Policy Areas Archives

Is the Trans-Pacific Partnership a Catalyst for Climate Action?

Published on January 22, 2016
L-R: Claire Reade (Arnold & Porter), Ben Beachy (Sierra Club), Norine Kennedy (USCIB) and Michael Gerrard (Columbia Law School)
L-R: Claire Reade (Arnold & Porter), Ben Beachy (Sierra Club), Norine Kennedy (USCIB) and Michael Gerrard (Columbia Law School)

One of the most important challenges in 2016 will be developing mutually reinforcing international trade and climate policies, seeking synergies in the global market place for economic growth and environmental innovation. Yet difficulties remain. Nowhere is this more evident than in the controversy swirling around the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement between 12 Pacific-Rim countries representing 40 percent of global GDP, and the perception by some groups that TPP could impede climate action. USCIB champions free trade, investment and climate action, and supports TPP and other free trade agreements, along with the United Nations Paris Agreement, and is uniquely placed to advocate for the important links between them.

USCIB participated in a panel on January 19 organized by the Columbia Center on Sustainable Development (CCSI) about the effects of TPP on domestic and international climate change policy.  While much of the discussion focused on TPP’s investment chapter, Norine Kennedy, USCIB’s vice president for strategic international engagement, energy and environment, urged panelists to consider TPP as a whole in economic and environmental terms, especially in the context of the recently concluded UN Paris Agreement, which will require substantial investment, finance and technology cooperation to meet ambitious objectives for greenhouse gas reduction.

Claire Reade (Arnold & Porter) argued TPP goes above and beyond the environmental protections found in previous trade agreements and would facilitate the transfer of clean technologies,  Moreover, it will provide recourse for U.S. companies of all sectors, such as clean energy and green technology, in cases of discriminatory or unlawful treatment by host governments. However, Ben Beachy (Sierra Club) and Lise Johnson (CCSI) stated concerns that the agreement’s Investor-State Dispute (ISDS) mechanism would increase legal actions against governments and hinder environmental regulations among TPP parties.

Kennedy argued that investors require security and protection to make the investments needed to implement the Paris outcomes, and ISDS through TPP is an important part of that.  “Both the UN Paris and TPP agreements are too important to fail,” Kennedy said, and reminded the group of President Obama’s final State of the Union Address highlighting the need for both rapid climate policy implementation and ratification of TPP.

The TPP agreement’s 30 chapters cover issues ranging from market access, to intellectual property rights, to labor standards. TPP offers opportunities to strengthen climate action via provisions on capacity building, regulatory coherence, anti corruption and rule of law.

“TPP is a must-have for climate action,” Kennedy concluded. “It’s part of the bigger picture of policy and market infrastructure for climate-friendly economic activity.”

USCIB Webinar: USAID’s Public-Private Partnership to Support Responsible Land-Based Investments

Published on January 22, 2016

USCIB hosted a webinar on USAID’s Public-Private Partnership to Support Responsible Land-Based Investments on February 4, which kicked off the USCIB Corporate Responsibility webinar series.

USAID speakers discussed their call for Expressions of Interest for potential private sector partners to co-create, co-design, co-invest and collaborate in addressing land tenure risks related to current or future land-based investments with a particular focus on African land deals as a means of piloting the effectiveness of the recently finalized Analytical Framework for Land-Based Investment in African Agriculture that USAID has just developed with the G7, UN Food and Agriculture Organization and African Union.

A recording of the webinar is available here. (Free registration is required).

Speakers included:

Chad Dear
ChadDear is an interdisciplinary social scientist, educator and development professional dedicated to improving land and resource governance. Through positions in academia, civil society, and government, Dear has led applied, interdisciplinary research teams; designed and implemented rural livelihood and natural resource management projects; and designed innovation programs within USAID.  Recent achievements include co-leading establishment of the Mountain Societies Research Institute (part of the Aga Khan Development Network), and guiding the Institute’s inaugural applied research programs. Dear, PhD Forestry and Conservation, has nearly ten years of on-the-ground international experience, primarily in Central Asia and Southern Africa, as well as significant domestic experience in the American west, including Alaska. He publishes in academic, technical and popular literature.  Dear is affiliate faculty in the College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana; an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellow; and a former Fulbright Fellow.

Sarah Lowery
SarahLowery is an Economist and Public-Private Finance Specialist in USAID’s Land Tenure and Resource Management Office. She focuses on the link between secure land tenure and inclusive economic growth and leads econometric, financial and risk analysis related to strengthened land tenure, access to finance and responsible investment. Lowery has designed public-private financial mechanisms in Brazil and Colombia that encourage sustainable land use, and she has authored several papers on climate finance innovations like REDD+ bonds and ways to unlock larger pools of capital like agricultural finance in the pursuit of conservation goals. Lowery holds an MBA and Master of Environmental Management from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business from Lafayette College.

Yuliya Neyman
YuliyaNeyman is a Land Governance and Legal Advisor in USAID’s Land Tenure and Resource Management Office. She leads the office’s private sector engagement and responsible investment work. Prior to joining USAID, Neyman worked as a corporate lawyer at White & Case, LLP in New York City. Prior to earning her law degree, Neyman worked as a journalist, and has written for the Huffington Post, Miami Herald, South Florida Business Journal, New York Daily News, Newsday, Washington Times and USA Today. Neyman has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University, and a law degree from Columbia Law School.

2016 USCIB Corporate Responsibility Webinar Series

The goal of the series is to provide members with introductions to new and innovative initiatives and organizations related to corporate responsibility that may be of interest and to allow for deeper dives into certain topics. The following additional webinars will be offered over the course of the first half of 2016. We hope you are able to join us for some or all of these programs and would like to remind you that you are welcome to indicate your interest in one or more of the below webinars (or to suggest other topics) via this form. 

February 24: World Bank Group’s Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA)
This unique program within the World Bank’s Governance Unit focuses on supporting governments, citizens and the private sector to work together to solve governance challenges. The GPSA provides direct long-term assistance to civil society organizations to promote accountability by government actors on development challenges. This webinar, jointly hosted with GPSA, will introduce the GPSA and showcase its potential for solving vexing governance issues that are undermining the ability for entry into new markets and/or the long-term viability of private-sector investments in the over 40 countries in which the GPSA is authorized to fund programs.

March 23: Bretton Woods II:  New America Foundation’s multi-stakeholder platform for reducing global volatility
Led by Tomicah Tilleman, a former senior adviser to Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, the non-partisan BWII is working with a large coalition of organizations to demonstrate that large long-term financial actors can significantly increase their long-term returns by dedicating a percentage of their holdings to investments that address root causes of volatility, such as poverty, corruption, poor governance and the lack of rule of law. Such directed investments can also improve investment climates in countries throughout the world in ways that have a multiplying effect for multinational enterprises. BWII also presents an opportunity for companies with unique competencies to lend their talents to this important endeavor.

USCIB Urges Senate to Schedule Customs Vote

Published on January 20, 2016

4556_image001Once passed, the U.S. customs reauthorization bill would update customs laws and procedures to streamline importing and exporting, contributing to economic growth and reduced costs for American businesses. On January 15, USCIB joined 18 other business organizations urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel to quickly schedule a vote on customs reauthorization legislation.

“We have worked for over a decade to bring this long-overdue legislation to passage, and so we urge you to quickly schedule a vote on the conference report,” USCIB and the other business organizations stated in a letter to Senator McConnel. The letter’s signatories represent a broad cross-section of the American economy, whose members include manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, retailers and service providers.

The customs bill, contained in a conference report passed by the House in December, has been delayed due to an unrelated provision including an Internet access tax ban.

“It is critical that the Senate complete passage of this bi-partisan legislation and get it to the President’s desk as the efficiencies contained in the bill will contribute to the growth of the U.S. economy,” the letter concluded.

IOE Reaffirms Business Commitment to the 2030 Development Agenda

Published on January 19, 2016

Business for 2030 homepage logoDuring her New York visit for the United Nations Global Compact meeting earlier this month, International Organization of Employers (IOE) Secretary General Linda Kromjong reaffirmed the commitment of the IOE’s members and partner companies around the world to the realization of the UN 2030 Development Agenda.

Kromjong formally represented the collective voice of business on labor and social policy at the Global Compact’s first board meeting under the leadership of Lise Kingo on January 14. Kingo succeeded Georg Kell following his retirement as executive director last year.

Addressing the meeting, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated his expectation that businesses “play a leading role in implementing the SDGs.”

“Our 13,000 signatories based in 170 countries, and our local networks, can be a force for change from the ground up,” he said. “We have a strong track record of translating UN goals and issues into concrete business action”.

In her intervention, Kromjong recalled her role as co-chair of the Global Compact Human Rights & Labor Working Group, as well as the role of IOE member federations in hosting national Global Compact networks. She highlighted IOE work on business and human rights, migration, youth employment, core labor standards and the sustainable development agenda – all key areas of focus for the Global Compact.

Kromjong also cited USCIB’s Business for 2030 web portal as one of many examples of employer organizations’ commitments to the sustainable development goals. She assured Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that the IOE was encouraging its members and their company affiliates globally “to advance the SDGs through their operations, innovations and partnerships and to be part of the solution.”

IOE Webinar on Women, Business and the Law

Published on January 19, 2016

Women_lawLast October, the International Organization of Employers (IOE) participated in the Geneva launch of the World Bank’s “2016 Women, Business and the Law” report, which examines laws and regulations affecting women’s prospects as entrepreneurs and employees across 173 economies. The report’s quantitative indicators to inform policy discussions on how to remove legal restrictions on women and to promote further research on how to improve the economic inclusion of women.

The IOE is organizing a webinar on this topic on March 7, featuring guest speaker Augusto Lopez-Claros, director of global indicators group at the World Bank. He will present the report and explore with national employer organisations how they can contribute to removing legal barriers to women’s inclusion in their countries. The event is planned as part of the IOE’s program to mark International Women’s Day on March 8.

To register, please contact Thannaletchimy Thanagopal. Instructions on how to join the webinar will be issued to participants well in advance.

USCIB co-organized an event last March titled “Bringing Down the Barriers: Women, Business and the Rule of Law” with the World Bank, the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Development Law Organization, which evaluated the impacts of gender discrimination laws around the world.

BIAC Calls for More Resilient, Flexible and Inclusive Labor Markets

Published on January 15, 2016

Two machinists working on machineAt the OECD’s Employment Ministerial, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD called for more resilient and inclusive labor markets.

More than ever, current labor market challenges require a policy that promotes resilience and flexibility. All parties are tested: companies to find appropriately trained and mobile workforces, workers to develop skills relevant to the labor market, and policymakers to provide for employment and social policy frameworks that encourage access for all, placing employment security over job security. The OECD’s goal should be to give guidance on ways to create more resilient and adaptable labor markets and jobs, within the context of the over-riding goal of enhancing productivity.

“The focus on employment security should serve to improve the resilience of the entire labor force and also facilitate the ability of workers to successfully progress among or between jobs”, said Ronnie Goldberg, chair of the BIAC Employment, Labor and Social Affairs Committee and senior counsel at USCIB.

The digitization of our economies should be seen not as a threat but as an opportunity. At the Ministerial, BIAC emphasized the importance of ongoing OECD work on skills and technology. Technological and structural changes inevitably result in labor market disruption. Flexibility-enhancing policies, together with those promoting life-long learning and development of strategic skills, are necessary to address these disruptions and raise aggregate employment levels.

BIAC also highlighted the importance to business of the current refugee crisis facing many OECD countries, and of labor migration in general. The business community is willing and able to assist governments in more swiftly processing and integrating refugees, for example by helping with skills assessment and recognition. At the same time, governments need to establish clear, transparent and efficient national immigration laws with policies that facilitate labor mobility, and allow the integration of migrants to meet labor market needs.

“Companies are well aware of the magnitude of the current challenge facing governments and local communities,” said Goldberg. “We have a wealth of on the ground experience and knowledge that can be brought to bear, and would welcome the opportunity to be at the table with policymakers.”

Delay in Country-by-Country Reporting Rules Incites Backlash

Published on January 13, 2016

Bloomberg BNA

“The decision to delay IRS rules implementing country-by-country reporting requirements from the OECD is stoking fears of increased administrative complexity for the upcoming year…The OECD’s language “implies that there ought to be some sort of allowance for a country to get their legislation in order, but it doesn’t explicitly say that,” said Carol Doran Klein, vice president for tax at the U.S. Council for International Business. “It’s confusing, and people would like to have certainty.””

Read the full Bloomberg BNA article.

USCIB Applauds Obama’s Call to Ratify Pacific Trade Pact

Published on January 13, 2016
SOTU_2016
President Obama delivers his final State of the Union address on January 12, 2016.

New York, N.Y., January 12, 2016 – USCIB welcomed President Obama’s call in his State of the Union address for Congress to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, a market-opening trade deal between the United States and eleven Pacific-Rim countries.

“U.S. business remains united behind TPP,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson. “This landmark agreement will enhance American competitiveness, support U.S. jobs, eliminate thousands of tariffs and expand the rule of law in the Asia-Pacific region.”

USCIB voiced support for TPP in a statement last month, saying that after reviewing the agreement’s text and consulting with its broad membership, USCIB believes the agreement “will contribute substantially to economic growth in the United States and the region, cement U.S. global leadership and provide significant new opportunities for U.S. businesses, workers and farmers.”

A central component of the United States’ foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific, TPP would help establish American commercial values in the region, with new standards to promote good governance and transparency.

Robinson continued: “We look forward to working with the administration and Congress on a range of issues raised by the president in his address, especially trade, and we urge legislators to secure TPP’s passage.” He noted that TPP would set new, high standards for future trade agreements.

The U.S. coalition for TPP, of which USCIB is a leading member, issued a statement in support of TPP last week.

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 ICC, 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. www.uscib.org.

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

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

OECD Publishes 2014 Official Development Assistance Figures

Published on January 11, 2016

The OECD recently published its final official development assistance (ODA) figures for 2014. According to the findings, in 2014, final figures for net ODA flows from OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member countries totaled $137.2 billion, marking an increase of 1.2 percent in real terms over 2013 and surpassing the all-time high in 2013.

In the past 15 years, net ODA has been rising steadily and has increased by nearly 70 percent since 2000. The largest DAC donor countries by volume were the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Japan.  Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom continued to exceed the United Nations’ ODA target of 0.7 percent of gross national income.

Global DevelopmentAlthough net ODA has been increasing over time, estimates by the United Nations show that the needs for financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will $4 trillion. USCIB has noted that ODA cannot do the job of development finance by itself. In order to move from the “billions to trillions” in development finance, policymakers will need to catalyze more private investment, especially in least developed countries.

More information about the evolving role of ODA and the rise of blended finance is available at USCIB’s Business for 2030 web portal about private sector engagement with the UN SDGs.

We’ve All Got to Work Together on Global Health Challenges

Published on January 9, 2016

USCIB is pleased to launch this Health and Nutrition Blog, which will include our priorities, activities, and updates related to global nutrition and health policy in major United Nations, World Health Organization, and OECD processes. We look forward working with our members and all stakeholders as they address global health challenges as we aspire to to a healthier 2016 for all! 

By Helen Medina

nutrition_globeAs in years past, January 1st is the time that many Americans make New Year’s resolutions. Often those are associated with a pledge to live a healthier lifestyle. One can experience the result of this undertaking in overcrowded  gyms, jam-packed yoga classes and in the media with advice on how to keep those resolutions. Health and wellness is top-of-mind for many of us, and especially with policymakers. While each of us may be experiencing different challenges to achieve our own optimum well-being, there is no dispute that health is important for all.

Many countries lose approximately two to three percent of their GDP due to under-nutrition, and worldwide, non-communicable diseases account for 60 percent (35 million) of global deaths.

In fact, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals reflect the importance of nutrition and health, with targets listed at the top as goals 2 and 3 respectively. Goal 2 aims to address the challenges the world faces as the population continues to grow. More effort and innovation are needed to increase agricultural production, improve the global supply chain, decrease food losses and waste and ensure that all who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition have access to nutritious food. Goals 3 is “ensure healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.” The associated targets aim to reduce the rate of global maternal mortality, end preventable deaths of newborns, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and end certain epidemics.

The Access to Nutrition Index indicates that 805 million people globally suffer from hunger and more than two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. The economic costs of under-nutrition are high, as many countries lose approximately two to three percent of their GDP due to under-nutrition. In Africa and Asia, the cost can be as high as 11 percent of GDP.

According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases (NCD) make the largest contribution to mortality both globally and in the majority of low- and middle-income countries . Worldwide, NCDs account for 60 percent (35 million) of global deaths. The largest burden – 80 percent (28 million) – occurs in low- to middle-income countries, making NCDs a major cause of poverty and an urgent development issue. They will be the leading global cause of disability by 2030.

USCIB understands the scale and complexity of these global challenges. Together with our members, we are actively following and participating in international discussions on nutrition because we believe that no one organization, industry or government can make a material difference completely on its own. Instead, we must bring forward and catalyze partnerships that connect across business, government and civil society. Working together is key to addressing today’s health challenges. As innovators, goods and service providers and employers, companies are only as strong as the communities that they work in and serve, and they are committed to offering solutions and actions.