Policy Areas Archives

ICC Emphasizes Business Priorities at UN Information Society Event

Published on May 21, 2012

BASIS Chair Urges Greater Collaboration with Business on Internet-related Public Policy

Internet access can empower the marginalized and improve the lives of millions of people – but governments must work with business and other stakeholders to put the necessary conditions in place. This was the message delivered by Subramanian Ramadorai, chair of ICC’s BASIS initiative, to the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) during WSIS week in Geneva.

Ramadorai said governments and international institutions should ensure their Internet policy related decision-making activities were open and inclusive to all stakeholders on an equal footing. “All efforts to continue to advance enhanced cooperation should be based on the commitment to openness, inclusiveness, and outreach.”

The extent to which business and other stakeholders should be involved in public policy issues pertaining to the Internet, referred to as “enhanced cooperation,” was discussed during a CSTD consultation.

The International Chamber of Commerce and its BASIS (Business Action to Support the Information Society) initiative actively participated in the post- UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) activities, held May 14-18 in Geneva. The week-long series of events included the WSIS action lines forum, open consultation for the preparations of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and meetings of the IGF multi-stakeholder advisory group, as well as a consultation on ‘enhanced cooperation’ convened by the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development. All of these dialogues are important to the success of the WSIS and its outcome.

Organized by the International Telecommunication Union, UNESCO, the UN Development Program and UNCTAD, the forum gathered representatives of governments, civil society, business and the Internet technical community to share experiences regarding initiatives and concrete projects that are helping countries more effectively harness the power of information and communication technology (ICTs) for the common global good.

“The tangible impact of ICTs on economic growth and opportunity is a shared objective,” said John Davies, vice president of Intel Corporation. “Simply put, countries with effective ICT policies tend to have higher productivity and countries with ineffective ICT policies tend to have lower productivity.

Click here to read more on ICC’s website.

Staff Contact: Barbara Wanner

More on USCIB’s Information, Communications and Technology Policy (ICT) Committee

 

Developing Countries Continue to Lead Trade Growth

Published on May 17, 2012
229 banks in 100 countries took part in the survey.
229 banks in 100 countries took part in the survey.

Developing nations were the key drivers of growth in international trade for 2011, in spite of the volatility caused by the international financial crisis, according to a report published today by the International Chamber of Commerce, the world business organization for which USCIB serves as the American national committee.

This year’s ICC Global Survey on Trade and Finance – titled “Rethinking Trade and Finance” – notes that after a year of upheavals, annual trade volume grew 6.6 percent in 2011, slightly above forecasts by the World Trade Organization. After positive growth prospects at the beginning of the year, a series of global shocks including the Arab Spring, the tsunami in Japan and the continuation of the global debt crises, resulted in an uneven performance for the year.

The survey, which provides some of the most important international data on trade finance, suggests the current environment is dampening prospects for 2012, with annual trade growth forecast at 5.2 percent this year, increasing to 7.2 percent in 2013, according to the report.

Developing countries continued to lead trade growth in spite of the slowdown towards the end of the year. South Asia exports, driven by soaring Indian trade with China, outperformed other developing regions in the first three quarters of 2011, but subsequently plummeted.

The report – in which representatives of 229 banks in 100 countries, a sharp increase on last year, took part – reveals that China’s trade experienced particularly volatile growth throughout the year, and exports from East Asia have fallen. Many major developing countries in the region are experiencing a slowdown in growth due to a tightening of domestic policy initiatives introduced between late 2010 and early 2011 to combat high inflation.

Read more on ICC’s website.

Staff contact: Eva Hampl

More on USCIB’s Banking and Trade Finance Committee

ICC Tackles Transfer Pricing and Customs Valuation

Published on May 14, 2012
"Transfer Pricing and Customs Valuation" will help simplify regulations and also to clarify rules
“Transfer Pricing and Customs Valuation” will help simplify regulations and also to clarify rules

ICC recently issued a policy statement on “Transfer Pricing and Customs Valuation” aimed at supporting companies that face the challenge of determining the appropriate related party valuation of goods.

These parties are subject to customs and fiscal examinations and thus are bound by differing laws, rules and contradictory interests. ICC believes that these examinations should yield the same value, and that a resolution to the problem is in the interests of all concerned.

The ICC Commission on Taxation has produced many proposals aiming to secure harmonized tax and customs valuation of transactions between related parties in an international context.

These proposals are designed to help simplify regulations for companies and administrations and also to clarify rules for both parties so as to reduce financial impact linked to divergent valuation.

Compliance costs to companies would be reduced if tax and customs administrations were to accept and implement these proposals. The policies could also minimize the risk of penalties resulting from opposing views between customs and tax authorities.

The statement is set to be presented to governments and relevant international organizations shortly.

Staff Contact: Kristin Isabelli

View the statement

More on USCIB’s Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee

At Rio Meetings, USCIB Represents Business Interests in Global Antitrust

Published on May 11, 2012

4322_image002As U.S. companies are increasingly subject to foreign regulators and the practices of non-U.S. investigative bodies, it is imperative to ensure adequate dialogue between the private sector and government antitrust enforcers, both in order to keep the lines of communication open and to ensure that industry is aware of the ever-evolving antitrust regulations to which they may be subjected.

To that end, Charlene Flick, USCIB’s director of intellectual property and competition, took part in three key meetings in Rio de Janeiro in April: the International Competition Network (ICN) annual conference, an International Chamber of Commerce Roundtable on Competition Enforcement and Compliance, and “ICN in Brazil: The Changing World of Competition,” sponsored by the International Bar Association.

Founded in 2001, the International Competition Network is an informal, virtual network that seeks to facilitate cooperation between competition law authorities globally.  The Rio Conference focused on enforcement and compliance in competition law, including South American enforcement priorities and the business response, as well as company strategies to improve antitrust compliance.

USCIB now enjoys non-governmental advisor status in the ICN, which will increase our visibility and will allow more of our members to participate in its projects, regional workshops and annual meeting.

While in Brazil, USCIB’s Flick also met with a number of Brazil-based attorneys to discuss the current state of intellectual property protection in Brazil, and how the Brazilian bar views intellectual property law and policy as it relates to the international community.

Staff contact: Justine Badimon

More on USCIB’s Competition Committee

More on USCIB’s Intellectual Property Committee

ICC Seminar to Help Marketers Keep Up With New Legal and Self-Regulatory Developments

Published on May 7, 2012
Panel discussions will explain how companies, marketers, agencies and media should ensure their campaigns are being conducted responsibly
Panel discussions will explain how companies, marketers, agencies and media should ensure their campaigns are being conducted responsibly

Marketers and corporate counsel are invited to meet rules-writers and enforcers to find out if they are ‘consumer savvy’ at a half-day conference on how to navigate the changing landscape of advertising and marketing regulations. Organized by the ICC Commission on Advertising and Marketing, the seminar “Consumer Savvy Marketing: Understanding and Respecting Consumers Using Self-Regulation” will take place in New York City on June 7, 2012.

ICC, whose marketing and advertising self-regulatory rules form the basis for most countries’ national codes, will bring together global and local experts to examine such issues as privacy, data protection and child-directed advertising, as marketing continues to migrate online.

Panel discussions will explain how companies, marketers, agencies and media should ensure their campaigns are being conducted responsibly in light of the changing laws and not lead to backlash from consumers, regulators or self-regulatory bodies.

Participants will have a chance to hear from and meet speakers from the Federal Trade Commission, the US, EU and international self-regulatory community, as well as senior executives from global corporations, such as Disney, Microsoft and AT&T, Google and News Corporation who deal with these issues on a national and international scale.

Legal directors and corporate counsel advising on advertising regulatory issues, company privacy officers, corporate managers handling US and global marketing campaigns, business consultants and counsel from law firms, as well as government regulators dealing with privacy issues, are all invited to attend.

Staff Contact: Jonathan Huneke

Consumer Savvy Marketing Program

Register online and benefit from a special ICC members rate.

More on USCIB’s Marketing and Advertising Committee

USCIB Applauds Progress at US-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue

Published on May 4, 2012

New York, N.Y., May 4, 2012 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) hailed progress made on several fronts at the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) talks in Beijing this week.  USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson said the two countries had demonstrated a “commitment to strengthen and deepen our business and economic ties,” and applauded in particular plans to negotiate a bilateral investment treaty (BIT).

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the economic track of this week’s S&ED talks resulted in several important developments for American business, including:

  • agreement to intensify negotiations of a U.S.-China BIT
  • China’s commitment to provide non-discriminatory treatment to all enterprises, including state-owned enterprises (SOEs), in terms of credit, taxation and regulatory policies
  • agreement by China to take part in international talks to develop new rules on export financing, increase transparency in rule-making, and open up new sectors to foreign investment
  • China’s pledge to take steps to join the WTO Government Procurement Agreement.

“Taken together, these commitments could go a long way toward addressing some of the U.S. business community’s major concerns,” Robinson said.  “As an organization that seeks to promote trade, investment and regulatory coherence between the U.S. and the rest of the world, we are especially pleased with the decision to enter into BIT negotiations and address the SOEs issue.  We commend the U.S. and Chinese government for demonstrating their commitment to strengthen and deepen our business and economic ties.”

USCIB has been a leading American business voice urging the two governments to negotiate a strong, comprehensive BIT.  Last month USCIB welcomed the release of a revised U.S. model bilateral investment treaty.  “BITs are important tools to open overseas markets for U.S. companies, and they help drive U.S. exports and jobs in an increasingly competitive global marketplace,” Robinson said at the time.  “We are glad to see the U.S. getting back in the game, to ensure that we don’t fall behind our competitors in terms of investment protections.”

USCIB has also pressed for new international disciplines to ensure competitive neutrality for SOEs vis-à-vis their private-sector counterparts, including in third markets, and is working with the U.S. and other governments to address the issue in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks and in the OECD.

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, VP communications, USCIB
(212) 703-5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s China Committee

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

ICC Marketing Commission Appoints Sheila Millar as Vice Chair

Published on May 3, 2012
Ms. Millar brings important technical understanding and legal expertise to the work of the commission
Ms. Millar brings important technical understanding and legal expertise to the work of the commission

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sheila Millar, partner of Keller and Heckman to the post of vice-chair, Commission on Marketing and Advertising.

Ms. Millar has been leading the Commission’s Working Group on Sustainability for five years and has played a critical role both in the development ofICC’s Framework for Responsible Environmental Marketing Communications and the advocacy efforts undertaken to promote it. With vast experience counseling companies, regulators and government in the fields of sustainability and environmental claims, marketing and advertising to children and data protection, Ms. Millar brings important technical understanding and legal expertise to the work of the commission. An active advocate of ICC work, Ms. Millar has presented ICC codes and guidance to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Consumer Policy Committee and recently at a United Nations Environment Program International Workshop on Product Sustainability Information.

“Sheila’s appointment is a welcome addition to the leadership team of the commission. Her extensive experience and wealth of knowledge have been invaluable in developing recent ICC work products, engaging new participants and advocating ICC guidance to audiences around the world,” said Brent Sanders, chair of the ICC Commission on Marketing and Advertising and associate general counsel of Microsoft Corporation.

Ms. Millar will be representing the commission and sharing her expertise at upcoming events in New York. On 7 June, the ICC Commission on Marketing and Advertising will present a seminar entitled ‘Consumer Savvy Marketing’ that will address privacy, data protection and child directed advertising, especially in the context of new technology and social media. Ms. Millar has also been invited to present the environmental claims framework at an ICC event in conjunction with the RIO+20 conferences (20-22 June 2012), where heads of states, government representatives and others will meet to shape the future of our social environment and economy.

Click here to read more on ICC’s website.

Staff Contact: Jonathan Huneke

More on USCIB’s Marketing and Advertising Committee

Citi’s Johnston to Spearhead USCIB’s Trade and Investment Work

Published on May 1, 2012
Charles R. Johnston
Charles R. Johnston

New York, N.Y., May 1, 2012 – Charles R. (Rick) Johnston, director and senior vice president for international government affairs with Citi, will take the reins on June 20 as chair of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) Trade and Investment Committee.  The committee coordinates business advocacy among USCIB’s hundreds of member companies, advises the U.S. government on key trade and investment matters, and drives broader international support for open markets.

“We are very excited that Rick Johnston has agreed to lead USCIB’s trade and investment policy work,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “He brings strong leadership and a truly global perspective.  We look forward to working closely with him to advance our strong pro-trade, pro-investment agenda on behalf of the American business community with U.S. and foreign policymakers, utilizing USCIB’s unique relationships with the International Chamber of Commerce, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD and the International Organization of Employers.”

Responsible for Citi’s relationships with governments and political figures in over 100 countries, Johnston is an internationally recognized expert in global trade and investment, and has advised both U.S. and foreign government leaders as well as major multinational corporations on a broad array of commercial and strategic transnational issues.  In addition to his service as international trade counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and adviser to the U.S. International Trade Commission, Johnston has been an adjunct professor on international trade at the George Washington University law school, and has written extensively on trade and investment.

“I look forward to continuing and expanding USCIB’s leadership on trade and investment issues,” Johnston stated.  “With the recent release of a new model U.S. bilateral investment treaty, we will work with the U.S. government to further engage China, India and others in meaningful discussions to expand market access and secure greater protections for American companies.  We will also press for efforts to move forward on trade liberalization through the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and through new approaches in the WTO.”

The Citi executive said he wants USCIB to address emerging trade and investment priorities for its membership, which includes top U.S. global firms, such as increased understanding of global value chains, creating a level playing field with state-owned enterprises and combating growing forced localization requirements.

Johnston will take over as committee chair from R. Scott Miller, director of national government affairs with The Procter & Gamble Company, who will be retiring at the end of June.  He will be supported by Rob Mulligan, senior vice president and head of USCIB’s Washington, D.C. office, among others.  “We have benefited tremendously from Scott Miller’s informed, intelligent and capable leadership over the past several years,” USCIB’s Robinson said.  “Backed by a number of key staff additions that have enhanced our capacity, Scott has done a lot to push our work on open markets to the next level.”

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, VP communications, USCIB
(212) 703-5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

ILO-World Bank Report Details Countries’ Response to Jobs Crisis

Published on April 23, 2012

On April 20 in Washington, USCIB Executive Vice President Ronnie Goldberg took part in the launch of a joint report from the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Bank detailing how countries reacted to the recent financial and economic crisis – and its dramatic effects on employment.  The two groups also unveiled a new online data tool with the first comprehensive stocktaking of countries’ jobs-related policy responses to the crisis.

Delivering on a request by the G20 leaders at their 2009 Pittsburgh summit, the report, “Inventory of Policy Responses to the Financial and Economic Crisis,” demonstrates how governments across the globe and of all income levels used labor market interventions to limit the economic and social impacts of the crisis and spur employment, household income, and economic growth, and reduce poverty. This new online data tool (available at www.ilo.org/crisis-inventory) provides a detailed track record of policies enacted during the height of the financial crisis, and implications for the design of policies to address future economic downturns.

The report reveals that in most of the 55 low-income and middle-income and 22 high-income countries surveyed, unlike previous crises, there was considerable government intervention to mitigate the impact of the downturn. Not only did a majority of affected countries use expansionary fiscal and monetary policies to stimulate the economy, they also directly intervened to protect or create employment, preserve skills and facilitate the matching between job-seekers and employers, and protect the incomes of the unemployed and vulnerable groups. In many cases, social dialogue helped guide the policy response. This was critical, for instance, when implementing work-sharing arrangements.

Staff contact: Ariel Meyerstein

More on USCIB’s Labor and Employment Policy Committee

New ICC Foreign Investment Guidelines Define Investor and Government Roles

Published on April 21, 2012

4308_image002

Doha, Qatar and New York, N.Y., April 21, 2012 – The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has issued updated Guidelines for International Investment to address new challenges of the international investment environment and to further promote investment as a driver of economic growth, according to ICC’s U.S. affiliate, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB).

These revised guidelines – addressed to members of the global business community, government officials and other stakeholders – were launched at the World Investment Forum, organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Doha, Qatar today.

While the value of cross-border direct investment has grown substantially in the past decade, international investors have reason to be concerned about the impact of recent developments and policies on the free flow of international investment.

“Investment underpins economic growth and has shared value for companies and governments alike,” said Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, chairman of Nestle. “It allows companies to establish themselves in global markets and creates ties between domestic and foreign companies, allowing them to expand their activities and create new jobs.”

The aim of the ICC guidelines is to facilitate cross-border investment for investors and governments, as well as to harness the vast potential of cross-border investment for stimulating balanced global growth. Trade and investment have the potential to reinvigorate the global economy during the present economic crisis, particularly by driving sustainable growth in developing countries.

“The nature of investment has evolved geographically, with developing economies accounting for more investment inflows and outflows,” said James Bacchus, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s global practice group, who chaired the drafting group for the revised ICC guidelines.

There has been a sharp increase, since the original guidelines were drafted in 1972, in international investment inflows to, and outflows from, developing and transition economies. In 2010, these accounted for 52 percent of the total investment inflows and 29 percent of total investment outflows.

Global inward investment flows now approach $1.2 trillion (U.S.), and sales of affiliates worldwide are just under $30 trillion, far in excess of world trade flows. There are also more than 2,800 bilateral investment treaties among the nations of the world.

The ICC guidelines revision took place under the aegis of ICC’s Commission on Trade and Investment, chaired by Geoff Gamble, director of international government affairs with DuPont and chair of USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee.  Stephen Canner, a senior advisor with USCIB, also played a leading role in the revision.

The revision comes on the heels of last week’s joint statement by the U.S. and the European Union on shared principles for international investment, which USCIB applauded as “a high-level, concise endorsement of the key role of international investment in the global economy.”

More information on the revision of the ICC Guidelines for International Investment is available on ICC’s website (www.iccwbo.org).  The full text of the guidelines is available on USCIB’s website at www.uscib.org/docs/2012_04_21_icc_investment_guidelines.pdf.

About the International Chamber of Commerce

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the world business organization, a representative body that speaks with authority on behalf of enterprises from all sectors in every part of the world.  A world network of national committees keeps the ICC International Secretariat in Paris informed about national and regional business priorities. More than 2,000 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.

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, VP Communications, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

Revised ICC Guidelines for International Investment

More on USCIB’s Banking and Trade and Investment Committee