BIAC Archives

USCIB Co-Hosts Italy’s Main Business Association Delegation to Washington

Published on April 17, 2024

USCIB Senior Director for Customs and Trade Facilitation Megan Giblin co-hosted the largest Italian business group, known as Confindustria, delegation. USCIB hosted the meeting in collaboration with the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) Executive Director Megan Montgomery.

“This was the first such delegation to Washington for Confindustria. We hope is it is the first of many,” said Giblin. “It was a great opportunity for informal dialogue on topics related to customs operations, compliance and policy, as well as trade facilitation, among the participants. We look forward to future delegations, dialogues, and collaboration.”

Confindustria is an association of associations, headquartered in Rome, Italy, that serves as the main association representing manufacturing and service companies in Italy, with a voluntary membership of more than 150,000 companies of all sizes, employing over 5 million people. In addition, Confindustria serves the ICC National Committee as well as the Business at OECD (BIAC) National Federation in Italy.

The USCIB Foundation and Business at OECD Hold Preview Event in Paris on Metaverse Project

Published on April 17, 2024

On the sidelines of the biannual OECD Digital Policy Committee Meeting in Paris, Business at OECD (BIAC) and The USCIB Foundation’s metaverse project team hosted a successful report preview event on April 5. OECD delegates and secretariat, as well as various companies, including USCIB members, attended the preview event. Following the event, BIAC and The USCIB Foundation will launch the report in Washington, DC and organize a webinar with relevant experts to present findings in the report.

The roundtable featured remarks from Business at OECD Deputy Executive Director Nicole Primmer, a presentation of the project and preview of the project report findings from Paula Bruening (Casentino Strategies), and comments from the OECD Secretariat, including OECD Global Forum on Technology Lead Elizabeth Thomas Raynaud and OECD Economist/Policy Analyst on Privacy and Data Governance Christian Reimsbach- Kounatze.

According to USCIB Program and Policy Associate on Digital Issues, Nan Schechter, who attended the event, companies are actively exploring the possibilities of the metaverse, as well as trying to understand the novel privacy risks it may raise and how those risks might be addressed.

“BIAC and The USCIB Foundation undertook this project to explore the privacy issues raised by the metaverse and to develop business-oriented evidence regarding the of the OECD Privacy Guidelines’ applicability in this emerging environment, keeping in mind their two-part objective of protecting privacy and fostering cross border data flows,” said Schechter.  “USCIB is thrilled at the exciting potential and relevance of the report as it emphasizes multistakeholder privacy solutions and the increasing importance to data governance in the metaverse.”

 

USCIB Participates in the First Meeting of the OECD Working Party on Countering Illicit Trade

Published on April 17, 2024
Business at OECD (BIAC) delegation to the OECD

The first Meeting of the Working Party on Countering Illicit (WP-CIT) Trade took place April 4-5 at OECD headquarters in Paris.

USCIB Anti-Illicit Trade Committee (AITC) Chair David Luna (Luna Global Networks), USCIB Senior Director of Customs and Trade Facilitation Megan Giblin, and several USCIB members participated as part of the Business at OECD (BIAC) Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group delegation to WP-CIT. This inaugural meeting was a milestone of the OECD work on countering illicit trade since the WP-CIT was elevated within the organization due to its move from the Governance Directorate (GOV) to the Trade and Agriculture Directorate (TAD) at the OECD.

During the meetings, Luna delivered remarks as Chair of BIAC Anti-Illicit Trade Expert Group (AITEG). USCIB member representatives Susan Wilson (Intel), Monica Ramirez (ABinBEV), and Jennifer Lane (Amazon) also provided topic specific remarks on Third Party Litigation Funding (TPLF), trade in illicit alcohol, and existing best practices in the e-commerce space to fight counterfeits and illicit goods, respectively. The USCIB delegation participated actively and joined broader panels on these and other topics.

USCIB’s AITC was established in 2018 to support the work of BIAC and the OECD WP-CIT in this space.

“It was an honor and a privilege to participate in this milestone event of the WP-CIT,” said Giblin.  “The BIAC–OECD public private partnership is an issue of critical interest to BIAC, USCIB, and other BIAC national federations. We look forward to continuing our engagement and collaboration coming out of these recent WP meetings and discussions as we move into 2025, as well as supporting the newly established WP-CIT forum and related work program.”

Giblin also noted there was robust dialogue on TPLF and countering illicit trade across online marketplaces, building on the earlier good work of the informal expert group supported strongly by both BIAC and USCIB. For Giblin, it was a very positive development to learn about the progress related to the OECD Recommendations on enhancing Transparency in Free Trade Zones (FTZ), specifically the commencement of the related FTZ Certification Scheme. This is an important topic for BIAC and USCIB, but also the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which works in collaboration with BIAC on this workstream at the OECD.

As stated by Piotr Stryszowski, senior economist at the OECD, there was a great collaborative spirit in the debate with the business community showing their strong endorsement in the work of the WP-CIT (along with an intervention by John W.H. Denton, ICC Secretary General, supporting the OECD’s Free Trade Zones Recommendation).

USCIB is both the US National Committee of ICC and the US National Federation of BIAC.

USCIB Supports Launch of Blue Dot Network to Strengthen Quality Infrastructure Investment 

Published on April 16, 2024
Whitney Baird at the OECD

USCIB President and CEO Whitney Baird spoke during the April 8-9 launch activities for the Blue Dot Network (BDN), a project certification framework that aims to strengthen quality infrastructure investment. The launch activities included a meeting of the Executive Consultation Group, a Leaders’ Dialogue, and the official launch ceremony.  

BDN will certify projects based on robust standards and criteria in economic, environmental, social, and other areas.  The certification applies to infrastructure projects across all major infrastructure sectors including energy, water and sanitation, transport and ICT. It can accommodate projects at different stages of the life cycle, from planning and preparation to construction and operations. Projects developed under a variety of ownership and delivery models (e.g. traditional procurement, public-private partnerships, privatized) can be certified. 

The Blue Dot Network will be hosted at the OECD, but remain an independent entity overseen by the initiative’s Steering Committee governments, currently Australia, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  

“There is the potential to make BDN a serious game changer in the infrastructure world. But private sector engagement and creativity is absolutely crucial to any success,” said Baird. “It will take all of us – developers, investors, governments, and communities – to make BDN a success, and we are counting on your support. USCIB is happy to be a part of this process.” 

Baird has been a long-time supporter of the BDN, even prior to her current role leading USCIB.  

“As Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Economic Bureau at the US Department of State, I led our BDN team in its work to develop this initiative,” added Baird. “I traveled, literally, all over the world because the US government believed, and I believed personally, that BDN, if done correctly, could answer a real need for a framework to allow project sponsors and public and private financial institutions to identify good infrastructure projects.” 

USCIB was also on hand for the OECD Infrastructure Forum, immediately following the launch. 

USCIB Submits Comments to UN Advisory Body on AI 

Published on April 2, 2024

USCIB has submitted a response to the United Nations Secretary General’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisory Board and its Interim Report: Governing AI for Humanity. This UN report calls for a closer alignment between international norms and how AI is developed and rolled out. The report also proposes to strengthen international governance of AI to reach the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals SDGs.  

USCIB’s response to the report emphasizes the need for a risk-based approach to address any potential negative impacts of AI. USCIB also highlights the potential of AI to address economic and societal inequalities that help realize the SDGs.  

“Many AI innovations have demonstrated great promise to enable economic development,” said USCIB Digital Policy Committee Chair JoAnn Stonier (Mastercard), “We appreciate that the report describes the essential opportunities that may be seized to achieve the SDGs, as well as some of the potential risks that must be addressed to realize these goals.  To ensure this developing science achieves maximum societal benefit, we will continue to look forward to providing commentary and input as the process evolves.”  

According to USCIB, a risk-based approach involves impact assessments of AI technology in the context of specific uses, applications, and scaled deployments, rather than the risk of the technology in the abstract. 

USCIB also cited the EU AI Act, the OECD’s AI Principles, and the US NIST AI Risk Management Framework (RMF) as having risk-based approaches. Importantly, this approach should be applied to both developers and deployers of AI systems while acknowledging that each group has different and distinct roles and responsibilities in AI governance. 

To view USCIB’s response to the UN Advisory Body on AI, please click here. 

USCIB in the Press: USCIB Webcast With KPMG Highlighted in Bloomberg Tax 

Published on April 1, 2024

USCIB was highlighted in a Bloomberg Tax article on March 28 titled “OECD Mulls Using Risk assessment Tool for Global Tax Deal.” USCIB was mentioned in the context of a webinar that USCIB co-hosted with member KPMG.  

The webinar featured Nicole Casey from the OECD’s Center for Tax Policy and Administration. Casey provided comments to USCIB members on the OECD potentially using one of its existing tools to give taxpayers the ability to gain more certainty under the global tax deal.  

The article, written by Lauren Vella, is accessible via subscription to Bloomberg Tax. 

For more information on this webinar, please click here. 

Tax Committee Hosts Webinar on OECD Tax Certainty Program With Member KPMG  

Published on April 1, 2024

Over 500 interested tax experts and the tax press tuned in for a high-level webinar on the practical aspects of the OECD’s International Compliance Assurance Program (ICAP), which is in its sixth year. The discussion was co-sponsored by USCIB and member KPMG co-sponsored this discussion on March 27.  

The webinar, titled Tax Certainty, Shining the Light on ICAP  featured a panel of experts, including the OECD’s ICAP Program Lead Nicole Casey, IRS Senior Advisor, Treaty and Transfer Pricing Operations, Karen Kirwan, Procter & Gamble Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Global Tax Operations Tadd Fowler, KPMG’s National Tax Office Principal Mark Martin and Senior Manager Thomas Bettge, and USCIB Senior Vice President and International Tax Counsel Rick Minor. 

“Martin and Bettge reminded us in one of their articles that ICAP does not provide absolute tax certainty for those taxpayers who volunteer for the program,” said Minor. “They noted that a taxpayer’s reward for participating in ICAP is the chance to present its transfer pricing and international tax positions in a non-confrontational environment and to present them simultaneously to multiple tax authorities that will work through them collaboratively.” 

The webinar can be watched on demand here.

USCIB Congratulates Sean Patrick Maloney on His Confirmation as Next US Ambassador to OECD 

Published on March 20, 2024
Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc

Washington DC, March 20, 2024—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) congratulates Former Representative of New York Sean Patrick Maloney on his confirmation as the next U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Maloney was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 12. 

As the U.S. representative to Business at OECD, the private sector voice in OECD policymaking, USCIB attests to the positive impact of the OECD across a range of issues that affect the competitiveness of the U.S. economy. These issues include investment, taxation, trade, energy and environment, health, competition, consumer policy, bribery and corporate governance. 

“USCIB is delighted to welcome Representative Maloney as the next OECD Ambassador,” said USCIB President and CEO Whitney Baird, who is a former Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the OECD. “The OECD is a critical forum for our members—it is uniquely open and receptive to the views and real-world experiences of the private sector. We look forward to working with Representative Maloney to support the OECD’s mission to promote global economic growth, which benefits American businesses, consumers, workers and taxpayers.”   

For decades, USCIB members have relied on the OECD as an institutional voice of evidence- and data-based policy guidance and assessment, influencing policies and practices in markets important to U.S. business competitiveness and to jobs generated for U.S. taxpayers. 

USCIB Members Elected to Leadership Roles at BIAC

Published on March 20, 2024

USCIB is pleased to announce that several members have been accepted to leadership positions across Business at OECD’s (BIAC) Committees. The BIAC Executive Board officially voted on nominations on February 19 to accept the following USCIB members:

  • Mark Prince (Amazon) will be Vice Chair of the BIAC Consumer Policy Committee
  • Jesus Alvarado Rivera (AB-InBev) will be Vice Chair of the BIAC Competition Committee
  • Rick Ziegler (UL Solutions) will serve as Vice Chair of the BIAC Consumer Policy Committee

Additionally, BIAC also appointed Kate O’Sullivan, (Microsoft) and Krisztian Katona (Computer & Communications Industry Association) as special advisors to the BIAC Competition Committee.

“We’re thrilled that so many USCIB members have this opportunity to share their experience and expertise to help lead these important BIAC Committees,” said Norine Kennedy, USCIB senior vice president for policy and global strategy. “We have no doubt that they will provide great value in conveying business priorities to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).”

USCIB Advocates for US Business Interests at OECD Responsible Business Conduct Events in Paris

Published on March 6, 2024
Jose Arroyo

The OECD hosted its annual Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector late last month, along with a series of side events on responsible business conduct (RBC) workstreams. This year’s OECD Forum addressed various issues, with a particular focus on living wages and binding company-union agreements in due diligence processes.

In recent years, the OECD has intensified its work in RBC standards and guidance for companies. USCIB, with its in-person engagements and partnership with Business at OECD (BIAC), advocates to ensure that those workstreams, especially those closely related to labor affairs, are consistent with parallel initiatives in other international agencies, such as the International Labor Organization (ILO).

“It is critical that the OECD ensures that new standards are implementable on the ground,” said Jose Arroyo, policy manager for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs at USCIB, who represented U.S. business at the OECD. Arroyo underscored the pioneering role of U.S. businesses in RBC practices and emphasized the importance of clear, concise, and implementable guidance for business. Some of the OECD work includes guidance on responsible purchasing practices and meaningful engagement with workers via due diligence.

Arroyo emphasized the importance of OECD cooperation with other non-OECD countries, particularly in high-risk geographical zones where divestment risks are prevalent. “Meaningful cooperation and implementable standards are essential, ultimately benefiting local communities”, he said.

USCIB will maintain its strong engagement with OECD RBC workstreams.