Press Release Archives

USCIB Welcomes President’s Commitment to Robust TPP Agreement

Published on November 12, 2011

Honolulu, November 12, 2011–  The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) welcomed President Obama’s comments at the APEC CEO Summit in Hawaii today supporting an ambitious and comprehensive Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and commended all TPP countries for issuing an outline to complete the negotiations in 2012.

“The president’s strong statement for a comprehensive and forward-looking 21st-century trade agreement will help maintain the momentum for completing the TPP negotiations,” stated Rob Mulligan, USCIB’s senior vice president and head of the Washington office, who is attending the APEC CEO Summit.  “The business community has been meeting with leaders from all of the TPP countries over the last few days to urge them to move forward expeditiously with a high-standard agreement that covers all sectors and products.”

Mr. Mulligan further noted: “Japan’s interest in joining the TPP talks highlights the importance of the negotiations for opening markets in the Asia-Pacific region.  If Japan is ready to take on the high-standards, comprehensive commitments that the U.S. business community is seeking in a TPP agreement, then this would be a significant addition to the negotiation.”

Mr. Mulligan said USCIB looks forward to working with U.S. leadership and its partners in the business community to ensure that the final TPP trade agreement produces new economic opportunities and exports to sustain and increase American jobs and the maximum commercial benefits of the growing Asia-Pacific market.

About USCIB
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top 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 information is available at www.uscib.org.

Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
(212) 703-5043, jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Green Growth: Getting the Policies Right

Published on November 8, 2011

Green Economies Dialogue project to spur discussion and research on policies for environmentally friendly innovation, jobs and trade in global markets

Green Economies DialogueNew York, N.Y., November 8, 2011 – Ensuring greener paths for economic growth is a top challenge for national governments and global institutions in the years ahead. The Green Economies Dialogue, a new project officially launched today at http://www.green-dialogue.org/, will bring the policy and business communities together for intensive discussion of the best paths forward.

Funded by the United States Council Foundation, the educational and research arm of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), the project will involve a set of global partners with the goal of providing a clear road forward on green growth, green jobs and a host of related issues.

“We expect the Dialogue will inform policy debate in the lead-up to the next year’s UN Rio+20 Summit and beyond,” said Peter M. Robinson, USCIB’s president and CEO.  “Industry, government and other actors must work together to make the transition to a global framework where the private sector and the marketplace have bottom-line motivations to drive improvements in technology and business practices.”

The Green Economies Dialogue initiative will provide a platform for discussion of key international policy questions, with the goal of ensuring that economic growth and the pursuit of environmental objectives go hand-in-hand.  These include:

• How can environmental innovations in such areas as energy use or agriculture best be shared around the world, providing opportunities to promote sustainability while maintaining competitiveness?

• What role should international institutions like the G20, the United Nations and the OECD have in coordinating policies among national governments?

• How can the logjam of trade and climate negotiations be broken, to foster integrated policies that incentivize innovation and mobilize financial resources?

• Are subsidies an effective way to encourage start-ups and investment in new technologies?

Over the next several months, the Green Economies Dialogue will convene regional workshops around the world.  The first of these took place in Washington, D.C. on October 12 in a day-long session bringing together more than 50 experts from business, government, academia and the NGO communities, hosted by the environmental research organization Resources for the Future.

“The Washington workshop was an important first step in exploring the policy options to foster green innovation and resource efficiency,” said Phil Sharp, president of Resources for the Future.

The next workshop will take place at the OECD in Paris on November 14, hosted by BIAC, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD.  Additional workshops are planned for Asia and Latin America during the first quarter of 2012.

As part of the Green Economies Dialogue, academic research is being commissioned for publication in the influential publication Energy Economics ahead of the Rio+20 Summit.  Research papers by highly regarded experts will explore a variety of aspects of green growth and green jobs.

The Green Economies Dialogue website will gather an assortment of informative materials from numerous points of view.  This will include summaries, statements and papers from the various workshops, as well as abstracts or summaries of the Energy Economics research products.

Support for the Green Economies Dialogue project is being provided by various private-sector sources through the United States Council Foundation.

About the United States Council Foundation
The United States Council Foundation, Inc. is a private 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with the United States Council for International Business.  It was organized to undertake educational activities to promote the benefits of a free market economy, to demonstrate and document the role of the corporate private sector in economic growth and social development, and to advance sustainability in environmental management. More at http://www.uscouncilfoundation.org/.

About USCIB
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top 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
(212) 703-5043, jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

USCIB Applauds Passage of APEC Business Travel Card Bill

Published on November 7, 2011

4196_image002New York, N.Y., November 7, 2011 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s top global companies and exporters, welcomed Friday’s Congressional passage of a bill to speed business travel in the Asia-Pacific region.  The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 will allow American business and government personnel traveling in the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) region access to expedited visa processing and designated airport travel lanes.

“Adoption of the APEC Business Travel Card will provide a big boost for American companies and executives doing business in the Asia-Pacific region, and will contribute to improved competitiveness and job growth at home,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “It comes as our engagement with Asian and Pacific markets is deepening, and policy makers need to take new measures to open up trade, investment and travel in this rapidly growing market.  It also levels the playing field, since the United States already gives expedited treatment to business travelers from the other APEC member economies.”

Passage of the measure came just in time for this week’s APEC CEO Summit and Leaders Meeting taking place in Honolulu.  USCIB will be represented at the APEC meetings by Rob Mulligan, senior vice president and head of USCIB’s Washington, D.C. office, and Justine Badimon, manager for APEC affairs.

USCIB and other U.S. APEC Business Coalition partners urged passage of the bill in the House and Senate during 2011, the U.S. APEC host year.  The measure was sponsored by a number of members of the House and Senate, including Reps. Kevin Brady (R-Tex.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Wally Herger (R-Ca.), Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.),  Dan Lundgren (R-Ca) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).  Mr. Robinson said USCIB was grateful to the bill’s sponsors for their leadership and support.

USCIB boosts exports and helps American business travelers by issuing and guaranteeing ATA Carnets, the “merchandise passports” that permit duty-free, tax-free export of various types of goods to some 80 countries and customs territories around the world, including most APEC member economies, for up to one year.  More information on ATA Carnets is available at www.merchandisepassport.org.

About USCIB
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top 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 information is available at www.uscib.org.

Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
(212) 703-5043, jhuneke@uscib.org

USCIB Welcomes Rep. Camp’s Tax Proposal

Published on October 31, 2011

Washington, D.C., October 31, 2011– The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), a pro-trade group which represents America’s top global companies before the U.S. government and in major international forums, welcomed proposed tax reform measures put forward by Rep. David Camp (R – Mi.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

“We are pleased to see Chairman Camp’s proposal on tax reform,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “The high rates and worldwide system of taxation of the United States are out of step with the rest of the world.  U.S. business supports efforts to achieve reform of these rules.  Chairman Camp’s proposal represents an important first step.”

Mr. Robinson underscored the importance of maintaining a level playing field for all companies in the context of U.S. tax reform.  “We must ensure that legislative alternatives intended to protect the tax base do not disfavor U.S. companies versus their competitors,” he said.  “We look forward to working with Chairman Camp and other members of Congress and the administration to achieve bipartisan business tax reform.”

Through its affiliation with the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, USCIB works closely with the U.S. and other governments to provide business input and promote closer international cooperation on tax matters, including the OECD Model Tax Treaty and the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines.

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top 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 BIAC, 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, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043, jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s Taxation Committee

New Report Proves Trade Finance Is Low-Risk, Asks Regulators and G20 to Unlock Trade

Published on October 26, 2011

4182_image002Beijing and New York, N.Y., October 26, 2011 –The rules set by bank regulators impose unwarranted capital requirements that choke trade and have adverse impacts on growth. A new report issued today by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) shows that trade finance is a relatively low-risk asset class that should not be feared by banks, nor over regulated by governments, according to ICC’s American national committee, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB).

ICC also said it was pleased that the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision had announced measures yesterday that recognize trade finance as a low-risk activity for banks, and said that there is opportunity to further refine the rules to foster the development of trade and the support of SME clients. ICC asserted that treating trade finance as a unique asset class to accurately reflect its low risk will help foster more trade and create jobs.

“The ICC report provides a compelling case for the Basel Committee to reduce the proposed capital requirements, which by some estimates effectively increase the cost of trade finance by 30 to 40 percent ,for importers and exporters around the world,” said Michael Quinn, managing director with JP Morgan and chair of the USCIB’s Banking Committee.  “As the rules have yet to be finalized, this ICC effort will hopefully address major concerns in the Basel Committee’s original recommendations.”

The new ICC report calls on standard setters and policy makers to carefully study the potential unforeseen impact of proposed Basel III changes on trade finance from the Basel committee and to make trade finance more accessible and affordable.

Reliable and cost-effective finance and guarantees to companies looking to import or export commodities, consumer goods, and capital equipment are critical to keep trade flowing within and between counties. World trade is, in turn, key to global economic growth.

The outlook on the risks of defaults in trade and finance were revealed in the ICC report Global Risks – Trade and Finance, issued on the occasion of a major ICC Banking Commission meeting taking place in Beijing from October 24 to 28.

The report was based on analysis of the ICC Trade Finance Register, the most comprehensive dataset available on the market. It contains data from major international banks reflecting a minimum of 60-65% of traditional global trade finance activity, worth about USD2-2.5 trillion. Fewer than 3,000 defaults were observed in the full data set of 11.4 million transactions.

The report also showed the short-term nature of trade transactions and recommended using the actual maturity of trade transactions to calculate risk requirements as opposed to the one-year standard proposed by regulators.

In the midst of the current global economic crisis, the ICC Banking Commission meeting brings together some 350 eminent banking professionals, international organizations and supervisory bodies from over 50 countries to examine the key trade and finance challenges faced by the industry.

The trade and finance experts at the ICC meeting also worked to frame business input to the G20 on stimulating jobs and growth, ahead of the upcoming G20 Summit in Cannes. The discussions were part of a series of regional consultations led by the ICC G20 Advisory Group around the world. Since its creation in May 2011, the G20 Advisory Group has been leading ICC’s efforts to develop policy input to the G20 process in areas including: trade and investment, financial regulation, anti-corruption, the international monetary system, commodity price volatility and green growth.

“Trade will play a key role in tackling the jobs crisis,” said Jean-Guy Carrier, ICC’s secretary general. “Economic growth depends largely on the capacity of G20 governments to improve the conditions for international trade, including easing trade finance rules. However, what we’re seeing is that protectionist measures are growing within the G20. This trend must be reversed and more needs to be done to dispel the myths that trade results in job losses. Trade is a dynamic process that contributes to job creation.”

Global Risks – Trade Finance 2011 is a useful tool for both policy-makers and senior executives in financial institutions around the world. It will enable institutions to better understand the level of risks involved in different trade finance products and allow bankers to benchmark their activities in a more rigorous fashion.

“I hope that by focusing on the critical connections between default levels in trade finance and the shaping of new regulatory recommendations, decision-makers will be able to engage collectively in efforts to improve the global financial system’s overall resilience,” said Kah Chye Tan, global head of trade and working capital, Barclays Corporate, and chair of the ICC Banking Commission.

To read the ICC response to the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision announcement on trade finance, please visit www.iccwbo.org.

About the International Chamber of Commerce

ICC is the world business organization, representing enterprises from all sectors in every part of the world. It promotes cross-border trade and investment and the multilateral trading system, and helps business meet the challenges and opportunities of globalization. Business leaders and experts drawn from ICC’s global membership establish the business stance on broad issues of trade and investment policy as well as on vital technical subjects. ICC enjoys a close working relationship with the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations, including the World Trade Organization and the G20. ICC was founded in 1919. Today it groups hundreds of thousands of member companies and associations from 120 countries. For more information please visit www.iccwbo.org.

About USCIB

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top 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 information is available at www.uscib.org.

More on USCIB’s Banking Committee

USCIB’s Adam Greene Named to Labor Department Advisory Committee

Published on October 26, 2011
USCIB's Adam Greene
USCIB’s Adam Greene

New York, N.Y., October 26, 2011 – Adam Greene, USCIB’s vice president for labor affairs and corporate responsibility, has been named by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis to serve on the National Advisory Committee for Labor Provisions of U.S. Free Trade Agreements.  The recently reconstituted advisory committee provides advice to the Secretary of Labor on the implementation of labor rules in existing free trade agreements, and on the labor provisions of FTAs being negotiated.

The committee’s other newly named business representatives all come from USCIB’s membership.  They include Darryl Knudsen of Gap Inc., Ed Potter of The Coca-Cola Company (chair of USCIB’s Labor and Employment Committee) and Anna Walker of Levi Strauss & Co.

“I am delighted that Secretary Solis has selected such solid business representatives for this important advisory committee,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “Effectively navigating the intersection of trade and labor policies is critical if we are to move forward on trade, grow our economy and create quality American jobs.  I congratulate Adam Greene, Ed Potter, Darryl Knudsen and Anna Walker on their appointments and extend USCIB’s full support for their work.”

USCIB is the primary forum for American business in the area of international labor policy and the linkages between trade and labor.  As the American affiliate of the International Organization of Employers (IOE), USCIB plays a direct role in the tripartite International Labor Organization, working alongside government and trade union representatives to develop global labor and workplace standards and programs.  In addition, through its affiliation with the OECD’s Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC), USCIB is actively involved in OECD work in the areas of employment, labor and social affairs, interacting with labor via BIAC’s counterpart organization, the Trade Union Advisory Committee.

Mr. Greene manages U.S. business participation in the development of international labor standards, and advises companies on international and regional trends in labor and employment policy.  He coordinates USCIB involvement in the ILO’s governing and standard setting bodies, and promotes the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.  He is vice chair of the Business Technical Advisory Committee on Labor Affairs to the Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor.

Labor representatives on the National Advisory Committee for Labor Provisions of U.S. Free Trade Agreements were drawn from the United Steelworkers, the United Auto Workers and the AFL-CIO, among others, while “public” representatives come from a number of academic institutions and think tanks.

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top 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 global business organizations, including the IOE and BIAC, 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, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043, jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s Labor and Employment Policy Committee
More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Business Urges Ambitious Approach in Pacific Trade Talks

Published on October 19, 2011

Washington, D.C., October 19, 2011 – Following Congressional approval last week of the three long-pending free trade agreements, the business community in a letter today to President Obama is urging the United States to take an ambitious approach to a possible multilateral trade agreement with several Asia-Pacific nations.

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s top global companies, has joined with a range of other leading industry associations in urging the U.S. to pursue “a comprehensive agreement that covers every sector and sub-sector of the U.S. economy” in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations currently underway with eight nations.

The business groups said such an approach would ensure that “the final TPP produces new economic opportunities and exports to sustain and increase American jobs [and] the maximum commercial benefits of the burgeoning Asia-Pacific market.”

Other parties to the TPP negotiations include Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.  Taken together, these countries represent the third-largest U.S. export market.

“The TPP must be a gold-standard agreement for the 21st century,” stated USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “It needs to be ambitious and comprehensive, with high standards and all industry sectors covered, as the United States has sought to do via its bilateral trade and investment agreements.  When countries seek to carve out certain sectors for special protection, this can cause a downward spiral where the end product is a far less effective agreement than it could be.”

The joint industry letter underscored that carve-outs and exemptions would tend to undermine U.S. competitiveness, and would reduce the TPP’s economic appeal for exporters and global firms.

Mr. Robinson said the TPP talks had made important progress in establishing rules for liberalization of foreign investment, and promised to bear fruit in three areas not previously addressed via a binding multilateral trade agreement: supply-chain integration, rules for state-owned enterprises and regulatory coherence.

“Global growth, U.S. competitiveness and good American jobs rest increasingly on tackling issues beyond the scope of earlier trade agreements,” stated Mr. Robinson.  “That’s why it’s crucial that we address these in an ambitious, comprehensive manner via the TPP.”

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top 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 for which it serves as U.S. affiliate, 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.

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Business Groups Appeal for Reversal of Foreign Trade Zone Changes

Published on October 17, 2011

New York, N.Y., October 17, 2011 – Looming changes to the way goods are treated in U.S. Foreign Trade Zones have drawn an appeal from a range of pro-trade business groups, which say the changes will undercut the Obama administration’s National Export Initiative and cost American jobs.

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents top U.S. multinational companies and exporters, and other industry groups have appealed to Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to halt a planned rule change by the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone Board (FTZB), an interagency body chaired by the Commerce Department, that would automatically apply U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports processed through foreign trade zones.

“Given the administration’s high priority for export growth, the FTZB rules should strongly promote, rather than inhibit, U.S. exports,” the business groups wrote in their letter.  “Unfortunately, the proposed FTZB regulations would harm President Obama’s National Export Initiative and result in a loss of manufacturing jobs in U.S. Foreign Trade Zones.”

For the past 20 years, such duties have been waived on imports provided the finished products were not ultimately imported into the customs territory of the United States.  The new rule would make such a waiver dependent on a finding that it was in the public interest, effectively nullifying the benefit to businesses of utilizing U.S. foreign trade zones.

“Foreign Trade Zones are one of the critical avenues for promoting exports and manufacturing jobs in the United States,” stated Jerry Cook, vice president, international with HanesBrands, Inc. and chair of USCIB’s Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee.  “We must do all that we can to foster these vital functions, rather than inhibit them.”

In their letter, USCIB and the other business groups noted that foreign trade zones accounted for $28 billion in exports in the most recent year available and employ 330,000 American workers.  They said the rule change would “drive U.S. manufacturing to other countries, where the same activity could take place without undue delay, risk or expense.”  U.S. manufacturers would suffer in competition with foreign factories, which will lead to the further loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs, they wrote.

Other signatories to the letter included American Apparel & Footwear Association, American Association of Exporters and Importers, American Institute for International Steel, Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition, Emergency Committee for American Trade, National Association of Foreign Trade Zones, TechAmerica, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

About USCIB

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top 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 information is available at www.uscib.org.

Business letter to Secretaries Blank and Geithner

More on USCIB’s Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee

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USCIB Applauds Approval of FTAs, Urges U.S. to Push Ahead on Trade

Published on October 12, 2011

Washington, D.C., October 12, 2011 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), a pro-trade group which represents America’s top global companies before the U.S. government and around the world, welcomed today’s approval by the House and Senate of U.S. free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama.

“The business community is pleased that Congress moved on all the agreements in one concerted effort, demonstrating bipartisan support for trade,” stated USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “These agreements will strengthen U.S. competitiveness by opening up three important trading partners for more U.S. exports, supporting new jobs at home.  We hope they signal the beginning of a more ambitious trade and investment agenda to grow our economy.”

Mr. Robinson said approval sent an important message to countries around the world that the U.S. would not shrink from its international commitments or global leadership.  “The United States must be in the vanguard of efforts to open up markets abroad – bilaterally, in regional forums, and at the multilateral level,” he said.

“Passage of these free trade agreements will also assure countries in Latin America and Asia that the United States continues to be engaged in those regions and to support its allies,” added Mr. Robinson.  “ U.S. economic and political support for Colombia, Korea and Panama will enhance our national security while bolstering our economy.”

In 2010, exports supported an estimated 9.2 million American jobs, according to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, and those are positions that pay well: Americans whose jobs are supported by goods exports earn between 13 and 18 percent more than the national average.

The Korea agreement alone is expected to generate significant opportunities for U.S. exports.  The International Trade Commission estimates that tariff cuts will increase exports of American goods by  more than $10 billion, supporting some 70,000 American jobs, to say nothing of additional opportunities brought about by the agreement’s elimination of non-tariff barriers, increased intellectual property protection and opening up of Korea’s market for American services.

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top 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 information is available at www.uscib.org.

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Dow’s Liveris to Receive Global Business Group’s Top Award

Published on October 11, 2011
Andrew Liveris
Andrew Liveris

New York, N.Y., October 11, 2011 – Andrew Liveris, president, chairman and CEO of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), is to be honored by the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), a pro-trade group representing America’s top global companies.  Mr. Liveris will receive USCIB’s International Leadership Award at a November 16 gala dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.

USCIB said the award recognizes Mr. Liveris’s strong commitment to international growth and to ensuring that the United States benefits broadly from closer trade and investment ties with other countries.

“Andrew Liveris is an outstanding business statesman,” said USCIB Chairman Harold McGraw III, chairman, president and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies.  “In his time at Dow’s helm, amid great economic upheaval, he has continued to grow the company by aggressively expanding in overseas markets, while ensuring that Dow’s global success drives innovation and increased competitiveness in its U.S. operations.  Equally important, he has been a leading voice in public policy debates on the vital role of manufacturing, innovation and trade in U.S. economic success.”

Mr. Liveris is the 31st recipient of USCIB’s International Leadership Award, which has been most recently presented to George Buckley of 3M and Muhtar Kent of Coca-Cola.  The annual USCIB award gala draws hundreds of business leaders and dignitaries from government and diplomatic circles.  More information on the event is available at www.uscibgala.com.

An advocate for the critical importance of manufacturing for the long-term health of a nation’s economy, Mr. Liveris was appointed co-chair of President Obama‘s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in the United States.  He is the author of the book Make It in America, published earlier this year, which presents policy solutions and business strategies to foster an “advanced manufacturing” economy.

“Andrew Liveris’s selection as our 2011 honoree is testament to his, and his company’s, extraordinary leadership in global public policy,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  Mr. Robinson noted the presence of Dow executives in key leadership positions in USCIB’s global business network, including in the International Chamber of Commerce and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD.

A USCIB trustee, Mr. Liveris’s 35-year Dow career began in Australia, and has spanned the continents of Asia and North America, with roles in manufacturing, engineering, sales, marketing, and business and general management.  He has been a member of Dow’s board of directors since February 2004, and was named CEO in November 2004.  He was elected as chairman of the board effective April 1, 2006.

Mr. Liveris’s breadth of experience and expertise spans the business, government, academic, and non-profit sectors.  He serves on the board of directors of IBM, is president of the International Council of Chemical Associations, vice chairman of the Business Council, and is a vice chair of the Business Roundtable.  He is a member of the U.S. President’s Export Council, the US-India CEO Forum, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and the American Australian Association, and also serves on the board of trustees for The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, and Tufts University.

Dow is a $54 billion global specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics company based in Midland, Michigan. More information is available at www.dow.com.

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business and employers groups, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.  More at www.uscib.org.

More on USCIB’s International Leadership Award Dinner

Dow website