Press Release Archives

USCIB Welcomes Rep. Camp’s Tax Proposal

Published on October 31, 2011

Washington, D.C., October 31, 2011– The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), a pro-trade group which represents America’s top global companies before the U.S. government and in major international forums, welcomed proposed tax reform measures put forward by Rep. David Camp (R – Mi.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

“We are pleased to see Chairman Camp’s proposal on tax reform,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “The high rates and worldwide system of taxation of the United States are out of step with the rest of the world.  U.S. business supports efforts to achieve reform of these rules.  Chairman Camp’s proposal represents an important first step.”

Mr. Robinson underscored the importance of maintaining a level playing field for all companies in the context of U.S. tax reform.  “We must ensure that legislative alternatives intended to protect the tax base do not disfavor U.S. companies versus their competitors,” he said.  “We look forward to working with Chairman Camp and other members of Congress and the administration to achieve bipartisan business tax reform.”

Through its affiliation with the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, USCIB works closely with the U.S. and other governments to provide business input and promote closer international cooperation on tax matters, including the OECD Model Tax Treaty and the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines.

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 BIAC, 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, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043, jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s Taxation Committee

USCIB’s Adam Greene Named to Labor Department Advisory Committee

Published on October 26, 2011
USCIB's Adam Greene
USCIB’s Adam Greene

New York, N.Y., October 26, 2011 – Adam Greene, USCIB’s vice president for labor affairs and corporate responsibility, has been named by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis to serve on the National Advisory Committee for Labor Provisions of U.S. Free Trade Agreements.  The recently reconstituted advisory committee provides advice to the Secretary of Labor on the implementation of labor rules in existing free trade agreements, and on the labor provisions of FTAs being negotiated.

The committee’s other newly named business representatives all come from USCIB’s membership.  They include Darryl Knudsen of Gap Inc., Ed Potter of The Coca-Cola Company (chair of USCIB’s Labor and Employment Committee) and Anna Walker of Levi Strauss & Co.

“I am delighted that Secretary Solis has selected such solid business representatives for this important advisory committee,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “Effectively navigating the intersection of trade and labor policies is critical if we are to move forward on trade, grow our economy and create quality American jobs.  I congratulate Adam Greene, Ed Potter, Darryl Knudsen and Anna Walker on their appointments and extend USCIB’s full support for their work.”

USCIB is the primary forum for American business in the area of international labor policy and the linkages between trade and labor.  As the American affiliate of the International Organization of Employers (IOE), USCIB plays a direct role in the tripartite International Labor Organization, working alongside government and trade union representatives to develop global labor and workplace standards and programs.  In addition, through its affiliation with the OECD’s Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC), USCIB is actively involved in OECD work in the areas of employment, labor and social affairs, interacting with labor via BIAC’s counterpart organization, the Trade Union Advisory Committee.

Mr. Greene manages U.S. business participation in the development of international labor standards, and advises companies on international and regional trends in labor and employment policy.  He coordinates USCIB involvement in the ILO’s governing and standard setting bodies, and promotes the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.  He is vice chair of the Business Technical Advisory Committee on Labor Affairs to the Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor.

Labor representatives on the National Advisory Committee for Labor Provisions of U.S. Free Trade Agreements were drawn from the United Steelworkers, the United Auto Workers and the AFL-CIO, among others, while “public” representatives come from a number of academic institutions and think tanks.

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 global business organizations, including the IOE and BIAC, 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, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043, jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s Labor and Employment Policy Committee
More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Business Urges Ambitious Approach in Pacific Trade Talks

Published on October 19, 2011

Washington, D.C., October 19, 2011 – Following Congressional approval last week of the three long-pending free trade agreements, the business community in a letter today to President Obama is urging the United States to take an ambitious approach to a possible multilateral trade agreement with several Asia-Pacific nations.

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s top global companies, has joined with a range of other leading industry associations in urging the U.S. to pursue “a comprehensive agreement that covers every sector and sub-sector of the U.S. economy” in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations currently underway with eight nations.

The business groups said such an approach would ensure that “the final TPP produces new economic opportunities and exports to sustain and increase American jobs [and] the maximum commercial benefits of the burgeoning Asia-Pacific market.”

Other parties to the TPP negotiations include Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.  Taken together, these countries represent the third-largest U.S. export market.

“The TPP must be a gold-standard agreement for the 21st century,” stated USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “It needs to be ambitious and comprehensive, with high standards and all industry sectors covered, as the United States has sought to do via its bilateral trade and investment agreements.  When countries seek to carve out certain sectors for special protection, this can cause a downward spiral where the end product is a far less effective agreement than it could be.”

The joint industry letter underscored that carve-outs and exemptions would tend to undermine U.S. competitiveness, and would reduce the TPP’s economic appeal for exporters and global firms.

Mr. Robinson said the TPP talks had made important progress in establishing rules for liberalization of foreign investment, and promised to bear fruit in three areas not previously addressed via a binding multilateral trade agreement: supply-chain integration, rules for state-owned enterprises and regulatory coherence.

“Global growth, U.S. competitiveness and good American jobs rest increasingly on tackling issues beyond the scope of earlier trade agreements,” stated Mr. Robinson.  “That’s why it’s crucial that we address these in an ambitious, comprehensive manner via the TPP.”

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 for which it serves as U.S. affiliate, 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.

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

Business Groups Appeal for Reversal of Foreign Trade Zone Changes

Published on October 17, 2011

New York, N.Y., October 17, 2011 – Looming changes to the way goods are treated in U.S. Foreign Trade Zones have drawn an appeal from a range of pro-trade business groups, which say the changes will undercut the Obama administration’s National Export Initiative and cost American jobs.

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents top U.S. multinational companies and exporters, and other industry groups have appealed to Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to halt a planned rule change by the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone Board (FTZB), an interagency body chaired by the Commerce Department, that would automatically apply U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports processed through foreign trade zones.

“Given the administration’s high priority for export growth, the FTZB rules should strongly promote, rather than inhibit, U.S. exports,” the business groups wrote in their letter.  “Unfortunately, the proposed FTZB regulations would harm President Obama’s National Export Initiative and result in a loss of manufacturing jobs in U.S. Foreign Trade Zones.”

For the past 20 years, such duties have been waived on imports provided the finished products were not ultimately imported into the customs territory of the United States.  The new rule would make such a waiver dependent on a finding that it was in the public interest, effectively nullifying the benefit to businesses of utilizing U.S. foreign trade zones.

“Foreign Trade Zones are one of the critical avenues for promoting exports and manufacturing jobs in the United States,” stated Jerry Cook, vice president, international with HanesBrands, Inc. and chair of USCIB’s Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee.  “We must do all that we can to foster these vital functions, rather than inhibit them.”

In their letter, USCIB and the other business groups noted that foreign trade zones accounted for $28 billion in exports in the most recent year available and employ 330,000 American workers.  They said the rule change would “drive U.S. manufacturing to other countries, where the same activity could take place without undue delay, risk or expense.”  U.S. manufacturers would suffer in competition with foreign factories, which will lead to the further loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs, they wrote.

Other signatories to the letter included American Apparel & Footwear Association, American Association of Exporters and Importers, American Institute for International Steel, Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition, Emergency Committee for American Trade, National Association of Foreign Trade Zones, TechAmerica, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

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, 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.

Business letter to Secretaries Blank and Geithner

More on USCIB’s Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

USCIB Applauds Approval of FTAs, Urges U.S. to Push Ahead on Trade

Published on October 12, 2011

Washington, D.C., October 12, 2011 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), a pro-trade group which represents America’s top global companies before the U.S. government and around the world, welcomed today’s approval by the House and Senate of U.S. free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama.

“The business community is pleased that Congress moved on all the agreements in one concerted effort, demonstrating bipartisan support for trade,” stated USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “These agreements will strengthen U.S. competitiveness by opening up three important trading partners for more U.S. exports, supporting new jobs at home.  We hope they signal the beginning of a more ambitious trade and investment agenda to grow our economy.”

Mr. Robinson said approval sent an important message to countries around the world that the U.S. would not shrink from its international commitments or global leadership.  “The United States must be in the vanguard of efforts to open up markets abroad – bilaterally, in regional forums, and at the multilateral level,” he said.

“Passage of these free trade agreements will also assure countries in Latin America and Asia that the United States continues to be engaged in those regions and to support its allies,” added Mr. Robinson.  “ U.S. economic and political support for Colombia, Korea and Panama will enhance our national security while bolstering our economy.”

In 2010, exports supported an estimated 9.2 million American jobs, according to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, and those are positions that pay well: Americans whose jobs are supported by goods exports earn between 13 and 18 percent more than the national average.

The Korea agreement alone is expected to generate significant opportunities for U.S. exports.  The International Trade Commission estimates that tariff cuts will increase exports of American goods by  more than $10 billion, supporting some 70,000 American jobs, to say nothing of additional opportunities brought about by the agreement’s elimination of non-tariff barriers, increased intellectual property protection and opening up of Korea’s market for American services.

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, 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.

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

USCIB Urges Swift Passage of Free Trade Agreements With Colombia, Korea and Panama

Published on October 3, 2011

New York, N.Y., October 3, 2011 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s leading global companies, applauded President Obama‘s submission of the U.S. free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Korea to Congress.

“The FTAs will provide a big boost to our economy as we seek to ensure sustained growth and a jobs-based recovery,” stated USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “These agreements have strong bipartisan support, and American business urges Congress to pass them without delay.”

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, 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.

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

USCIB Welcomes Senate Passage of GSPTAA/Bill

Published on September 23, 2011

New York, N.Y., September 23, 2011– Peter M. Robinson, president and CEO of the United States Council for International Business, issued the following statement regarding the Senate’s passage of the trade bill renewing the Generalized System of Preferences and Trade Adjustment Assistance:

“USCIB applauds the Senate’s passage of the GSP/TAA bill and is encouraged by bipartisan support for the measure.  We urge the House to act quickly on this legislation and the White House to move forward with submitting the Korea, Colombia and Panama Free Trade Agreements to Congress.  It is essential to the American business community that all necessary action on these trade bills is completed as soon as possible, to ensure that our companies can continue to compete and create jobs through expanded market access.”

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, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.  More at www.uscib.org.

Donnelly Joins USCIB as Vice President of Investment and Financial Services

Published on September 7, 2011
Shaun Donnelly
Shaun Donnelly

New York, N.Y., September 7, 2011 – Shaun Donnelly, a career diplomat who has held several senior executive branch posts, has joined the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), a pro-trade group representing America’s top global companies, as vice president for investment and financial services.

“Shaun Donnelly comes to USCIB at a critical time for investment policy around the world,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “America’s future prosperity depends on opening up new markets for investment, trade and technological know-how.  Shaun’s wealth of experience at the State Department, USTR and in the Washington business community, and his top-notch reputation in commercial diplomacy, will ensure that USCIB continues to play a leadership role in crafting sensible policies that ensure fair competition and a level playing field, both at home and around the world.”

Founded in 1945, USCIB works to advance U.S. industry positions globally through a unique network of overseas business groups and official standing in a number of intergovernmental bodies, including the OECD and the International Labor Organization.  It has been at the forefront of efforts to foster investment-friendly policies in the United States and other countries, and its policy advocacy activities touch on many aspects of multinational business practice and regulation.

Mr. Donnelly will work out of USCIB’s Washington, D.C. office, reporting to Senior Vice President Rob Mulligan.  He brings to USCIB over 30 years’ experience with the U.S. Department of State in a wide range of roles including: principal deputy assistant secretary for economic and business affairs; U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka; deputy assistant secretary for international trade; deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Tunisia; and a detail as assistant U.S. trade representative for Europe and the Middle East.  After retiring from the State Department in 2008, Mr. Donnelly held positions with the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  He holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a B.A. from Lawrence University.

Mr. Donnelly succeeds Stephen Canner, a former Treasury Department official who will remain affiliated with USCIB as a senior advisor.  “We are very grateful for Steve Canner’s energetic service with USCIB these past 16 years, and we are glad we will continue to benefit from his expertise,” said Mr. Robinson.

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 at www.uscib.org

Contact:

Jonathan Huneke, USCIB

(212) 703-5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

More on USCIB’s Financial Services Committee

Industry Wants Re-evaluation of Foreign Trade Zones Changes

Published on August 11, 2011
Foreign trade zones provide special customs procedures to U.S. plants engaged in international trade-related activities.
Foreign trade zones provide special customs procedures to U.S. plants engaged in international trade-related activities.

New York, N.Y., August 31, 2011 – American exporters, importers and multinational companies are urging a U.S. government panel to reconsider proposed rules changes they say would make it harder to do business through foreign trade zones in the United States, according to the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s top global companies and signed the appeal along with several other groups.

The business groups have asked the Foreign Trade Zones Board (FTZB), an interagency body led by the Department of Commerce, to re-open for comment a portion of proposed rules change, put forward in December 2010, that would impose more costly and burdensome treatment of goods subject to antidumping duties or countervailing duties that move through such zones.

“This policy change runs counter to the Obama administration’s National Export Policy, which aims to double U.S. exports within five years,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “Moreover, it would force many companies to shift production from U.S. foreign trade zones to manufacturing centers overseas in order to remain competitive, thus depriving our country of valuable export-oriented jobs.”

The existing policy allows foreign trade zone users to import goods that would normally be subject to such duties, then manufacture and re-export finished goods without paying duties, so long as the finished products are not sold in the United States.  The new proposal would make such duty-free importation significantly more difficult by requiring a de facto trade remedy proceeding to determine whether the duty-free admission of these goods is in the public interest.

Mr. Robinson said industry wants the FTZB to maintain its existing policy of allowing privileged foreign-status merchandise to be exported without the payment of taxes and duties.  “The existing policy aims to prevent foreign trade zones from being used to circumvent antidumping and countervailing duties orders,” he said.  “The proposed regulation disregards the fact that such orders only apply to goods that enter for consumption in the United States, not those to be exported.”

The other groups joining USCIB in the appeal were the American Association of Exporters and Importers, American Institute for International Steel, Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition, Emergency Committee for American Trade and National Association of Foreign Trade Zones.

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

Business letter to U.S. Foreign Trade Zone Board

More on USCIB’s Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

USCIB Welcomes Progress on Approval of Pending Trade Agreements

Published on June 28, 2011

New York, N.Y., June 28, 2011 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s leading global companies, welcomed progress toward Congressional approval of pending U.S. free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Korea, as the Senate Finance Committee announced it will hold a mock mark-up on Thursday, June 30.

“Approving these agreements as soon as possible will provide a big boost to our economy as we seek to ensure sustained growth and a jobs-based recovery,” stated USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “We need the tools to compete and win in the world economy.  What’s more, failure to move quickly on the three trade agreements will damage American leadership and credibility on the world stage.  American business will do its utmost to ensure Congressional passage.”

The draft implementing bill for the Korea FTA will include an extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance.  “We believe that Trade Adjustment Assistance plays an important role in advancing a bipartisan trade agenda,” Mr. Robinson stated.  Earlier this year, USCIB joined other leading industry associations in signing a joint letter on the importance of TAA.

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, 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, USCIB

+1 212.703.5043 (office), +1 917.420.0039 (mobile), jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee