Competitiveness and Innovation Archives

OECD Tax Conference to Examine Challenges of BEPS Implementation

Published on May 9, 2016

taxconferenceWashington, D.C., May 10, 2016 – After three years of negotiations, the OECD/G20 project on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) designed to address corporate tax avoidance concluded last year with governments developing a framework for modernizing international tax rules. As the focus of this work shifts to implementation, in which the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will invite all interested jurisdictions to become part of a dialogue that will directly shape monitoring processes on BEPS issues, government officials, company executives and tax practitioners will gather June 6-7 in Washington, D.C. to discuss the challenges of BEPS implementation and the future of global tax policy.

The 2016 OECD International Tax Conference, which will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel, will provide a unique opportunity for business experts to interact directly with key leadership from the OECD’s Center for Tax Policy and Administration (CTFA), as well as senior tax officials from the United States and other OECD countries. 

The event is the eleventh in a series of sold-out annual gatherings convened by the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), in cooperation with the OECD and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD, which officially represents private-sector views in the Paris-based body. Details on the event are available at www.uscibtax.org.

“As we move into the new territory of BEPS implementation, it is important how the BEPS reports are translated into national law.  Global companies should be following these changes as carefully as they followed the development of the BEPS reports,” said USCIB Vice President and International Tax Counsel Carol Doran Klein. “Our conference is more valuable than ever as a resource to learn about and discuss a wide range of international taxation issues, and the OECD is of course a critical resource in this area.” 

Keynote remarks at this year’s conference will be delivered by U.S. Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen. Other speakers will include:

  • Pascal Saint-Amans – Director of the Center for Tax Policy & Administration, OECD
  • Robert B. Stack – Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Tax Affairs, U.S. Treasury
  • Mike Williams – Director, Business and International Tax, HM Treasury, UK
  • Martin Kreienbaum, Director General, International Taxation, Federal Ministry of Finance, Germany
  • Grace Perez-Navarro – Deputy Director of the CTPA, OECD
  • Achim Pross – Head of International Cooperation and Tax Administration, OECD
  • Jacques Sasseville – Head of Tax Treaty Unit, OECD
  • Andrew Hickman – Head of Transfer Pricing Unit, OECD
  • Jesse Eggert – Senior Advisor, BEPS Project, OECD
  • Will Morris – Chairman, BIAC Committee on Taxation and Fiscal Affairs; Director, Global Tax Policy, GE International Inc. (United Kingdom) 

About USCIB:

USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including 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, VP communications, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

Business Adds Voice to Partnerships Forum on Nutrition

Published on April 28, 2016
nutrition_partnership_forum
Partnerships Forum on Nutrition

On April 26, over 80 private sector, civil society and United Nations Rome-based officials including from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) gathered for the International Agri-Food Network’s “Partnerships Forum on Nutrition.” The meeting was hosted by Hinrich Tholken, Ambassador of Germany to the UN Rome-based agencies.

“This unique event demonstrated the depth and breadth of industry-led activities related to nutrition,” said USCIB Vice President for Product Policy and Innovation Helen Medina, who attended the forum. “It was an opportunity for the private sector to share examples and concrete experiences of successful initiatives across sectors in many countries.”

The meeting began with Robynne Anderson, director general of the International Agri-Food Network (IAFN) describing why partnerships are important and relating the theme to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Others in the opening session described the importance of tackling stunting and wasting as a way to achieve Zero Hunger Challenge.

The second part of the meeting included 17 “rapid fire presentations” moderated by Gerda Verburg, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the UN Rome-based agencies. Ambassador Verburg asked participants to speak from their hearts and to be clear and concise about their desires.  The event was meant to inspire all to think about partnerships and how to take advantage of the opportunities that were immediately available to everyone around the table.

The meeting’s main messages included:

  • It is clear that the partnering with all stakeholders including the private sector is needed if countries want to tackle their nutrition challenges;
  • Empowering the value chain and in particular women are key for development and improving nutritional outcomes;
  • Mainstreaming nutrition in poverty reduction goals will translate into high economic growth;
  • Trust is needed to build upon partnerships and all stakeholders need to feel invested in the projects;
  • Key stakeholders including the private sector need to be involved from the analysis stage in problem analysis to delivering the desired outcomes.

 

Broadening the Oversight of a Free and Open Internet

Published on April 20, 2016

Via the Wall Street Journal

USCIB and the International Chamber of Commerce were cited in a Wall Street Op-Ed about the transition of the stewardship of the Internet from the United States to the broader multistakeholder community. Author Stephen Crocker, chairman of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Board notes that business has a keen understanding of the importance of the Internet in strengthening the global economy and creating jobs and economic growth.

On March 17, representatives from the Intel Corporation, the Internet Society and others told Congress they supported the transition. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Council for International Business, the Information Technology Industry Council, the Software & Information Industry Association and others also approve of the plan.

Business leaders from companies like Google, Verizon, AT&T, Cisco and Yahoo participated in the development of the proposal. Academics from Harvard, George Mason University and other institutions also weighed in. From the International Chamber of Commerce to the Center for Democracy and Technology, diverse organizations have voiced support.

Read the full Wall Street Journal article (Subscription required)

Obama Appoints USCIB Members to National Cybersecurity Commission

Published on April 14, 2016

White_HouseGiven society’s increasing reliance on computer systems and information and communication technologies (ICTs), cybersecurity must lie at the heart of any national security strategy. To that end, President Obama announced today his appointees to the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, a new office established within the Department of Commerce to raise awareness about digital security in the United States.

“I have charged the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity with the critically-important task of identifying the steps that our nation must take to ensure our cybersecurity in an increasingly digital world,” President Obama said in a White House press release. “These dedicated individuals bring a wealth of experience and talent to this important role, and I look forward to receiving the Commission’s recommendations.”

Two USCIB members were appointed to the 12-member commission: Ajay Banga, CEO of Mastercard, and Peter Lee, corporate vice president of Microsoft Research. USCIB’s ICT Policy Committee has actively shaped the development of a model cybersecurity framework in the OECD, as well as an International Chamber of Commerce practical business guide to implement the OECD security guidelines. USCIB also contributes regularly to the U.S. government’s calls for public comments on cybsercurity challenges.

Business Welcomes Revised OECD e-Commerce Recommendation

Published on March 31, 2016

Smartphone_mobile_globeThe revision of the 1999 OECD Guidelines for Consumer Protection in the Context of Electronic Commerce (1999), which was initiated in 2014, came to a conclusion with the adoption by the OECD Council on March 24 of a revised Recommendation.

The Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD welcomes the update which takes account of significant evolutions in the technical landscape as well as in consumer habits. From the onset, the BIAC Consumer Policy Task Force contributed actively to the works of the OECD Committee on Consumer Policy, pointing to the benefits of e-commerce and recommending a flexible approach rather than focusing on challenges.

The revised Recommendation will be discussed by ministers and high level experts during the consumer trust panel at the OECD Ministerial on the Digital Economy on June 22 in Cancun, Mexico.

Will Trade Overtake Antitrust as the Protector of Due Process?

Published on March 24, 2016

washington-Lincoln-MemorialsThe next meeting of the USCIB Competition Committee will be held in advance of the ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting. In addition to Committee business, the meeting will include an expert panel discussion on the role of trade in antitrust due process issues.

SPEAKERS:

Randolph W. Tritell
Director, Office of International Affairs
Federal Trade Commission

Daniel Watson
Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for North America
Office of the United States Trade Representative

DATE/TIME:

Monday, April 4, 2016
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT

LOCATION:

Baker Botts LLP
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004

RSVP:

Eva Hampl
ehampl@uscib.org

Dial-in information provided upon request.

Global Nutrition: What Is the Private Sector Doing?

Published on March 22, 2016

SDG Goal 2 End hunger, achieve food security & improved nutrition, promote sustainable agriculture

By Helen Medina

Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month in the United States?  For policymakers, nutrition is top of mind.  In fact, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals place nutrition and the mission to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture” at number 2 only after Goal 1 which is to “End poverty everywhere.”

It is indisputable that nutrition provides a vital foundation for human development and is central to meeting one’s full potential.  Nutrition is also important from an economic point of view. Hunger and under-nutrition weaken the mental and physical development of children and adolescents. This in turn lowers the work capacity and income potential of adults and leads to huge social and economic costs. According to estimates by a 2013 UN Food and Agriculture Organization report, hunger and under-nutrition cost the global economy an estimated 2-3 percent of global gross domestic product, equivalent to $1.4-2.1 trillion per year.

The private sector is a key actor in providing nutrition from investing in agriculture; to improving the social, economic and environmental practices in farming and the supply chain; to mobilizing, innovating, and finally delivering agricultural products and food.

So what is the private sector doing on nutrition? For starters, the private sector is a key actor in providing nutrition from investing in agriculture; to improving the social, economic and environmental practices in farming and the supply chain; to mobilizing, innovating, and finally delivering agricultural products and food.  As an employer, the private sector also has a vital role in increasing the livelihoods of society as a way to address poverty, malnutrition and under-nutrition. But that’s not the whole picture. It’s far from it and more can be done. One stakeholder alone can’t solve complex nutrition challenges.

The importance of good governance policies and regulations that support private sector involvement in agriculture should not be underestimated. Access to finance and empowering women is also crucial for improving nutrition around the world. Women are often the family’s primary caretakers and they tend to invest in their children’s health. It’s therefore important for governments to promote policies that help women become farmers, traders and entrepreneurs. Promoting trade and investment in agriculture is also crucial for combating global hunger. There is significant evidence from UN reports that demonstrate increased trade, particularly in the agriculture and food industry, raises the standard of living in developing countries and improves the performance of national economies, all of which are necessary for healthy societies.

Additionally, multi-stakeholder partnerships should be encouraged. More and more of these types of approaches are widely recognized as necessary to increasing the scope of financial and human resources in order to tackle nutritional challenges on a large scale. The private sector often partners with governments and researchers to innovate and create new tools for farmers that improve nutrition. It is essential for all stakeholders to work together and develop a global food system that improves people’s nutrition in a sustainable way. We are committed to public-private partnerships that support nutrition strategies and to preserving natural resources to continue to grow food which is necessary for nutrition.

USCIB Monthly Health and Nutrition Blog

February: We’ve All Got to Work Together On Global Health Issues

January: Businesses Celebrate American Heart Month

USCIB Applauds Plan to Transition Stewardship of Key Internet Functions, Urges U.S. Government Approval

Published on March 10, 2016

Digital GlobeNew York, N.Y., March 10, 2016 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) welcomed a comprehensive package of proposals developed by numerous Internet stakeholders including the private sector, which will enable global stewardship of the domain name system (DNS) and enhance accountability of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which manages the global domain name system.

The proposals, if approved, would permit the transfer of the stewardship of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), a set of core functions necessary for the running of the Internet domain name system, from the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to the multi-stakeholder Internet community, with safeguards to enable active involvement by the in processes designed to hold ICANN accountable as an independent entity.

“While some have argued that the Internet should be overseen by governments, the two-year process that culminated in this plan demonstrates that the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance works,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson. “This model is clearly the most appropriate means for considering issues that could affect the operation of the global Internet as we move forward.”

At an ICANN meeting wrapping up today in Marrakesh, Morocco, ICANN’s board approved the proposal and immediately transmitted it to NTIA.

“USCIB worked actively to help shape this ground-breaking initiative,” said Robinson. “We believe that the final product will meet NTIA’s criteria for the transition of the IANA stewardship role and ensure the continued stability, security and resiliency of the domain name system as well as fundamental openness of the Internet. We urge NTIA to approve the plan.”

The package combines the technical requirements for the IANA stewardship transition with important, interrelated enhancements to ICANN’s accountability to replace the “backstop” function provided by NTIA’s current contract with ICANN.

“USCIB believes this package will best ensure the continued security and stability of the domain name system and preclude its capture by a government or governmental entity, which is one of NTIA’s important criteria,” according to Barbara Wanner, USCIB’s vice president for information, communications and technology (ICT) policy.

On ICANN accountability, USCIB said the proposal would empower the Internet community through use of a bottom-up, multi-stakeholder model. “There are details that still need refinement, such as the drafting of bylaws,” said Wanner. “We look forward to helping shape these as part of the continued open and consultative implementation process.”

According to Wanner, USCIB contributions to the processes of encouraging the IANA stewardship transition and enhancing ICANN’s accountability have reflected cross-sectoral and cross-community perspectives. She noted that, as an association composed of more than 300 multinational companies, law firms and business associations, the organization’s membership represents a broad cross-section of leading global companies in the ICT sector. Moreover, USCIB members come from both the “contracted house” of ICANN – those companies that serve as registries and registrars of Internet domain names – as well as the “non-contracted house,” which encompasses others in the private sector.

About USCIB:
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) 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
+1 917.420.0039, jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s ICT Committee

IRS Sees Potential Problems with Surrogate Filings

Published on March 8, 2016

USCIB’s Carol Doran Klein spoke to Bloomberg BNA about the surrogate filing option of the country-by-country reporting template, recommended by the OECD’s action plan on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).

Tax experts cited the challenges created by differences in timing in the implementation of the country-by-country reporting requirements, part of the OECD’s plan to combat tax avoidance. Klein expressed skepticism about U.S. multinationals filing their country-by-country reporting in the UK.

Read the full Bloomberg BNA article. (Paywall)

Internet’s Future to be Discussed at OECD Digital Economy Ministerial

Published on March 7, 2016

Digital GlobeThe rapid increase of information and communications technologies (ICT) and online participation compels us to consider the potentially transformative effects of technology on a broad range of socially beneficial, data driven applications. The upcoming 2016 OECD Digital Economy Ministerial in Cancún is an opportunity to think about the path forward and continue to promote these transformative opportunities in an open, transparent, responsible and inclusive manner, respecting both individual rights and freedoms and the rule of law.

Contributing actively to the development of the next OECD Committee on Digital Economy Policy (CDEP) Ministerial Declaration, a delegation from the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD led by USCIB ICT Committee Chair Joe Alhadeff is raising business concerns about the future of the digital economy. The drafting session for the Ministerial Declaration, a multi-stakeholder consultation process also including advisory members of the technical community, has progressed substantially from the first draft in September. The next version of the consensus-built OECD CDEP Ministerial Statement will be available during the next CDEP meetings from March 29 to April 1.

Please read “Enabling a Vibrant Digital Economy” by USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson for more information on USCIB’s involvement in the Digital Economy Ministerial.