Press Release Archives

Ambassador David Gross to Spearhead Global Business Groups Internet Policy Work

Published on February 15, 2011
David Gross
David Gross

New York, N.Y., February 15, 2011 – Ambassador David Gross, the former top State Department official on international communications policy, has been tapped to lead the development and delivery of business views on information technology and Internet policy developments worldwide, according to the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), a top pro-trade group.  Mr. Gross, a partner at the law firm Wiley Rein, has been named the new chair of USCIB’s Information, Communications and Technology Committee.  He succeeds Arthur Reilly, who has retired from Cisco Systems, Inc.

 “We are delighted to have someone of David’s stature leading our work in this area,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “He brings broad worldwide credibility and a deep understanding of the challenges facing the global Internet to our efforts, and he will bolster our representation in the United Nations, the OECD and other forums.  We welcome him and also thank Art Reilly for his energetic, highly professional and effective service as chair these past several years.”

Mr. Gross coordinated international communications and information policy at the Department of State from 2001 to 2009.  He headed U.S. delegations to a number of high-level International Telecommunications Union (ITU) gatherings, led U.S. delegations to three APEC ministerial meetings and was the lead U.S. negotiator in the lead-up to the two-part UN World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005).  Throughout his State Department tenure, Mr. Gross worked closely with industry, including USCIB, in his efforts to provide commercial and policy advocacy on behalf of U.S. companies in markets around the world.

USCIB’s ICT Committee advocates sound international policy to ensure the continued growth of ICTs, emphasizing free and fair competition, minimal government intervention, free information flows and a user orientation.  It works through USCIB’s overseas network of business groups, including the International Chamber of Commerce and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, to secure strong industry representation and input to major multilateral discussions of ICT issues.

“I am eager to step into this new role,” said Mr. Gross.  “I have long respected USCIB as the voice of U.S. business in international policy forums and its active contributions to ICT policy debates.  Industry guidance and leadership will be critical if we are to secure the continued growth and vitality of the Internet and ICTs as a whole.”

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, VP Communications, USCIB

+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

Mr. Gross’s bio

More on USCIB’s Information, Communications and Technology Committee

McGraw Hill CEO Is Elected Vice Chair of World Business Body

Published on February 8, 2011

International Chamber of Commerce also elects new secretary general

Harold McGraw III
Harold McGraw III

Paris and New York, N.Y., February 8, 2011 – The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has selected USCIB Chairman Harold McGraw III, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The McGraw-Hill Companies [now S&P Global], to serve as vice chairman of the global business body.  ICC’s World Council elected Mr. McGraw at a recent meeting in Paris, where it also confirmed Jean-Guy Carrier as secretary general.

ICC is the world business organization that represents private-sector views to national governments and intergovernmental bodies around the world.  It advocates for free trade and the market economy, working through a network of national committees and direct members in over 120 countries.  USCIB serves as ICC’s American national committee.

“ICC continues to serve as a strong business advocate during a time when governments around the world are making policy decisions that will shape the global economy for decades to come,” Mr. McGraw said. “To create a stronger and more sustainable global business environment we must not delay pursuing an agenda that promotes trade, investment and the completion of the Doha Round; addresses the challenge of global climate change; encourages high-tech innovation; and improves the protection of intellectual property.”

Mr. McGraw, who has chaired USCIB since last year, succeeds Stephen Green, former chairman of HSBC, who has gone on to become U.K. trade minister.  He joins Rajat Gupta, ICC’s chairman and senior partner emeritus of McKinsey & Co., and Victor Fung, ICC honorary chairman and chairman of Li & Fung Group, in the world business body’s senior leadership.

Mr. McGraw was elected chairman of The McGraw-Hill Companies in December 1999, chief executive officer in 1998 and president and chief operating officer in 1993. He has been a member of the company’s board of directors since 1987.

Appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama to the U.S.-India CEO Forum in November 2009, Mr. McGraw is also a member of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.  He serves on the boards of United Technologies and ConocoPhillips, and chairs the Emergency Committee for American Trade and the U.S.-India Business Council.

Before his appointment as ICC’s secretary general, Mr. Carrier was director of programs for the ICC Research Foundation and will continue in that role.  Prior to joining ICC, he held senior positions in business and with international organizations, most notably the World Trade Organization.  He is the author of several books and has published numerous articles in national and international media.

“It is an honor to be part of such a unique global business organization,” said Mr. Carrier.  “ICC provides a forum for companies and other business organizations to examine and better comprehend the major shifts happening in the world economy.  Working with the business community worldwide to help shape the economy of the future is an exciting challenge and responsibility.”

Contacts:

Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

Alba Rooney, ICC (Paris)
+33 1 49.53.28.22 or alba.rooney@iccwbo.org

Mr. McGraw’s biography

Mr. Carrier’s biography

ICC website

Asia-Pacific Interactive Tariff Database Launch

Published on January 31, 2011

The business community moves forward with initiative to make trade information in the Asia-Pacific region more widely available.

Washington, D.C., January 31, 2011 –The National Center for APEC (NCAPEC) and the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) are pleased to announce the official launch of the pilot phase of the Asia-Pacific Interactive Tariff Database.The Asia-Pacific Interactive Tariff Database provides business in the Asia-Pacific region with a tool to make cost-saving sourcing decisions based on up-to-date tariff information.

“This database will save Levi Strauss & Co. time and money by organizing information from many of our key trading partners in an easily searchable manner.  Access to accurate and up-to-date information allows us to remain competitive in the global business economy,” noted Laurie Goldman, senior manager of worldwide government affairs and public policy with Levi Strauss & Co.

In 2009 APEC economies agreed to make their customs and tariff information more transparent and available to the public. Members of the business community expressed interest in taking that important progress one step further by creating a robust trade database that would be fully searchable based on Harmonized System classification numbers.

This long-term initiative supported by NCAPEC and USCIB, aims to draw attention to the lack of publicly available information on tariffs and preferential rules of origin which have made it difficult for companies to take full advantage of the many free trade agreements negotiated in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The APEC economies account for 58 percent of all U.S. exports, while our direct investment in the region totals some $820 billion,” said USCIB Executive Vice President Ronnie Goldberg.  “As we seek to increase our competitiveness, create good-paying jobs at home and achieve President Obama’s goal of doubling U.S. exports within five years, companies will need access to new sources of information and market intelligence. This database is an important step in that direction.”

The pilot phase of the Asia-Pacific-wide tariff database is expected to test the concept of the database and obtain feedback and input from participating companies including 3M, Levi Strauss & Co. and Pfizer. The pilot will be active for a period of about six months and is expected to fully launch during the U.S. hosting of APEC in 2011.

“The Asia-Pacific Interactive Tariff Database will improve customs transparency, support export growth and make it easier for companies large and small to do business in the Asia-Pacific region.  It is a concrete example of the work being done in APEC to facilitate trade and to advance economic integration in this dynamic part of the world,” stated Monica Whaley, president of the National Center for APEC.

Integration Point, a global trade compliance solution provider, supplies the platform powering the Asia-Pacific Interactive Tariff Database. As part of the platform, the Integration Point Global Trade Content team maintains up-to-date tariff information such as applied tariff rates, rules of origin, preferential trade treatment and scheduled future tariff rates among other vital sourcing information.

If your company has interest in learning more about how to participate in the pilot phase of the Asia-Pacific Interactive Tariff Database, please contact the following staff at NCAPEC and/or USCIB:

Contacts:

Robert Fiddick, NCAPEC, Program Associate
206-441-9022 or rfiddick@ncapec.org

Justine Badimon, USCIB, Manager, Asia-Pacific, China and EU Affairs
212-703-5062 or jbadimon@uscib.org

 

About NCAPEC
NCAPEC is the only U.S. business association focused exclusively on facilitating American private sector input into the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) process. The National Center functions as a conduit for U.S. businesses into APEC by serving as the Secretariat for the three U.S. executives who are appointed members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

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.  With a global network encompassing leading international business organizations, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide.

About Integration Point
A leading provider of global trade compliance solutions, Integration Point assists international companies by providing import and export visibility globally, delivering up-to-date global regulatory information and facilitating connectivity to supply chain partners and government agencies around the globe.

www.IntegrationPoint.com or 704-576-3678.

UAE Joins Worldwide Network for Duty-Free Imports

Published on January 13, 2011
Dubai’s modern skyline. The city plays host to some 200 trade shows each year.
Dubai’s modern skyline. The city plays host to some 200 trade shows each year.

New York, N.Y., January 13, 2011 – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed that it expects to start accepting and issuing ATA Carnets early this year, making the federation the 69th country to join the worldwide system for duty-free, tax-free temporary imports, according to the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which administers and guarantees Carnets in the United States.

The UAE will begin by accepting goods for trade shows and fairs, according to Cynthia Duncan, USCIB’s senior vice president for Carnet operations.  “It is an important step in linking UAE businesses to the wider global marketplace,” she said.  “With some 200 trade shows annually in Dubai, the UAE’s acceptance of Carnets should be a boon for U.S. companies from all industries.”

ATA Carnets are merchandise passports that permit the duty-free, tax-free export of goods.  In 2009, the most recent year for which worldwide figures are available, over 150,000 Carnets were issued, covering goods worth more than $17 billion (U.S.).  Prior to the UAE’s decision, Moldova and Macao were the latest territories to join the worldwide system, which is overseen by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Customs Organization.

USCIB said the announcement was made last month by the director general of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Hamad Buamim, and his counterpart from the UAE’s foreign trade ministry, Abdullah Al-Saleh.  The Dubai Chamber will assume responsibility for issuing and guaranteeing Carnets throughout the UAE.

The UAE was the largest U.S. export market in the entire Middle East and North Africa region in 2009, and the 19th largest globally, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.  Transportation equipment, machinery, computers and electronics, and chemicals are the top U.S. exports to the country.  Ms. Duncan said she expected overall two-way trade to grow and diversify further in view of the decision to accept merchandise passports.

USCIB’s Duncan named vice chair of global Carnet administrative body

Separately, ICC announced that Ms. Duncan has been elected  deputy chair of the World ATA Carnet Council (WATAC), which oversees the worldwide operations of the ATA Carnet chain.  ICC said she would support WATAC’s chairman, Peter Bishop deputy chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce, in coordinating the activities of the council and its administrative committee.  Mr. Bishop was re-elected WATAC’s chairman in June 2010 to complete a final three-year term.

Ms. Duncan has headed USCIB’s Carnet operations since 2000 and sits on the WATAC Executive Board.  She also serves on the steering committee of World Trade Week NYC and on the New York District Export Council.  She is a board member of the Organization of Women in International Trade/New York and previously served in a number of other capacities with USCIB, including as vice president for membership.

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.

Contact:

Cynthia Duncan, SVP Carnet Operations, USCIB
(212) 703-5079 or cduncan@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s ATA Carnet Export Service

Business Hails Progress at UN Climate Talks

Published on December 13, 2010
Nick Campbell, chair of ICC’s climate change task force, co-chairing a briefing in Cancun alongside Patricia Espinosa, the COP16 president and Mexican minister of foreign affairs.
Nick Campbell, chair of ICC’s climate change task force, co-chairing a briefing in Cancun alongside Patricia Espinosa, the COP16 president and Mexican minister of foreign affairs.

New York, N.Y. and Cancun, Mexico, December 13, 2010 – The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has welcomed the agreement reached in Cancun during the United Nations climate change conference as a solid step forward towards the development of a robust post-2012 framework agreement, according to its American affiliate, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB).

“We are pleased with the outcome, and happy to have had the opportunity to work closely with so many of our partners in the business community in the U.S. and around the world,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson, who attended the Cancun conference.  “This provides an excellent platform for business to contribute to climate solutions going forward.”

USCIB collaborated with ICC members from around the world to present coordinated business views to UN delegates and others participating in Cancun.  In addition, working with a variety of groups in the Business Major Economies Forum (BizMEF), USCIB helped coordinate talks among major industry groups from the G20 and other leading nations and presented views on the trade impacts of possible global action on climate change.

“The Cancun agreement provides a strong signal that governments have heard the private sector’s call for clarity and a framework to tackle climate change,” said ICC Secretary General Jean-Guy Carrier. “I congratulate the Mexican government for its actions throughout the year, particularly Minister of Foreign Affairs Patricia Espinosa for her tireless efforts to foster global cooperation on climate change. The extended standing ovation she received on the last night of negotiations was richly deserved.”

The agreement contains many elements where closer cooperation with the private sector will be needed, including the elaboration of the technology mechanism, financing arrangements such as the “Green Fund” and the development of guidelines for measuring, reporting and verification. ICC also welcomes the decision to strengthen market-based approaches that are so critical to broad cost-effective action for mitigation and adaptation.

As the business and industry focal point for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process, ICC played a leading role throughout the two week conference in Cancun, demonstrating the vital role of business as a source for technological innovation and dissemination, as well as for investments that will enable cleaner energy and development choices in the context of a return to sustained economic growth.  This culminated in the Cancun Global Business Day, where the need for more effective engagement and involvement of business was the key theme.

Looking ahead to an intense year of further climate policy deliberations in 2011, USCIB will continue to work with other business groups in BizMEF, and focus on defining synergies between trade and climate policy at the multilateral level.  In preparation for the next UN climate conference in Durban, ICC will urge governments throughout 2011 to develop recognized, flexible channels to bring business expertise and engagement to the deliberations.

About ICC
The International Chamber of Commerce is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. Its thousands of member companies in over 120 countries have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise.  A world network of national committees keeps the ICC International Secretariat in Paris informed about national and regional business priorities. More than 2000 experts drawn from ICC’s member companies feed their knowledge and experience into crafting the ICC stance on specific business issues.  The United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the G20 and many other intergovernmental bodies, both international and regional, are kept in touch with the views of international business through ICC.  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 at www.uscib.org.

Contacts:

Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

Alba Rooney, ICC
Tel: +33 1 49.53.28.22 or alba.rooney@iccwbo.org

ICC website

New Tax Practice Head at Top Global Trade Group

Published on December 10, 2010
Carol Doran Klein
Carol Doran Klein

New York, N.Y., December 10, 2010 – Carol Doran Klein, an experienced international tax professional, has joined the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s top global companies, as vice president and international tax counsel.  In her new role, Ms. Klein will work to advance the views of American business on key tax policies and initiatives affecting companies’ worldwide operations, working out of USCIB’s Washington, D.C. office.

“Carol Doran Klein has a valuable skill set that will add tremendously to our work on global taxation,” said Ronnie Goldberg, USCIB’s executive vice president and chief policy officer.  “She brings more than two decades’ experience in international tax policy, and can draw on extensive experience in both the private and public sectors.”

Ms. Klein has served with Deloitte and Arthur Andersen, advising clients on international tax planning.  As deputy international tax counsel with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, she coordinated Treasury’s effort on international tax legislation, participated in development of the U.S. Model Income Tax Treaty, and managed the published guidance process.  Ms. Klein has also worked at the Internal Revenue Service, where she wrote and reviewed regulations, and provided litigation support.  With a JD degree with honors from Albany Law School and a bachelor’s degree in English from the State University of New York at Albany, she has served as an adjunct professor of international tax at Georgetown University.

Ms. Klein will manage USCIB’s Committee on Taxation, which promotes sound, appropriate and consistent international tax policy in the U.S. and overseas, including minimizing double taxation.  The committee is chaired by Bill Sample, corporate vice president of worldwide tax at Microsoft Corporation, and encompasses leading tax professionals from USCIB member companies and organizations.  It is especially active on OECD matters, in view of USCIB’s role as the American affiliate of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, and it organizes a yearly conference bringing together top tax officials from the OECD and member governments.

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 the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, 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 or jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s Taxation Committee

USCIB Spearheads Multilateral Business Consultations on Climate Change

Published on December 9, 2010

Focus on possible trade ramifications of actions to curb warming

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressing the UN climate talks in Cancun.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressing the UN climate talks in Cancun.

Cancun, Mexico and New York, N.Y., December 9, 2010 — As governments struggle to make progress at the UN climate change talks in Cancun, business groups from the leading economies have put forward recommendations on various aspects of a possible global agreement to curb global warming, according to the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which spearheaded the talks.

The Business Major Economies Forum (BizMEF), which groups top business federations from the G20 and other major nations, held talks in Cancun yesterday.  Business leaders reviewed the current state of negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and determined where their initial position papers were most applicable to the state of talks at COP 16 as well as ongoing discussions in the Major Economies Forum, which groups the governments of the top emitters of greenhouse gases worldwide.

“BizMEF is unique in including business voices from both developed and developing countries,” stated USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “Indeed, both India and China sent business federation representatives to our meeting yesterday.  We had a chance to present BizMEF to government representatives from the United States, the European Union, Germany, Canada and Denmark at the ensuing luncheon.  We are seeking to open a channel of communications between BizMEF and MEF proper, to support their initiatives, and to inform their deliberations with the business community’s perspectives on the state of play in major markets.”

The BizMEF meeting was co-chaired by Norine Kennedy, USCIB’s Vice President for Energy and Environment, and Michael Basurto of the Mexican federation IDEAS.  Brian Flannery, Science, Strategy and Programs Manager with Exxon Mobil Corporation and co-chair of USCIB’s International Energy Group, briefed the gathering on prospects for post-2012 negotiations in the four areas covered by the BizMEF papers: technology; markets; measuring, reporting and verification; and low-carbon pathways.  In addition, the BizMEF website was officially launched at majoreconomiesbusinessforum.com.

USCIB was a founding member of BizMEF, which commenced its work in February 2009 at a meeting in Copenhagen.  BizMEF members include leading national industry federations, including USCIB and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Also among BizMEF’s participating organizations are major multisectoral industry federations including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), USCIB’s affiliate under whose banner businesses from around the world are attending the UN climate talks in Cancun.

Implications for trade

USCIB’s Mr. Robinson also spoke at a meeting in Cancun today organized by the International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development.  He warned that a failure by governments to agree on binding rules to address global warming could have serious fall-out in the area of international trade.

“One issue that will have a direct impact on options for addressing climate change is the issue of competitiveness.  If left unaddressed, this could cause an absolute train wreck, upending both efforts to address climate change and the urgent need to leverage trade and markets for economic development.”

Mr. Robinson said that, with national legislators under increasing pressure to protect industries and jobs, there is increasing danger of a collision between climate change and trade regimes.  He appealed to UN negotiators to reaffirm and respect existing language in the UNFCCC calling for the avoidance of actions to combat climate change that arbitrarily or unjustifiably restrict international trade.  He also called for the resumption of holding parallel meetings of national trade and environment ministers in concert with the COPs.

“Business and government have a common interest in ensuring the smooth and successful operation of markets to support both environmental improvements and economic development,” said Mr. Robinson.  “Therefore, both the public and the private sectors will need to cooperate closely to ensure their activities work in concert.”

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 at www.uscib.org.

Contact:

Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 917.420.0039 (mobile), +1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

BizMEF website

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

Business Welcomes Progress on US-Korea Trade Agreement

Published on December 3, 2010

4033_image001New York, N.Y., December 3, 2010 – Today’s announcement of significant progress toward concluding a free-trade agreement between the United States and Korea was applauded by the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s top global companies and has long championed open markets.  It urged the United States to seize the momentum to move forward on other pressing trade initiatives.

“We are pleased that the U.S. and Korea are moving toward finalization of the Korea FTA,” stated USCIB Chairman Harold McGraw III (Chairman, President and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies).  “This commercially meaningful agreement will lead to growth and jobs in both countries.  The business community pledges to do its utmost to secure swift Congressional approval.”

Korea is already a key U.S. trading partner, and USCIB believes the FTA will solidify market access in this important and growing market for U.S. companies, providing a boost to employment at home and to U.S. competitiveness overall.

“We encourage the Obama administration to capitalize on this progress to further reinvigorate U.S. trade policy across the board,” stated USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “For too long, we have waited on the sidelines while others have moved ahead.  We have a lot of catching up to do.”

Mr. Robinson also said business would strongly support ratification of pending FTAs with Colombia and Panama, as well as completion of the WTO’s Doha Round.  “Trade already supports 38 million jobs here in the United States,” he stated.  “But we can do better.  Indeed, to secure a lasting economic recovery, we must do better.”

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 the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the 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, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 (office), +1 917.420.0039 (mobile), jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Business Sets Sights on Deeper Engagement in Climate Talks

Published on November 30, 2010
4027_image001
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, pictured here at last December’s conference in Copenhagen, will attend the Cancun event.

New York, N.Y. and Cancun, Mexico, November 30, 2010 – Under the banner of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), global business has a strong and constructive presence at the United Nations climate change conference which began this week in Cancun, Mexico.  Business leaders are seeking enhanced channels for engagement to ensure that the process benefits from the private sector’s dynamism and expertise, according to ICC’s American affiliate.

“Cancun offers an important opportunity to take steps toward meaningful global action beyond 2012 that involves all countries and the business community in a climate-friendly return to economic growth,” said Peter M. Robinson, president and CEO of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB).

Mr. Robinson said for global talks to succeed, the private sector must be a partner, since “it will deliver the lion’s share of the technology, capital and know-how to address this global challenge.”  He will be in Cancun for the second half of the two-week diplomatic conference, where he will join Norine Kennedy, USCIB’s vice president for energy and environment, and a sizeable business contingent.

The Paris-based ICC is the largest, most representative business organization in the world, providing private-sector views to the UN and other multilateral bodies, as well as national governments.  Its thousands of member companies in over 140 countries, including Mexico, have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise.

In its role as the official business and industry focal point in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, ICC continues to work for closer cooperation between governments and business, and strives to ensure that governments create an enabling framework for business to continue developing and implementing practical climate change solutions across the full range of emissions reductions, efficiency and adaptation.

In the lead-up to the Cancun gathering, ICC, along with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), helped facilitate business involvement in a series of discussions on topics critical to the negotiations. Initiated and sponsored by the Mexican government, the “Mexican Dialogues” aimed to provide informal private-sector input into the official process, and to increase understanding between business and governments on public/private-sector synergies in finance, markets and technology.

In Cancun, ICC will once again co-host the annual Business Day on December 6 with the WBCSD, which will focus on “building bridges” to deliver effective climate solutions.

Despite uncertainty after the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen last year, global business continues to support the development of a robust post-2012 framework agreement.

“Cancun can help drive the process forward by setting the conditions to stimulate private-sector investment and spur innovation in efficient and low-emitting technologies,” said Jean Guy Carrier, ICC’s secretary general.

Financing’s crucial role

In 2009, several governments committed to mobilize $100 billion (U.S.) a year for climate finance by 2020.  But such large flows will require responsible institutions with sound governance and increased trust.  In a letter last week to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, USCIB underscored the need for improved synergy of public monies and private finance to fight climate change.

In a separate statement, ICC stressed that business invests when there is a clear and predictable policy framework.  It urged negotiators to establish a set of clearly outlined financing goals and objective, transparent governance procedures to help businesses understand the public policy agenda on climate finance. Setting conditions and mobilizing finance will also be the focus of an ICC roundtable on December 1, co-hosted in partnership with Responding to Climate Change.

In addition, ICC is pressing negotiators to ensure that any agreement reached is workable, in terms of  promoting technology transfer in concert with markets and commercial transactions, and respects intellectual property rights. ICC will explore the issues involved in technology development and deployment in a panel event in Cancun on December 3.

ICC has also called on governments to assure the continuity of current UNFCCC market mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism.  ICC hopes that negotiators will send a strong signal to indicate the continuation after 2012 of market mechanisms that have a role to play in addressing climate change.

The world business body will be engaged for the duration of the Cancun talks and will host numerous briefings and events in addition to those noted above.  For more information on these events, please click here.

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 at www.uscib.org.

Contacts:

Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

Mary Kelly, ICC (Cancun)
+33 6 09.01.11.32 or mary.kelly@iccwbo.org

Alba Rooney, ICC (Paris)
Tel: +33 1 49.53.28.22 or alba.rooney@iccwbo.org

USCIB letter to Secretary Geithner on climate financing

ICC statement on finance and climate change

ICC website

World Business Welcomes G20 Pledge to Complete Doha Round in 2011

Published on November 12, 2010

4019_image002Seoul and New York, November 12, 2010 – The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) welcomed the commitment of the Seoul G20 Summit to complete the Doha Round of global trade talks by the end of 2011, and to take other measures to ensure that trade can make a meaningful contribution to the global economic recovery and job creation.

“The Doha Round can be an inexpensive and effective stimulus package for the world economy, and can create the necessary conditions for realizing the G20’s objective of strong, sustainable and balanced growth,” said ICC Chairman Rajat K Gupta.

“ICC appreciates the recognition by the G20 of the importance of private sector-led growth and job creation, and believes that completing the Doha Round will make a significant contribution to this end,” Mr. Gupta added in a statement released by ICC’s American affiliate, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB).

ICC is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. Its hundreds of thousands of member companies in over 120 countries have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise.  Prior to the G20 Summit, ICC helped organize the G20 Business Summit, where over 100 top executives from around the world put forward their recommendations for G20 action.

USCIB Chairman Harold McGraw III, chairman, president and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies, took part in the business summit.  For a consolidated listing of G20-related statements and actions from USCIB and its global network, please click here.

It appears that the G20 has set a target “to complete the end game” of the Doha Round in 2011.  ICC said it agreed that “2011 is a critical window of opportunity” and called on G20 leaders to make a personal commitment to realizing this objective, as some leaders have already done.

ICC said it was encouraged by the G20’s rejection of unilateral action in favor of multilateral cooperation to address excessive trade imbalances, including through the development of indicative guidelines by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be applied starting in 2011.

The world business body urged G20 leaders to recognize that, in the context of improving regulation of the financial sector, it is particularly important to develop regulatory measures that will not be detrimental to global trade finance, or to developing economies where trade finance is much needed.

ICC said it joins the G20 leaders in looking forward to continuing G20 Business Summits and their input into the G20 policy agenda.  “ICC’s participation in the Seoul G20 Business Summit has reinforced its view that an official and permanent mechanism is needed to maintain the dialogue between business and the G20 at and in between summits,” said ICC Secretary General Jean-Guy Carrier.

Click here to read the full text of the ICC G20 statement.

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 at www.uscib.org.

Contacts:

Alba Rooney, ICC
+33 1 49 53 28 22 or alba.rooney@iccwbo.org

Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

USCIB resource page: Consolidated G20-related statements and actions

Related story: USCIB affiliates IOE and BIAC issue joint statement to G20

ICC website