Policy Areas Archives

CEOs of USCIB and Novozymes Share Spotlight at COP26 Side-Event at US Center

Published on November 5, 2021

USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson joined Novozymes CEO Ester Baiget at a U.S. National Pavilion, known as the U.S. Center, at a side-event on “Tech for Net-Zero,” during the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP26) on November 2 in Glasgow, Scotland. Baiget serves as USCIB Trustee and USCIB Sustainability Champion.

The event was co-organized by USCIB and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE). U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment, and Science Monica Medina joined Robinson to open the event.  BCSE President Lisa Jacobson moderated a panel of private sector experts including Baiget, Patrick Flynn of Salesforce Amy Hadden of Schneider Electric, and Andrew Zoly of Planet Inc.

“We see COP26 as the opportunity to launch a new chapter in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, a transformative next step in the journey of international cooperation to global net zero,” said Robinson in his opening remarks. “American companies are committed to continuing to deploy innovation, investment and nature-based solutions towards a sustainable resilient recovery – and USCIB is leaning in on this, reflecting over twenty-five years of representing U.S. business in the UNFCCC.”

Medina opened her remarks with an emphasis on the role of the private sector. “Companies and investors and entrepreneurs around the world have a crucial role to play in bringing about the climate solutions that we need today and tomorrow,” said Medina. “It’s amazing that tech companies and the private sector are making such big commitments here in Glasgow. Technology and innovation are the way we elevate ambition, and that ambition is the thread that binds this conference together.

“Yes, we need solutions, and that’s where Novozymes comes in,” said Baiget. “At Novozymes, we use science to provide answers that respond to society’s most pressing needs. We bring, through nature and through a lot of science and technology, the alternatives and the solutions that lead to CO2 emissions reduction, lower waste, lower chemical use, lower energy intensity, and healthier products for our customers.”

The full video from the event is here: U.S. Center COP26 – Tech for Net-Zero – YouTube.

Wanner Receives ‘2021 Community Recognition’ for Leadership Role in ICANN

Published on November 3, 2021
Barbara Wanner at an ICANN meeting in 2017

USCIB Vice President for ICT Policy Barbara Wanner, who has served as a Business Constituency on ICANN since 2013, has received a 2021 Community Recognition for her dedication to ICANN’s mission and for their invaluable contributions. Wanner is among forty-nine other community leaders to have received a Community Recognition this year.

“The ICANN Board, community, and organization are grateful for the community’s tireless efforts and cooperative spirit shown over the last year,” said David Olive, ICANN Senior Vice President for Policy Development Support and Managing Director for Washington DC. “The collaborative contributions that community members have made through our Supporting Organizations, Advisory Committees, and other groups are central to supporting ICANN’s mission. ICANN org is proud to help facilitate this work toward ensuring the security, stability, and resilience of the Internet.”

“I am honored to have received this recognition from ICANN,” said Wanner. “USCIB’s role in ICANN ensures that policies governing management of the domain name system (DNS) continue to uphold safe, secure, sustainable and resilient operation of the DNS system and the functionality of the Internet. I look forward to continuing to work with my peers and colleagues at ICANN, along with USCIB members to furthering this crucial goal.”

The ICANN Board passed a formal resolution to recognize community leaders.

USCIB Delegation Arrives at Annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26)

Published on November 2, 2021

USCIB member companies and business groups are in Glasgow, Scotland for the next two weeks (October 31- November 12), bringing their commitment, solutions and advice for a successful United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP26).

In its statement to COP26, USCIB called for a transformative next step in the journey of international cooperation to global net zero and shared prosperity in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ester Baiget
Novozymes President & CEO Ester Baiget

USCIB Trustee and Sustainability Champion Ester Baiget, President and CEO of Novozymes, will join USCIB Senior Vice President Norine Kennedy and other USCIB members at this pivotal international meeting to define coherent and effective policy and market frameworks for an inclusive and sustainable recovery in line with the Paris Agreement.

According to Kennedy, only by working closely with all business sectors on innovation, investment and implementation can the international community deliver the imperatives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Justin Perrettson

Justin Perrettson, Novozymes, co-chair of the USCIB Environment Committee as well as chair of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Environment and Energy Commission delivered a statement at the COP26 Opening session on behalf of Business and Industry groups attending COP26.

 

 

 

 

USCIB Leads Business Voices at UNCTAD’s World Investment Forum

Published on October 20, 2021

USCIB again provided international business community leadership at the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s World Investment Forum (WIF), a summit level meeting held virtually this year from UNCTAD’s Geneva headquarters. USCIB President/CEO Peter Robinson was a private sector speaker at one of the Summit leaders’ plenary panels, reprising a lead role he had taken at two earlier UNCTAD WIF sessions. Shaun Donnelly, a USCIB Senior Advisor, led the business panelists at the annual UNCTAD high-level Conference on International Investment Agreements (IIAs). Donnelly has participated, in person or virtually in Geneva in the last six UNCTAD IIA sessions. Business is often underrepresented at UNCTAD meetings, which tend to attract more participation from government officials, NGOs and academic representatives. USCIB consistently steps forward to ensure that business concerns and priorities are on the table.

In their interventions, both Robinson and Donnelly emphasized the importance of international private investment in driving global economic recovery, growth, and job creation and in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is imperative to business that investment decisions are backed by strong and enforceable international investment agreements (IIAs). Some foreign government representatives seem intent on weakening, even eliminating important “Investor-State Dispute Settlement” arbitration procedures, which can protect foreign investors from arbitrary and discriminatory treatment by host governments.

“We thought it was important to step forward again at this year’s World Investment Forum to ensure business perspectives were represented,” said Robinson. “I think we at USCIB have developed a good relationship with the leadership at UNCTAD and have helped to emphasize the importance of including business voices in their meetings. Investment is such an important issue as the world struggles for economic recovery, growth, good jobs and progress toward the UN SDGs. And forward progress will depend on strong multi-stakeholder collaboration, with UNCTAD being a key organization in bringing all relevant parties together. I also appreciated the opportunity to connect with UNCTAD’s new Secretary General Rebeca Grynspan, former Vice-President of Costa Rica.”

USCIB international partners served as panelists at the WIF, delivering similar messages. International Chamber of Commerce Secretary General John Denton spoke at the opening Summit session and Winand Quaedvlieg, a senior official from our Dutch counterpart national committee, VNO, and Chair of the Business at OECD (BIAC) Investment Committee, joined Donnelly on the important IIA panel session.

UNCTAD’s World Investment Forum continues on line virtually for the rest of the week. We will monitor sessions for important developments.

USCIB Acknowledges the G20 Finance Ministers Endorsement of the October Two-Pillar Global Tax Proposals

Published on October 14, 2021

Washington D.C., October 13, 2021—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) notes the endorsement by the G-20 Finance Ministers today of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework landmark deal announced on October 8. The deal, agreed by 136 countries, including the US, establishes a new framework for international tax reform represented by two distinct proposals or pillars. The two-pillar solution will be delivered to the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rome at the end of the month while the intensive work on the design and drafting of the numerous parts of the deal continues into 2022.

“The OECD has once again reached a significant milestone on schedule and was able to add a handful of key countries into the fold of the deal agreement since July,” said USCIB Vice President and International Tax Counsel Rick Minor.

The October deal terms include a long list of technical work that must still be completed in relatively short order according to the OECD timeline. USCIB Tax Committee company members are positioned to directly advise the OECD drafting teams through its membership in the Business at OECD Taxation Committee. According to Minor, “putting aside the ambitious timelines through 2022, our members will be focused on the development of the design and details for key aspects of each of the pillars. With respect to Pillar One, this includes, but is not limited to, dispute prevention and resolution mechanisms, the tax liability rules, revenue sourcing, the marketing and distribution safe harbor and so-called Amount B. We are also mindful of the fact that the drafting of the Pillar Two rules is on a parallel path with the numerous GILTI deliberations in Congress this fall which arguably puts pressure on that process if there is no coordination in review.” USCIB will remain engaged in the OECD rule design process through Business at OECD and directly, through the appropriate engagement.

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. As the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and Business at OECD (BIAC), 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:

Rick Minor

VP and International Tax Counsel

rminor@uscib.org

Robinson Joins Business, Health and Employer Experts at IOE Event on COVID-19: What Employers Need to Know on Vaccinations and Prevention

Published on October 11, 2021
Left to right: Roberto Suarez Santos, Guy Ryder, Susan Hopgood, Peter Robinson

As employers remain on the frontline of the pandemic response, caught between calls to mandate vaccination in the workplace and demands to respect the decisions on vaccination of the individual, the International Organization of Employers (IOE) hosted a timely dialogue, “COVID-19: What Employers Need to Know on Vaccinations and Prevention.”

The October 5 event brought together foremost experts from the health, employer and business fields, including World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, ILO Director General Guy Ryder, IOE President Roberto Suarez Santos and USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson, among others, to discuss this delicate balance, as well as the increasingly complicated situation in developing countries around access to vaccines, in addition to vaccine hesitancy. Panelists focused on a central question: how can employer organizations help companies navigate all these complex and politically charged issues?

Swaminathan outlined the stark realities of COVID-19 and the continued challenges of distribution and access to vaccines worldwide, while DG Ryder acknowledged some of the key dilemmas facing society and employers: in addition to the inequality in distribution and access, the question of mandates and of privacy, for example, is an employer empowered to know the vaccine status of employees? As an employer representative, Robinson discussed the responsibility employers have in vaccine literacy and COVID response and recovery, particularly following the results of the Edelman Trust Barometer, which revealed that employers—not “Big Business” but employers in general—were felt by employees to be one of the most trusted messengers of information on Covid response.

“While there have been fears of a mass exodus of people quitting and not returning to work, preliminary results show that people are following suit—trusting their employer and government—and getting vaccinated and returning to work to protect health and liberty,” said Robinson. “Recent surveys show that the public supports employers who work to protect society by requiring vaccination as a condition of entry to work. This is in sync with global efforts supporting governments to provide equitable vaccination access so that no one gets left behind.”

Robinson also referenced The USCIB Foundation’s initiative “Business Partners to CONVINCE”, or “BP2C”, designed to encourage and support employers worldwide in making the case for vaccination.

“I would like to take the opportunity to express special thanks for the support of IOE, whose role is and will be especially critical given its extensive range of employer organization members particularly as vaccines become more available in developing countries,” added Robinson. “Looking ahead, as the debate on credentials, passports, verification schemes and other ideas advance, we continue to support efforts to strategically engage business and government bodies to effectively communicate to build vaccine confidence and help galvanize support for re-normalizing a COVID-protected world. We are hopeful for a robust recovery in 2022.  Yet, if we do not work together to advance vaccine access, literacy, and uptake globally, we could face barriers for building back better. We could hit the wall and fall short of vaccination goals. Yet, I remain convinced we can find a way with business, employers and the private sector helping to forge the way forward with our efforts such as this event and in collaboration with our social partners.”

Lowry Discusses Role of WTO in Digital Revolution of Agriculture at WTO Public Forum Event

Published on October 6, 2021

USCIB Senior Vice President for Innovation, Regulation and Trade Brian Lowry gave remarks at a World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum side-event on “Digital Services and Green Transition: A Promising Alliance that Needs an Incentive Multilateral Regulatory Framework.” The September 29th event, held in Geneva, was organized in partnership by USCIB, ICC France and Afed (the Association of French Large companies).

Lowry was joined by other prestigious speakers including the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the WTO and Chairperson for the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment Ambassador Manuel Teehankee, Permanent Representative of Singapore to the WTO and Co-Chair of the Joint Initiative Statement (JIS) on e-commerce negotiating committee Ambassador Tan Hung Seng, the Deputy Director General of the WTO Jean-Marie Paugam and ICC’s Representative Director in Geneva Crispin Conroy.

Lowry discussed how digital tools can help mitigate risk and make farming more rewarding for all farmers—whether smallholders in developing countries or large-scale farms in the United States or Brazil.

“Digital farming can turn field, weather and agronomic data into insights that help address climate change and sustainable productivity,” said Lowry.

“However, this digital revolution does nothing if farmers do not have access to it. Whether it is the smallholder farmer in Africa or a large landowner in Argentina, the WTO can help by supporting market access for the technology and addressing data protection, the cross-boundary data interchange for both access and analysis, and the need for standards and disciplines for a carbon mechanism that promotes consistency and integrity,” added Lowry.

ICC Offers New Tool for SME’s to Measure Impacts of Business Operations on the Environment

Published on October 6, 2021

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has done a soft launch of a new business tool on September 22, specifically tailored to Small-and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) called SME360X.

SME360X is a SaaS (Software as a Service) platform co-created by ICC and GIST that measures the impacts of business operations on the environment. There are many external risks that threaten the survival of businesses everywhere. A company’s factory location that was relatively risk-free when it was set up decades ago could now be facing extreme risks from stressed water resources and severe shifts in weather patterns. A ban on single use plastics could threaten the survival of a company. Community protests could lead to the shutdown of an industrial operation. SME360X will help its users identify the environmental risks that are most material to their business.

SME360X enables users to:

  • Measure, economically value and manage business impacts on nature and the environment.
  • Compare environmental performance with regional and sectoral peers and competitors.
  • Receive a single, understandable environmental impact score (PIE Score).
  • Decide which improvement and abatement initiatives are most impactful.
  • Easily and affordably report on sustainability performance.
  • Obtain a Global Sustainability Certification from ICC.
  • Data belongs to you: highest level of security ensured using blockchain storage.

For more information on the tool and to obtain the tool, visit the ICC’s website.

USCIB at the UN General Assembly (UNGA76)

Published on October 5, 2021

As another challenging United Nations General Assembly (UNGA76) got underway with a “hybrid” High-Level opening week, COVID-19 and challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, energy access, food security and lack of adequate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) loomed large. USCIB convened several events to highlight the essential role of business in inclusive multilateralism and, for the first time, USCIB Board Members and Trustees stepped into the spotlight and clearly state USCIB commitment from the top to deliver private sector expertise and innovation to international challenges.

UNGA76 set the stage for critical decision-point policy meetings in the next six-months: the OECD Council of Ministers, the Glasgow Climate Summit and the WTO Ministerial to name a few. These events brought together members, representatives of the UN system, governments and civil society to share ideas for productive ways to advance a sustainable and resilient recovery through collaborative public-private partnerships and strengthened enabling frameworks.

Below are events USCIB hosted with its global partners and members, indicative of continuous involvement of USCIB policy managers, senior leaders, and members at the UN in New York and in other important events on the margins of the GA, including the ICC SDG Business Forum, the Business Fights Poverty Global Goals Summit and several webinars organized by the International Organization of Employers (IOE).

USCIB Business Townhall at UN General Assembly Reaffirms Business’ Commitment to Tackling and Solving Global Challenges

September 20: On the margins of this week’s 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), USCIB partnered with the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and Business at OECD (BIAC) to organize a virtual discussion titled “Reinvigorating Inclusive Multilateralism: A Business Townhall at UNGA76.”  This meeting was among the first organized by business to comment on the just issued UN Secretary General’s Report and vision for international cooperation, “Our Common Agenda.”

The meeting was dedicated to the memory of John Ruggie, former UN Special Envoy for Business and Human Rights, who recently passed away.

Participants from business and industry, the UN, governments, and civil society tuned into the session, which highlighted the critical role of the private sector in being able to achieve ‘Our Common Agenda,’ and particularly of the U.S. private sector in aligning with global business to respond to global challenges, and provide solutions working through inclusive multilateralism.

Read Full story here.

 

USCIB Hosts A Conversation About the Future of Food

September 21: On the eve of the UN Food Systems and Nutrition Summit, USCIB convened a virtual event—The Future of Food: A Conversation— with experts and practitioners from across societal, scientific, value chain and innovation perspectives. The event highlighted the need for and successful examples of innovation across the food and agriculture industry, the roles and relevance of collaborative approaches to innovation, and how shared value and understanding can hold the key to future opportunities. Facilitated by USCIB SVP for Innovation, Regulation, and Trade Brian Lowry, the event was convened around the premise that in order to feed a growing population within planetary boundaries—considering amount of global climate emissions linked to agriculture and food—leaders must rethink how food, and especially protein, is made and sourced. Transforming the food system is not a solitary task; industry must come together and find new ways to collaborate and partner, and new alternatives must be created in a complementary manner.

Expert speakers included USCIB member Dr. Randal Giroux of Cargill, Chair of  USCIB’s Food and Agriculture Committee, as well as Valerio Nannini, Novozymes general manager for Novozymes Advanced Proteins Solutions. Other experts included Christine Gould, founder and president of Food for Thought, and The Good Food Institute Vice President, Corporate Engagement Caroline Bushnell.

Read full story here.

USCIB Joins Global Coalition on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation

September 23: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened a Food Systems Summit during the UN General Assembly (UNGA76). The Summit launched bold new actions as part of the UN’s Decade of Action to achieve the SDGs. The goal of the Summit was to transform the way the world produces, consumes and thinks about food within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in order to meet the challenges of poverty, food security, malnutrition, population growth, climate change and natural resource degradation. During the Summit, the U.S. announced the formation of a global Coalition of Action on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation (the SPG Coalition). The coalition will accelerate the transition to more sustainable food systems through agricultural productivity growth that optimizes sustainability across social, economic and environmental dimensions. The coalition will advance a holistic approach to productivity growth that considers impacts and tradeoffs among multiple objectives. USCIB has joined the SPG Coalition.

USCIB Meets With Ngozi to Enhance Synergies Between WTO and US Industry

Published on September 29, 2021

U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO and USCIB Trustee Suzanne Clark hosted a meeting of top U.S. trade association leaders on September 22 with World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in advance of the WTO ministerial meeting (MC12) in December. USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson attended for USCIB, accompanied by Alice Slayton Clark, director of Investment, Trade and China. The intimate gathering provided an opportunity to enhance synergies and understanding between the WTO and U.S. industry, a goal for the new director general.

Dr. Ngozi repeated her continued concerns about the viability of the WTO, and the need to produce concrete results at the MC12 on fishery subsidies, food security, trade and health/access to vaccines, as well as the joint statement initiatives on e-commerce and services domestic regulations. Robinson noted the multifaceted challenges facing vaccine access, and urged reduction of trade and regulatory barriers to distribution and administration as the most important approach. He emphasized a letter USCIB sent to Dr. Ngozi this summer on this issue, co-signed by the Chamber and BusinessEurope, among others.

In addition, Robinson stressed USCIB interest in revitalizing and expanding negotiations on an environmental goods agreement that were sidelined in 2016 largely over concerns about the definition of products to be included. Other USCIB priorities were also raised during the meeting, including: concerns about industrial subsidies, dispute settlement procedures, and special and differential treatment; and support for the science of agricultural biotechnology and extension of the e-commerce moratorium. There was a good deal of consensus on many of these key issues among the participants.

Robinson also expressed support for the initiatives to work with the WTO in improving the global trading system that are underway in the three global business organizations with which USCIB is affiliated, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Organization of Employers (IOE) and Business at OECD (BIAC).

USCIB’s member companies rely on the WTO as the multilateral forum for resolving trade disputes and expanding market access for selling goods and services overseas. It urges the Biden Administration to take a leadership role at the MC12 in reforming and updating the WTO so it can remain a viable source for trade adjudication and liberalization in the decades to come.