Accented Stories Archives

USCIB Celebrates Earth Day, Underscores US Business Role in Addressing Global Environmental Challenges 

Published on April 22, 2024

New York, NY, April 22, 2024—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) joins the international community in celebrating Earth Day. USCIB proudly champions environmental protection and responsible business conduct across our members’ operations around the globe. Our member companies are global leaders in the development of advanced technologies and innovation, bringing world-leading technical expertise and resources to address global environmental challenges.  

USCIB also remains a steadfast champion of inclusive multilateralism, which includes the voice of US business within a robust stakeholder engagement process. 

We firmly believe that the global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution can only be overcome through fully inclusive multilateral collaboration and with US private sector know-how and implementation. 

As an official observer to the UN Environment Program (UNEP), the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), USCIB is uniquely positioned to serve as the voice of US business leadership in upcoming negotiations at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Baku and the Convention on Biological Diversity. 

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 the economy, with operations in every region of the world, generating $5 trillion in annual revenues and employing over 11 million workers worldwide. As the U.S. affiliate to several leading international business organizations, including the ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade and development. More at  www.uscib.org.

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 Welcomes New Staff in Digital and Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Policy

Published on April 17, 2024

USCIB welcomed two new policy staff this week: Cheryl Miller, USCIB vice president for digital policy and Gabrielle Girard, USCIB policy manager for corporate responsibility and labor affairs (CRLA).

Cheryl Miller

Miller has extensive experience in the private and public sectors, having led Meta’s and Verizon’s global internet policy practices at major international standards bodies, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF), and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), among others.

She was also the deputy staff director for technology and innovation at the US Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Gabrielle Girard

Prior to joining USCIB, Girard completed a PhD in History at Princeton University, focusing on Latin America and human rights. As a doctoral student, Gabrielle interned remotely in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the US Department of State, assisting an applied learning and evaluation team with research on corruption and anticorruption. She has experience in human rights, governance, international affairs, and project management.

At USCIB, Gabrielle will coordinate and facilitate CRLA’s work on the platform economy in relation to the standard-setting process underway at the International Labor Organization (ILO). She will also support the general work of the CRLA Committee.

Gabrielle has an MA in History from Princeton University and a BA in History and Spanish from Cornell University.

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. 

Strengthening Transatlantic Business Ties: USCIB Engages with ICC Colleagues in Seville 

Published on April 9, 2024
USCIB’s Jose Arroyo with the group from ICC Europe and ICC Americas

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) facilitated a regional meeting between European and American counterparts in Seville, Spain on April 3. This first-ever joint meeting, organized by ICC Spain and hosted by the Seville Chamber of Commerce, reinforced the historical economic ties between Europe and the Americas. The meeting convened representatives from ICC headquarters in Paris as well as ICC national committees from Europe and the Americas, including USCIB Policy Manager for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Jose Arroyo.  

Arroyo emphasized the need for more collaborative transatlantic efforts to address key business trends and challenges, as well as opportunities for enhanced cooperation to bolster business development, trade facilitation, responsible business conduct, and economic integration across regions. 

“This meeting provided a valuable platform for strengthening engagement and relationships between USCIB and our European and American counterparts,” said Arroyo. “We recognize the significance of advancing collaboration with our fellow national committees.”  

USCIB’s role in the meeting demonstrated its commitment to deepening its partnership with the ICC Americas Group, while reinforcing the integral commercial relations with European partners. Arroyo emphasized the direct implications of policy developments in Europe on American businesses, emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue and collaboration to navigate global market dynamics effectively. 

ICC Secretary General John Denton attended the meeting in person and highlighted ICC’s priorities in supporting business growth and addressing challenges across regions. 

“USCIB looks forward to advancing our collaboration with European colleagues and strengthening our ties with the ICC Americas Group in pursuit of shared objectives and mutual benefits,” added Arroyo. 

Clark Contributes to US-EU Trade and Technology Council Meeting, Urges Stronger Trade Focus

Published on April 9, 2024
Alice Slayton Clark at the TTC in Leuven, Belgium

USCIB Senior Vice President Alice Slayton Clark was on the ground in Leuven, Belgium the week of April 1 for the sixth, and potentially final, US-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting. Following intergovernmental and stakeholder discussions, Ministers issued a joint statement on AI, 6G, emerging technology, semiconductors, online platforms, and upskilling, among others.

USCIB was one of few industry representatives at the stakeholder events because of its position as a principal on the Trade and Labor Dialogue (TALD), where select social partners discuss the intersection of transatlantic trade and labor concerns. “We advised on the future of the TALD as a useful mechanism for bringing social partners together to discuss common concerns, but underscored the importance of more robust stakeholder engagement in the TTC writ large and a stronger trade focus,” states Clark.

Much of the discussion surrounding the TTC focused on how to preserve the dialogue between the US and EU given the importance of building strong supply chains and closer collaboration on emerging policy questions and existing irritants. With uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the 2024 elections, policymakers are looking at ways to institutionalize TTC workstreams so they can endure a change in Administrations. According to Clark, this is significant given ongoing geostrategic challenges and the TTC’s success in aligning US and EU economic and national security policies vis-à-vis Russia and China.

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.