on specified policy reforms will not be invited to accede. As such, this provides an excellent opportunity for USCIB member companies to seek resolution to some of the most difficult impediments to trade and investment in accession countries, noted Clark. As the US national committee to Business at OECD, USCIB is in a unique position to directly influence all parties involved.

USCIB thanks the many members who contributed to the advocacy paper to ensure USCIB’s early input into this important process.

USCIB’s Giblin Contributes to APEC Meetings on Customs

Published on August 16, 2023
L-R: Fernanda Palacios, Megan Giblin, Carol Anderson, and Mary Wong

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held its third Senior Officials Meeting (SOM3) earlier this month in Seattle, Washington. USCIB Senior Director for Customs and Trade Facilitation Megan Giblin attended various meetings related to customs; Giblin was a panelist in the APEC Customs-Business Dialogue (ACBD) and moderated a session at the 15th Meeting of the APEC Alliance for Supply Chain Connectivity (A2C2).  

The ACBD focused on women in trade, specifically women in customs, and featured several panels on how women are leading in the technology in trade space. The meeting provided a platform for discussion on how to deliver effective leadership development opportunities for women. Giblin spoke on a panel titled, Women in the Trade Workforce in the 21st Century, and was joined by fellow panelists from Viet Nam Customs Nguyen Thi Viet Nga and Expeditors’ Nanoh Park. The panel was moderated by the Deputy Director, Employee Engagement and Organizational Culture, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Anne Maricich. Giblin and other panelists provided insights on the current state of women in international trade (customs), the types of jobs women hold, some of the challenges women face in such roles, how to interest next generation of women, examples of successful recruitment, how to retain women in these roles and how to develop women for senior leadership roles. Panelists shared experiences and best practices. As Giblin developed remarks, she consulted with her CTFC Chair and committee members to gather additional views and experiences to inform these critical discussions.   

USCIB members were also prominently featured during the ACBD. A panel titled, Trade, Technology and International Cooperation: How Women are Leading and Broadening the Tent for Inclusion. How do we bring in more allies?, featured USCIB member Raquel Guevera (Microsoft). Guevera’s panel included representatives from several APEC economy customs administrations and other private sector representatives. Panelists discussed how trade can support women’s economic empowerment and how women are leading technology in trade. 

The ACBD culminated in a critical small group discussion aimed at informing the Subcommittee on Customs Procedures about lessons learned and best practices from the private sector that Customs Administrations can benefit from. The ACBD also identified some short and long-term actions that can be taken to address some of the challenges and gaps identified during the event.   

“It was fascinating to have participated in an impactful event, which brought together, and provided a dialogue for, so many like-minded women in customs and trade from the APEC economies and the private sector,” said Giblin. “It was a powerful dialogue, which highlighted many commonalities we have all faced or experienced in our careers. There was general agreement among participants, moderators and speakers that we need to stop talking about doing more to engage women in customs. Now is the time to act.”  

Giblin added, “I look forward to seeing how the recommendations from the small group were received by the SCCP and which recommendations will be acted upon.”  Congratulations to the SCCP 2023 Chair, Kristie McKinney of U.S CBP and the U.S. team for a successful ACBD. USCIB looks forward to active engagement in the ACBD during Peru’s host year in 2024.  

Following the ACBD, the Alliance for Supply Chain Connectivity (A2C2)—a USTR-led public private partnership mechanism focused on supply chain connectivity and resilience—allowed stakeholders from APEC economies to formally engage in APEC’s supply chain work. According to Giblin, USCIB’s CTFC has been very active in the A2C2, which has focused on WTO Trade Facilitation Implementation, as well as the Supply Chain Framework Action Plans (SCFAP) focusing on specific chokepoints.  

The 15th meeting of the A2C2, entitled “Operationalizing the SCFAP3,” hosted on this sideline of SOM3 in Seattle, allowed stakeholders to explore opportunities to overcome the chokepoints, such as digitalization and e-payment. Giblin and USCIB members served as either moderators or panelists. Giblin moderated the panel, Digitalization of End-to-End Supply Chains, during which panelists discussed how businesses and governments are grappling with digitalization reforms, including border procedures and trade documentation exchanges. Speakers on the A2C2 Digitalization panel included Peru’s Custom and Trade Facilitation Coordinator Ingrid Huapaya Puicon, SubCargo Co-Chief Executive Officer Fernanda Palacios, Microsoft Senior Corporate Counsel for Global Trade Carol Anderson and GS1 Peru Deputy General Mary Wong.  In addition, Giblin and Anderson were joined by USCIB members Welby Leaman, senior director, Global Policy Strategy at Walmart and Prashanth Rajan, director for Public Policy at Mastercard, who spoke, respectively on panels, ‘Understanding Green Supply Chain Management Practices” and “Data Flows and Cross-Border Payments to Support Increasingly Digitalized Supply Chains.” 

“We were pleased to see the APEC Subcommittee on Customs Procedures (SCCP) Chair Kristie McKinney of CBP overview the SCCP Agenda 2023,” said Giblin. “We look forward to the A2C2 continuing to focus on SCFAP III chokepoints and to continued contribution on the critical dialogue tied to digitalization,” said Giblin.”  

“USCIB has appreciated the direct and continued engagement on customs and trade facilitation matters with our U.S. government partners during this host year,” said Giblin. “We stand ready to provide relevant input into the establishment of goals and objectives for both this year and the years to come. We look forward to continued engagement, planning and preparation with U.S. partners for A2C2 meetings during Peru’s host year in 2024.” 

Whitney Y. Baird Confirmed as New President and CEO to Lead USCIB, a Pro-Trade Group

Published on August 8, 2023
Whitney Baird
Photo credit: U.S. Department of State

New York, N.Y., August 8, 2023 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) announced today the appointment of a new President and CEO. Whitney Baird, currently Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, will take over following the upcoming retirement of outgoing President and CEO Peter Robinson. Baird will begin in September.

Baird is a globally respected diplomat with an extensive career at the nexus of political, economic and societal issues. She joins USCIB from the Department of State, with previous assignments including Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the OECD and Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in London.

“We are delighted to welcome Whitney as USCIB’s President and CEO,” said USCIB Chair Eric Loeb (Salesforce). “Her experience working with multilateral institutions and countries around the world is an exceptional foundation for leading USCIB’s mission and members.”

Since 2005, Robinson has led the organization with great skill and dedication, through multiple global economic and political headwinds. He leaves USCIB with a strong legacy of membership growth, healthy finances, and an experienced team.

“On behalf of the Board, I am deeply grateful for Peter’s service, dedication and impact to USCIB,” added Loeb. “Peter has an unwavering commitment to USCIB’s mission, staff, members and our global affiliates. It has been a great privilege to work with him side-by-side over the years. We wish him the very best following his long and distinguished career.”

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. USCIB is the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and Business at OECD (BIAC). More at https://uscib.org/.

For inquiries, contact:
Kira Yevtukhova
Deputy Director, Marketing & Communications
kyevtukhova@uscib.org

USCIB Joins Industry in Statement Supporting Digital Trade in Africa

Published on August 2, 2023

USCIB joined 11 other industry associations to urge negotiators to develop comprehensive and in-depth pan-African digital trade commitments for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to the statement, Africa is positioned to become a global leader in developing global transformation opportunities across a multitude of sectors. In order to facilitate this, access to the global digital economy must be a key part of the continent’s strategy for growth and development. A digital transformation for Africa will improve innovation, facilitate job creation, and ease efforts for achieving equity, particularly for micro/small/medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The continent holds an enormous market for job opportunities that incorporate emerging digital technologies, and facilitating this transition through the removal of infrastructure barriers is crucial.

The statement calls for “proactive efforts by African leaders” to support clear digital trade rules for the AfCFTA and demands a steady commitment to the digital transformation by implementing these rules in an efficient manner. Specifically, USCIB and industry leaders urge that AfCFTA establishes a moratorium on tariffs and customs formalities for electronic transmissions, prohibits restrictions on the cross-border flow of data and forced localization of computing facilities and implements transparent and accountable regulatory practices for digital trade.

USCIB encourages African leaders to support growth on the continent by implementing clear and strong digital trade rules that are founded on best practices and supported by a commitment to transparency and digital innovation.

The full statement can be found here.

USCIB Recognizes World Day Against Trafficking and Stands Firm With Global Community to Eradicate Trafficking

Published on July 31, 2023

New York, N.Y., July 31, 2023—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) supports the global community in recognizing World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and emphasizes that trafficking in all forms is unacceptable. The U.S. business community continues to help combat trafficking globally.

Held annually on July 30, this day commemorates the victims of trafficking and provides survivors with an opportunity to make their voices heard. USCIB is proud of the work that our members have done, and continue to do, to prevent and end trafficking throughout their global supply chains.

USCIB also welcomes the recent release of the State Department’s Report, 2023 Trafficking in Persons, which raises further awareness of human trafficking and highlights the fight against it on a global level. The report calls for global partnerships between government, business and civil society to share resources and information and to leverage technology to better address the nexus between finance and human trafficking.

As both the report and global trafficking studies conclude, this issue’s scale remains vast: every year, tens of millions of people are exploited.

USCIB looks forward to working with the State Department and other government agencies, civil society and partners to eradicate all forms of human trafficking.

Together with our members and our global affiliates, such as the International Organization of Employers (IOE), the representative of employers at the ILO, we will continue to bring forward private sector solutions and resources to combat trafficking in all its forms.

About USCIB: The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) advances the global interests of American business. We do so through advocacy for an open system of world trade, finance, and investment, where business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare, and environmental protection.  We play a leading role in informing the negotiation and adoption of international labor standards, and in human rights, labor, and environmental   policy deliberations at the United Nations, OECD, and ILO, as the sole U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Business at OECD (BIAC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE). In addition, USCIB is the only U.S. business organization with standing at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and is recognized at the UN Environment Program (UNEP), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD).

 

OECD, BIAC and USCIB Meet to Discuss Trade Strategy, Anti-Illicit Trade

Published on July 26, 2023
L-R: David Luna (Business at OECD & USCIB), Megan Giblin (USCIB), Susan Fridy (OECD), Piotr Stryszowski (OECD)

The USCIB Anti-Illicit Trade Committee (AITC) hosted a joint event with the OECD and Business at OECD’s (BIAC) Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group (AITEG) at the OECD Washington Center earlier this month. The meeting included participants from USCIB member companies, other BIAC National Federations and their members, as well as OECD Member Countries.

According to USCIB Senior Director for Customs and Trade Facilitation Megan Giblin, who manages the USCIB AITC, the meeting focused on the introduction of new BIAC AITEG Vice Chairs—Susan Wilson (Intel) and Monica Ramirez (AB In-Bev). It also provided an opportunity for participants to hear about OECD updates, including the transition of the Countering Illicit Trade workstream to the Trade Committee, OECD Trade Strategy, Free Trade Zones (FTZs) and afforded the opportunity for an informal intersessional discussion on a recent Informal Expert Group, which is working on the project, The Role of E-commerce Platforms in Illicit Trade in Fakes, that met in Sofia, Bulgaria.

OECD Senior Economist Piotr Stryszowski provided updates regarding the ongoing work programs of the OECD Working Party on Countering Illicit Trade (WP-CIT), including efforts to suppress illicit trade through increased transparency and analysis of country-specific impacts. In addition, USCIB and other BIAC network members and OECD member countries’ delegates received updates regarding the AITEG’s recent activities and future objectives with regards to the OECD work on enhancing evidence and gauging best practices to address the illicit trade challenges in e-commerce.

“Through our vibrant partnership with the Business at OECD AITEG and the OECD’s WP-CIT, we are committed to work with OECD Member Countries to counter the harms caused by dangerous and illicit goods that have serious effects on our environment, workforce, innovation, and the health, safety and security of our people,” said USCIB Anti-Illicit Trade Committee and BIAC AITEG Chair David Luna. “As the WP-CIT advances this important work within the OECD Trade Committee, we must build on these efforts, and chart it to greater policy heights and action-oriented initiatives, projects and cross-sectoral collaborations, using holistic, whole-of-society approaches.”

The next meeting of the E-Commerce Informal Expert Working Group will take place in Washington, DC, the week of October 9, 2023.

USCIB Presents Public Comments During CBP Green Trade Innovation and Incentives Forum

Published on July 20, 2023

On July 11, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hosted the inaugural CBP Green Trade Innovation and Incentives Forum at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Alexandria, VA.

The Forum was an opportunity for trade, technology, NGOs, government interagency personnel and others interested in Green Trade to share ideas related to green trade innovation, incentivize clean and sustainable supply chains and environmental stewardship, and international trade decarbonization.

The Forum followed the launch of the CBP Green Trade Strategy last June. The Strategy established strategic goals and guiding principles to focus CBP’s efforts to address climate change in the context of the trade mission and provide a framework to incentivize green trade, strengthen CBP’s environmental enforcement posture, accelerate green innovation and improve climate resilience and resource efficiency. The Forum also followed a Department of Homeland Security and U.S. CBP Federal Register Notice (FRN) regarding Green Trade Innovation and Incentives from earlier in 2023.

During the Forum’s panel on “Public Comments on Green Trade Themes” USCIB was one of approximately 25 organizations selected by CBP to present. USCIB Senior Director Customs and Trade Facilitation Megan Giblin was invited to present USCIB’s consensus public FRN submission.

“Our submission developed through member input, provides a thoughtful prioritization of green practices that should be considered or applied by CBP,” said Giblin. “We believe, CBP’s green efforts should prioritize a focus on trade facilitation and partnership, critical factors for achieving meaningful green outcomes. Key to establishing an effective green customs approach is a well-functioning interagency process that encourages dialogue among agencies, and that delivers meaningful facilitation and benefits to members of the Trade.”

Giblin highlighted that other countries look to the U.S. as a guide in the customs space and efforts undertaken at U.S. domestic level are watched closely by other customs authorities around the world.

Green Customs, at the domestic and international level, is a priority topic for the USCIB Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee; USCIB has been part of the dialogue with CBP from the informal stages of its Green Strategy pre-introduction until now. USCIB hosted several discussions with the team leading this effort within CBP, which led to the development of USCIB’s original prioritization paper in early 2023 that served as the basis of USCIB’s FRN submission. USCIB remains committed to continuing its partnership with CBP to provide inputs on CBP’s Green Strategy and USCIB’s related prioritization efforts.

“Congratulations to CBP on the event and for their efforts to engage the Trade community and to seek ideas related to green trade innovation and incentives of clean and sustainable supply chains and trade decarbonization,” said Giblin. “Customs and trade facilitation, as well as climate and environment, are two priority areas for USCIB.  We are uniquely positioned to provide inputs, advice and prioritization concerning where industry believes CBP should be focusing its efforts.”

USCIB’s Moving the Needle Creates a Vision for Private Sector Solutions for SDGs, More Effective UN

Published on July 20, 2023

During the first week of the UN High Level Political Forum, USCIB’s Moving the Needle (MTN) Initiative convened a side event at APCO Worldwide, “I for Implementation: SDG9 In Action.” The July 12 event highlighted successful collaborative partnerships reflecting SDG9’s emphasis on Industry, Infrastructure and Innovation. According to USCIB Senior VP for Policy and Global Strategy Norine Kennedy, prioritizing SDG9 will be catalytic to getting society back on track across all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and represents a departure point for concrete sustainability and solidarity initiatives from business.

Speakers from government missions, the UN community, NGOs and USCIB members Bayer, Mastercard and Microsoft highlighted opportunities to mobilize the private sector working with governments and other stakeholders through and with the UN system via collaboration, the deployment of innovative technologies and tools, and an emphasis on resilient infrastructure and related investments.

L-R: Norine Kennedy (USCIB), Jonathan Shrier (US Mission to the UN)

U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) Jonathan Shrier opened the event with a statement of U.S. commitment to collaborating with business to bring forward and widely deploy practical solutions. He said: “The bottom line is this—we can meet even the most daunting global challenges if we translate our commitment to the SDGs into meaningful action at all levels,” pursuing partnerships with the private sector.

Mastercard and USCIB Board member Ravi Aurora

Mastercard’s Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy & Government Affairs Ravi Aurora, who serves on USCIB’s Board, reflected on the linkages across different forms of infrastructure that innovation makes possible, such as digital access to financial services, and how one innovation in infrastructure has a multiplier effect of benefits to communities.

Dr. Venkata Kishore, VP and global head of veg seeds smallholders and sustainability at Bayer, provided examples of innovation deployment through partnerships with local communities that have enabled energy access and food security.

At the halfway point to 2030 when the UN Sustainable Development Goals are due, the UN has assessed that only 12% of the 160+ targets are on track, and most others are at risk of failure without additional action. It was against this backdrop that the last HLPF prior to the SDG Summit in September met to take stock. In addition to SDG9, other areas of discussion at the HLPF included clean water, energy and cities. USCIB was present to inform deliberations with business experience and recommendations to reinvigorate progress towards the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

DPR for Poland Joanna Skoczek speaks on a panel

Addressing the closing session, USCIB Policy Manager for Environment and Sustainable Development Agnes Vinblad called on the HLPF “to prioritize and strengthen problem-solving and practical dialogue involving the private sector at national, regional and global levels, and to empower and mainstream public private partnerships here at the UN.”

“At this time of concern about too slow progress toward the SDGs, USCIB’s MTN initiative has argued that the international community needs to assess where the most impact for implementation can be set into motion, and to enlist the capabilities, expertise and resources that are unique to business,” added Kennedy. This is a major focus of MTN, which is bringing forward private sector tools, metrics and partnerships to advance sustainability, science, innovation and solidarity solutions.

MTN will deliver recommendations to the SDG Summit for inclusive and practical multilateralism that gets the SDG’s moving at pace and scale.

For more information about MTN, contact Carina Sølling Damm.

USCIB Invited to Participate in Review of Investment Contracts at UNIDROIT

Published on July 19, 2023

USCIB has been invited to participate in a new workstream to develop guidance for modernization and standardization of international investment contracts.

The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) and the International Chamber of Commerce’s Institute of World Business Law (ICC Institute) have launched a Working Group on International Investment Contracts. The Working Group will explore not only the interaction between the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts and common provisions in international investment contracts, but also recent developments in international investment law, such as the increasing focus on corporate social responsibility and sustainability. USCIB member Lauren Mandell, USCIB General Counsel Nancy Thevenin, and USCIB Vice President for International Investment and Trade Policy Alice Slayton Clark will serve as official observers.

“This complements the work that USCIB is undertaking as a non-governmental delegate to Working Group III of the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), which is negotiating reforms to the investor state dispute settlement process,” said Clark.

According to Clark, by participating in the UNIDROIT-ICC process, USCIB demonstrates its commitment to ensuring that business interests are advanced as the world reevaluates how to address investor rights in laws and practices. “While investment contracts currently are uncommon outside of concession contracts in fields like energy and infrastructure, they may become more important as some nations turn away from ISDS,” added Clark.

The first Working Group session will take place October 23-25, 2023, at the UNIDROIT headquarters in Rome, Italy.