Johnston and Baird Speak at Annual OECD and Business at OECD (BIAC) Meetings in Paris 

Published On: February 18, 2026

USCIB Vice Chair Rick Johnston (Managing Director for Global Government Affairs at Citi, Chair of BIAC, Chair of USCIB’s Trade & Investment Committee).

USCIB Vice Chair Rick Johnston (Managing Director for Global Government Affairs at Citi, Chair of BIAC, Chair of USCIB’s Trade & Investment Committee) and Whitney Baird, President and CEO at USCIB, were in Paris for the annual Consultation with OECD Ambassadors and Leadership, organized by Business at OECD on February 13. The Consultation is an opportunity for the heads of BIAC’s National Committees to outline their priorities for the year ahead and to discuss how the OECD can support growth and competitiveness. The OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann opened the session, which was attended by a large group of USCIB member companies, including USCIB board members Ravi Aurora (Mastercard) and Alejandra Castro (Bayer).

USCIB board members Ravi Aurora (Mastercard) and Alejandra Castro (Bayer) with Mathias Cormann (OECD Secretary General) and Hanni Rosenbaum (BIAC Executive Director).

As part of the opening plenary, Baird presented US business’ top priorities for the year—advancing regulatory simplification and trade resilience, championing digital innovation, promoting reliable sources of energy and securing access to critical minerals. The session also featured Steffen Kampeter (BDA, Germany’s leading industry group), Fernando Trevino (COPARMEX, Mexico’s leading industry group), and Kiyotaka Morita (Keidanren, Japan’s leading industry group).

Whitney Baird.

In addition, Baird spoke on the keynote panel during a special BIAC session on trade, Navigating Uncertainties Together, alongside Jonas Berggren (Swedish Foreign Trade Association) and Keidanren’s Morita. Baird highlighted supply chain stability and resilience, regulatory reform and coherence, preserving the global rules‑based trading system, WTO reform, protecting and facilitating innovation in the AI space, and safeguarding investments.

Prior to the Consultation, Johnston chaired the BIAC Executive Committee meeting and Baird attended BIAC’s annual General Assembly on February 12, where she briefed on the US B20 host year.

USCIB appreciates this regular opportunity that BIAC provides to connect with OECD ambassadors and leadership.

Categories: Accented Stories, BIAC, Business In Society, Communication Department, Competitiveness and Innovation, Featured Story Accented Stories, Growth, Jobs and Open Markets, Sub Featured Story, USCIB UpdatesPublished On: February 18, 2026

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