Policy Areas Archives

Climate Change High on BIAC’s Agenda

Published on May 2, 2016

Following the opening ceremony for signature of the United Nations climate agreement (Paris Agreement), held at the UN headquarters on April 22 in New York, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD reiterated its continued support to the OECD as a key organization in the field to provide fact-based analysis concerning the implementation of the Paris Agreement. BIAC called upon the OECD to contribute to increasing the overall cost-effectiveness and coherence of climate measures and to help ensure a policy environment that is supportive of innovation and investment by all the business involved.

At the meeting of the OECD Environment Policy Committee in early May, BIAC will highlight the key recommendations of its paper on the “Post-COP 21 Agenda: Key Actions for the OECD”.  Going forward, BIAC will contribute to preparations for the OECD Environment Ministerial planned for September 2016.

Enhancing Productivity for Inclusive Growth

Published on April 29, 2016
USCIB CEO Peter Robinson, BIAC Secretary General Bernhard Welschke, and BIAC Innovation & Technology Committee Chair Rick Johnson at the MCM Consultation (Santiago)
USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson, BIAC Secretary General Bernhard Welschke, and BIAC Innovation & Technology Committee Chair Rick Johnson at the MCM Consultation (Santiago)

“Enhancing Productivity for Inclusive Growth” will be the theme of this year’s OECD Ministerial Council meeting chaired by Chile. The Chilean government, led by the Ministers of Finance and Foreign Affairs, hosted a preparatory meeting with the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD on April 25 in Santiago, Chile. Fernando Alvear Artaza, the general manager of the Confederation for Production and Commerce (CPC) in Chile, presented the views of BIAC and his federation on measures to improve productivity and to better use the growth potentials of our economies.

USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson spoke on the key role of business to realize the Sustainable Development Goals. And the chair of BIAC’s Technology Committee, Rick Johnson, explained the potential of innovation and digital technologies for more growth and well-being.

The BIAC delegation was strongly enhanced by the participation of Martin Pérez Monteverde, president of the National Confederation of Private Entrepreneurial Institutions (CONFIEP), BIAC’s new observer in Peru. Following the meetings in Santiago, Martin hosted the delegation in Lima for talks with the presidents of CONFIEP member federations. The Peruvian economy and cooperation with BIAC on all OECD matters were the focus of discussions.

At the OECD Week General Assembly on May 30, BIAC will present the results of its new economic policy survey and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises.

USCIB Participates in World Day for Safety at Work

Published on April 29, 2016

Work-related accidents are among the top five leading causes of death around the world. Every year, 2.3 million workers die from injuries sustained on the job. Two million of these deaths are due to diseases including stress.

To respond to this challenge, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has set a specific target on promoting safe and secure environments for all workers. On April 28, the UN convened a special event in New York to discuss global initiatives for addressing safety at work.

Ronnie Goldberg, USCIB senior counsel, was a speaker at the event along with Reinhard Krapp (German Mission to the UN), Nata Menabde (World Health Organization), Edmundo Werno (International Labor Organization) and Alison Brown (Cardiff University). The panel was moderated by Vinicius Carvalho Pinheiro, ILO special representative to the UN.

Goldberg gave the business perspective on work-place safety, noting that occupational safety is a key business issue as it is inked to productivity and the competitiveness of enterprises. She said that proper and adequate supply chain management is a priority for companies, and hundreds of sector-specific initiatives exist to promote workplace safety along the supply chain.  Capacity building is also of critical importance to improve working conditions, she said, both for government institutions and companies.

“Employers recognize that creating a culture of prevention is a win-win for all parties,” Goldberg noted. “The IOE is committed to continue participating in the discussion on improving working conditions in supply chains as well as the development of the Vision Zero Fund.”

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.

 

Industry Representatives Meet FAO and other Rome-based UN Officials

Published on April 28, 2016
Private Sector Mechanism delegation in Rome. (USCIB’s Helen Media is second from right in the first row.)

Nearly 800 million people worldwide remain chronically undernourished, while at the same time incidences of obesity are rising in nearly all countries. This month, the United Nations agreed on a resolution proclaiming the Decade of Action on Nutrition, aiming to galvanize action from all stakeholders to end hunger and eradicate malnutrition worldwide. The resolution calls upon the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) to lead this effort’s implementation, and invites international partners, including the private sector, to support governments as they spearhead work on nutrition.

Earlier this week, USCIB and several of its member companies participated in the Private Sector Mechanism (PSM) delegation, which included over 30 industry representatives from the broad agri-food business value chain, to meet bilaterally with high-level FAO officials and to attend the “Partnerships Forum on Nutrition,” which was held at the International Fund for Agriculture Development.

Why it’s important to engage with the FAO

According to Helen Medina, USCIB’s vice president for product policy and innovation, participating in the PSM, which is an officially recognized organization that formally works with FAO, allows for companies and business associations to:

  • learn about crucial policymaking trends that could impact their business;
  • network with industry colleagues and develop industry-wide advocacy messages;
  • build relationships with FAO representatives; and
  • emphasize how the private sector can provide leadership and partnerships on issues such as food security, nutrition, agricultural productivity, nutrition, smallholders and the empowerment of women.

The FAO and the UN Committee on World Food Security, which is housed at the FAO, have most recently become important forums where policy recommendations related to agriculture, food security and nutrition are developed.

“Many in the private sector have become aware that several of the decisions made in the Rome-based organizations can influence policymakers at the highest levels of government,” said Medina. “It is therefore no surprise that over 30 industry representatives traveled to Rome to meet with over 30 different country delegations over a two-day period.”

Over 30 industry representatives met with over 30 governments from North America, the European Union, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia

Industry participants learned that the recent UN announcement of the Decade of Action on Nutrition, which aims to galvanize actions to reduce hunger and improve nutrition around the world, will drive a lot of the work streams at the FAO. In fact, the UN resolution calls the FAO and World Health Organization (WHO) to lead these efforts and cooperate with other UN bodies such as the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN). With the renewed focus on nutrition issues, the UNSCN will be an important voice. Its mandate is to provide global strategic leadership for strengthening policy coherence on nutrition across the UN system through dialogue, research and policy briefs, as well as through rallying UN agencies around unified positions.

“The meeting with the U.S., Canada and Australia reminded industry participants of how important it is to continue to engage at the FAO,” Medina added. “While those countries are supportive of industry’s involvement in FAO meetings, they cautioned that many countries continue to be skeptical of private-sector participation. Their recommendation to industry was to continue to build relations and share information about successful industry-led activities which align with the FAO’s mission.”

During the meetings with other countries, company representatives showed examples of private-public partnerships in areas such as: investment and financing, food safety, supporting sustainable supply chains, protecting natural resources; stimulating initiatives that create jobs and stimulate trade; communicating information; empowering women; innovating and developing tools to help farmers and better nutrition, to name a few. The topic of partnerships was also the theme for the “Partnerships Forum on Nutrition” half-day event held at the International Fund for Agriculture Development.

Business Calls for Improved Trade and Investment at B20

Published on April 22, 2016

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and USCIB Chairman Terry McGraw joined global business leaders at a B20 meeting in Washington, D.C. and urged the private sector to intensify engagement with the G20 to promote international trade and investment.

Presided by B20 China Sherpa Yu Ping, the B20 Joint Task Force meeting was held on the margins of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group and in the lead up to the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China next September.

Leading an ICC delegation of 40 CEOs from major multinational corporations, McGraw said: “We need more cooperation by the G20 to reignite world economic growth. That means that G20 leaders need to make trade and investment central to their growth agendas, making investments easier, reducing red-tape and cutting the cost of doing business.”

Zhu Min, IMF Deputy Managing Director stressed that structural reform must be a top priority for the G20 this year: “It’s absolutely important to bring the private sector into this global debate. In this critical junction, while we are facing global challenges and uncertainties, the private sector once again will play a pivotal and key role to stabilize world economic growth, financial markets, to push for growth and bring the world into the next high level.”

Read more at ICC’s website.

New Study Details the Impact of an Environmental Goods Agreement on China

Published on April 22, 2016

Solar-workers_3The Coalition for Green Trade, of which USCIB is a founding member, issued the following press release today about a new study onthe impact of an Environmental Goods Agreement on China:

New Study Details the Impact of an Environmental Goods Agreement on China

The Coalition for Green Trade today released the results of a new study detailing the effects that a World Trade Organization (WTO) Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) would have on the economy of China and the country’s ability to meet its environmental goals.

Overall, the study, “Value of an Environmental Goods Agreement: Helping China Meet Its Environmental Goals,” finds that full implementation of an EGA accord to eliminate tariffs on green technologies by China – the largest producer of these technologies participating in the EGA negotiations – would have a positive impact on the Chinese economy and environment.

The study was principally prepared by Dr. Joseph F. Francois and Laura M. Baughman of the Trade Partnership Worldwide, LLC.  They find that full implementation by China of an ambitious EGA:

  • Increases China’s GDP and national income by billions of dollars;
  • Increases exports by nearly $27 billion, up by 9.8 percent;
  • Increases real spending of roughly $22 billion annually on environmental goods; and
  • Results in gains of approximately $659 billion annually in economic benefits linked to improved environmental quality, based on the literature assessing cost-benefit ratios for investment in improved environmental conditions.

In July 2014, the United States and a group of other countries launched EGA negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in an effort to improve access to important green and energy efficient technologies, among other objectives. The United States and the 16 other WTO members participating in the EGA talks account for at least 86 percent of global environmental goods trade.

The Coalition for Green Trade is composed of a broad range of associations – including the U.S. China Business Council, which provided advice and outreach in support of this report – and companies doing business in the United States who seek to remove barriers to global trade in environmental technologies.

Business Pushes for U.S. Manufacturing Competitiveness

Published on April 22, 2016

U.S. manufacturers face high costs for inputs not produced in the United States. USCIB joined more than 200 trade groups and companies urging Congress to pass the Miscellaneous Tariffs Bill (MTB) overhaul bill quickly, which would eliminate unnecessary taxes on imported goods not available domestically. USCIB and others stated in a letter that U.S. manufacturers have faced annual tariffs of nearly $750 million since the last MTB expired in 2012, “undermining American competitiveness and the ability of these companies to retain and create manufacturing jobs in the United States.”

“This is something that we’ve been trying to get done for years,” House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters on Friday. “This MTB issue is something that I personally have been involved in, and I’m very excited that we have a solution now that we are moving. It is a jobs bill. It is a transparency bill. And it upholds our earmark ban, first and foremost, which is very important.”

Read the full letter.

USCIB Statement: Setting the 2030 Sustainability Agenda In Motion

Published on April 20, 2016

un_headquarters_lo-resNow more than ever, business and the global community share a common goal of advancing economic development and sustainability while effectively addressing climate change. This week in New York, governments, business and civil society are gathered to move forward on the landmark decisions of 2015. Through USCIB’s Campaign2015, USCIB and its members supported and informed the decisions of Addis, Paris and New York.  This week our message is clear — it is time to get to work!

Together we have an opportunity to design and carry out promising solutions for the world’s economy and governments, reflecting the UN 2030 Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and the conviction that business and governments should work together to address global challenges.  These universal agendas speak to everyone, including the business community. USCIB will approach these imperatives holistically, working with our global business network, the U.S. and other governments, and numerous other partners.

USCIB members are committed to advance the vital outcomes of Addis, New York and Paris, both those that have been decided, as well as those requiring further discussion and elaboration.

Addressing the challenges of sustainability demands new ways of working together, through partnership and enhanced engagement between governments and business.  We understand that the real effort is now beginning, as governments determine working details and put commitments into action.  In business, we too are moving to define priorities for further elaboration and what it will take to mobilize and scale up business investment, innovation and action going forward.

Our joint priorities should include:

  • Strengthening specific and distinct business interfaces to the UN system, such as the Private Sector Coordinating Group for FfD, the HLPF and to the UNFCCC and its bodies, such as the Technology Mechanism and Green Climate Fund
  • Tapping business expertise to catalyze and design enabling frameworks for, among other things, research, development, deployment and management of efficient and low-carbon technologies, investment, trade, finance, MRV, adaptation, risk management, and frameworks to promote effective, inclusive and efficient results.

We welcome the UN’s willingness to work in partnership with business so that we can build solutions to energy security, lower carbon development and sustainable economic growth together. USCIB’s platform, Businessfor2030, highlights the fundamental role business will play in helping to achieve the SDGs and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

USCIB and its members are ready to demonstrate what we are ready to bring to this global effort, and look forward to working with governments, the UN community and society as a whole.

Read more about USCIB’s 2015 activities in support of the UN 2030 Development Agenda

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)