Staworzynska Elected First Vice President of the Business Group at the Organization of American States (OAS)

Ewa Staworzynska

Ewa Staworzynska, USCIB Director for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs, has been elected as First Vice President of the Business Technical Advisory Committee on Labor Matters (CEATAL), the permanent consultative body of the Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML), thus representing business and employers at the Organization of American States (OAS).  

CEATAL advises inter-governmental policy discussions on labor matters, ensuring that the realities and perspectives of the business community are reflected.  

“Businesses across the Americas region are facing many challenges, ranging from new waves of regulations to lack of social dialogue,” warned Staworzynska. “It is therefore more important than ever that the business community has a strong voice at OAS, and that we help advise Ministries of Labor to advance policy solutions that allow businesses to thrive, grow and create work opportunities for people.” 

Staworzynska’s appointment took place during the XII Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML) in Bogota, Colombia. Ministries of Labor from the region gathered to discuss top labor policy priorities, under the theme of “The Future of Work in the Americas: Laying the Foundations for Peace, Social Justice and Climate Action”. The governments agreed on a political declaration and Staworzynska signed the joint union-business declaration, on behalf of the business community. 

USCIB Announces New and Reelected Officers for 2024-2026

New York, NY, October 7, 2024 — The US Council for International Business (USCIB) welcomes new and reelected Officers of its Board of Trustees and Board of Directors for the 2024-2026 term. USCIB is also pleased that Eric Loeb, Executive Vice President, Salesforce has been re-elected as Chair.  

Dan Konigsburg

New Vice Chairs include:  

  • Dan Konigsburg, Global Head, Public Affairs, KPMG  
  • Dorothy Attwood

    Dorothy Attwood, Executive Vice President, The Walt Disney Company 

Reelected Officers include:  

  • Eric Loeb, Executive Vice President, Salesforce has been re-elected as Chair 
  • Robert DeLaMater, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell re-elected as Secretary  
  • Donald Monks, former Vice Chairman, The Bank of New York Mellon re-elected as Treasurer 
  • Charles (Rick) Johnston, Managing Director, Global Government Affairs, Citi Bank as Vice Chair 

Additionally, Tom Niles and Peter Robinson, former USCIB Presidents and CEOs will be named Vice Chairman, Emeritus and President Emeritus, respectively in recognition of their long service to USCIB where Niles was CEO from 1999-2005 and Robinson was CEO from 2005-2023. 

“I’m delighted to welcome new and reelected officers to USCIB and I look forward to working together on critical issues affecting US businesses in the global marketplace,” said Whitney Baird, President and CEO of USCIB. “I would also like to thank two Vice Chairs that will be stepping down Michelle Parmelee of Deloitte (former IOE President) and Thomas M.T. Niles, former USCIB President for their support and leadership.”  

This USCIB board meeting in September coincided with the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), at which USCIB and its members played an active role through stakeholder engagements and private sector-led initiatives.   

 

About USCIB  

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) powers the success of US business across the globe. Our members include US-based companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, with operations in every region of the world. As the US affiliate of leading international business organizations including Business at OECD (BIAC), The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and The International Organization of Employers (IOE), USCIB advances the US business perspective to policymakers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate commerce, support sustainable development, and build trust in multilateral systems. USCIB is also the national guaranteeing and issuing association for ATA Carnets, a unified international customs document that allows for the temporary import and export of various types of goods into a foreign country without paying duties or taxes. Learn more at www.uscib.org.  

USCIB Welcomes New Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Committee Leadership

Left to right: new CRLA Co-Chair Ryan Larsen (Walmart), new CRLA Co-Chair Melissa J. Kopolow (Albright Stonebridge); Ewa Staworzynska (USCIB); and former Co-Chair David Barnes (IBM)

USCIB is pleased to announce new leadership of the Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs (CRLA) Committee.  

Current CRLA Committee Vice Chairs Ryan Larsen, Group Director for International Labor Relations at Walmart and Melissa J. Kopolow, Associate Partner, Sustainability Practice at Albright Stonebridge Group will move into new roles as Co-Chairs of the Committee. 

Kate Gilbert, Manager and Sr. Principal, Socioeconomic & Human Rights, Global Operations & Sustainability, at ExxonMobil; Paul Lalli, Global VP of Human Rights, Labor & Employee Relations at The Coca-Cola Company; and Stefan Marculewicz, Shareholder and Co-Chair, Business and Human Rights Practice Group, at Littler Mendelson will serve as Vice Chairs.  

The Committee’s goal is to ensure that global policies and legally binding instruments on labor, human rights, responsible business conduct and socio-economic sustainability are realistic and pragmatic, and that they allow businesses to thrive and grow globally. The Committee is a strong supporter of The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights—the global framework that clarifies the duty of governments under international law to protect the human rights of their citizens and the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights in their operations. 

“We thank David Barnes from IBM and Tam Nguyen from Bechtel for their excellent CRLA leadership over the years, and we are thrilled to welcome Ryan and Melissa as Co-Chairs, as well as Kate, Paul, and Stefan as new Vice Chairs of our CRLA Committee,” said USCIB’s Director, Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs, Ewa Staworzynska. “Their extensive expertise in human rights, responsible business conduct and labor relations will be invaluable as we continue to advance our global policy goals across the ILO, OECD, UN and ICC. Together, we look forward to driving a strong cross-sectoral voice of business in policy deliberations.” 

Ewa Staworzynska Appointed to the Federal RBC Advisory Committee

Ewa Staworzynska

USCIB’s Director of Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Ewa Staworzynska has been selected to be a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC). 

The US Department of State uses the Federal Advisory Committee on RBC to strengthen coordination with the private sector, affected communities, labor unions, civil society (including human rights defenders), academia, and other relevant stakeholders on RBC policies, programming, and initiatives. 

Staworzynska brings to the Committee her extensive policy experience from both public and private sectors; and her expertise on a wide range of issues, including human rights and industrial policy, responsible business conduct, and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

See the rest of the Committee here.  

USCIB Team Updates

USCIB is excited to share the following policy staffing updates.  

  • Madison Fallon will soon join USCIB’s Washington office as a Program and Policy Administrative Assistant for the Trade/Digital and Tax practices. 
  • Katherin Jose joined USCIB’s New York office as an Administrative Assistant supporting our Sustainability and Arbitration practices. 
  • Ashley Harrington has been promoted to Policy Manager, Health and Sustainability, and will deploy her educational background in environmental studies to work as part of the sustainability team to lead the USCIB Health Care Committee. 
  • Nan Schechter has been promoted to Policy Manager, Digital Issues, and will assume primary responsibility for issues relating to the UN Internet Governance Forum, and management of policy issues at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).  

Please join USCIB in extending our congratulations to Ashley and Nan, and a hearty welcome to Katherin and Maddie. 

The USCIB Foundation’s Business Partners to CONVINCE Launch COVID-19 Challenge

In a recent press release, The USCIB Foundation, the education and research arm of USCIB, announced that its Business Partners to CONVINCE (BP2C) initiative has launched a ‘Global COVID-19 Workplace Challenge,’ inviting companies and organizations around the world to listen to employees’ needs and concerns about the impact and prevention of COVID-19 and encourage vaccine confidence and uptake, among other things.

TheBP2C initiative is the private sector arm of the global, multi-sector CONVINCE (COVID-19 New Vaccine Information, Communication, and Engagement)initiative that advances vaccine literacy and promotes vaccine acceptance.

Members of the BP2C Steering Team, which includes global organizations such as Business Fights Poverty, Business at OECD, the International Chamber of Commerce, and the International Organization of Employers, jointly agreed to develop vaccine literacy strategies based on science, facts and emerging information to counter hesitation and vaccination opponents through communication and education initiatives at the global, national and local levels.

Companies joining the Global COVID-19 Workplace Challenge agree to do the following:

  • Listen to employees’ needs and concerns about the impact and prevention of COVID-19
  • Follow the latest public health guidance to protect myself, my employees, my workplace, my customers, and my community from COVID-19
  • Promote vaccine literacy based on the latest scientific evidence of vaccination benefits and risks
  • Encourage vaccine confidence and uptake
  • Advocate for accessible, equitable, and timely vaccination of employees
  • Engage with communities, schools, faith-based organizations and public health leaders to stop the spread of COVID-19

“BP2C is developing a ‘toolkit’ of activities to help businesses address the COVID-19 Challenge,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson. “Research has shown that businesses are a trusted source of information, and are well suited to engage, inform and educate workers, their families and communities with messages that inspire confidence in vaccination and encourage acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.”

Scott Ratzan MD, executive director of BP2C and co-founder of CONVINCE, stated: “The potential for business to engage meaningfully in the growing international movement to address COVID with evidence-based vaccine literacy strategies is massive. Employers have the trust, respect and reach to support vaccine confidence with communication and education initiatives at the global, national and local levels.”

BP2C Steering Committee member Professor Heidi Larson, director of the Vaccine Confidence Project and co-founder of CONVINCE added that: “The COVID-19 pandemic challenges all of us to engage in meaningful ways. We urge businesses of all sizes and in all industries – from multinational corporations to small- and medium-sized national and local enterprises to sign up to the COVID-19 Workplace Challenge and help expedite our return to a pandemic-free society.”

To read the full press release, click here.

February 3, 2021

USCIB Statement on USMCA Entry Into Force

Washington, D.C., July 1, 2020 – The U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents many of America’s leading global companies, welcomes today’s entry into force of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement, preserving and deepening the economic ties in North America and bolstering the global competitiveness of our companies and workers. The implementation of this agreement comes at a critical time of restoring certainty to U.S. industry in the North American market, as the global market is working toward recovery from the impacts of the current crisis.

The three partner countries must continue to work together to ensure effective implementation of this agreement, so that the benefits of the agreement in its updated and modernized provisions including on digital trade and customs can be realized. Over 12 million American jobs depend on trade with Canada and Mexico, and continuing to build on this economic relationship is important for U.S. industry for future economic growth. USCIB looks forward to a seamless transition to the new agreement.

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, generating $5 trillion in annual revenues and employing over 11 million people worldwide. As the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Organization of Employers, and Business at OECD (known as BIAC), USCIB helps to provide 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.

USCIB Congratulates Daren Tang on New Role as WIPO Director General

Daren Tang. Photo credit: OpenGov Asia

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) congratulates Daren Tang, Singapore’s chief executive of intellectual property, on his election to the post of director general for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson commended WIPO member states and the U.S. Administration for supporting Mr. Tang:

“The election of Daren Tang as Director General of the WIPO is good news for American business and entrepreneurs, as well as for the global economy and rule-of-law.  Mr. Tang understands the importance of intellectual property rights to all those whose livelihoods depend on the ingenuity and creative genius of inventors, artists and the companies who employ them. There is a clear correlation between economic growth and the development of new inventions, technologies and creative products that are protected by patents, trademarks and copyrights.  USCIB applauds USPTO Director Andrei Iancu, Ambassador Andrew Bremberg and his team in Geneva, and the State Department Bureau of International Organization Affairs for their hard work and support of Mr. Tang’s candidacy. We look forward to continuing our work with WIPO to protect intellectual property as a means of driving global innovation, investment, and economic opportunity.”

USCIB Supports US–Singapore Joint Statement on Financial Services Connectivity

Washington DC – February 6, 2020 – The U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB) today voiced its support for the recent U.S. – Singapore Joint Statement on Financial Services Data Connectivity. We applaud this holistic approach to cooperation on the critical issue of Data Policy.

USCIB further recognizes the importance of ensuring seamless transfer of data across borders in conjunction with the business of a financial service provider. We support fostering greater understanding of this important public policy issue and acknowledge the importance of unfettered data connectivity and its role in global trade, innovation and economic growth.

Link to the Joint Statement by U.S. – Singapore on Data Connectivity:

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm899

USCIB Statement on Signing of USMCA

Washington, D.C., January 29, 2020 – The U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents many of America’s leading global companies, welcomes today’s signing of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement, updating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Over 12 million American jobs depend on trade with Canada and Mexico, so USMCA is an important agreement for U.S. industry for future economic growth.

“The agreement contains several provisions modernizing the original NAFTA, creating new opportunities for American companies and consumers,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson. “However, USMCA also leaves room for improvement for future negotiations, so we look forward to continued dialogue with the Administration on ensuring critical protections will be upheld in future agreements.”

  • Digital Trade: USMCA contains a state of the art digital trade chapter, including prohibiting cross-border data flow restrictions and data localization requirements, prohibiting requirements for source code or algorithm disclosure or transfer as a condition for market access, prohibiting customs duties on electronic transmissions, provisions on consumer protection, privacy, cybersecurity and open government data. This new chapter allows companies to more effectively operate in the modern global economy.
  • Customs and Trade Facilitation: USMCA significantly updates the customs and trade facilitation provisions from the original NAFTA, ensuring that goods can efficiently flow in and out of the United States. The parties agreed on provisions related to trade facilitation, including the creation of a single-access window system and expedited customs procedures for express shipments. The agreement also includes commitments from Canada and Mexico to increase their de minimis levels, moving toward leveling the playing field for American companies.
  • Labor provisions: The original NAFTA was the first FTA to include labor provisions, though they were contained in side letters. USCMA brings the labor chapter into the agreement’s body, introduces strengthened labor provisions and makes them enforceable. The provisions require adherence to core labor standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and effective enforcement of national labor laws.
  • IP protections: USMCA contains important provisions protecting the intellectual property rights (IPR) of American companies, including protections on patents, copyright, trademarks and trade secrets, which are important for the ability of American companies to continue to innovate. One major omission, however, is the opportunity to fully protect biologics. The removal of increased market exclusivity of biologics in the final agreement is detrimental to American companies and consumers.
  • Investment: Protections for American companies when investing in Canada or Mexico are vital to ensure continued growth and development. USMCA contains such protections for many sectors, however does not fully protect all American companies across the board by significantly limiting access to the dispute settlement mechanism. In addition, even the limited dispute settlement mechanism is only available with Mexico, so for investment disputes with Canada, American investors have to rely on mechanisms outside of the newly negotiated agreement. Picking winners and losers for investment protection is not an appropriate precedent for U.S. FTAs going forward.

USCIB looks forward to entry into force and effective implementation of this important trade deal for U.S. business, and increased trade opportunities for our members.

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, generating $5 trillion in annual revenues and employing over 11 million people worldwide. As the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Organization of Employers, and Business at OECD (known as BIAC), USCIB helps to provide 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.

Contacts:

Kira Yevtukhova, USCIB
+1 202.617.3160,
kyevtukhova@uscib.org
Glen Brandow, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043,
gbrandow@uscib.org